Vladislav Geraskevich, who competes in skeleton, received over $200,000 in support after being suspended from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics. This funding was provided by businessman Rinat Akhmetov through his charitable foundation. It will be used to continue Geraskevich's sports career and to support his public organization.
The reason for his disqualification was the use of a "memory helmet," which featured images of deceased Ukrainian athletes and coaches. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed this a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political and symbolic expressions during competitions.
The allocated support amount is comparable to the prize money awarded to Olympic champions and will allow Vladislav to continue his preparation for international competitions and actively engage in public activities, despite the IOC's harsh decision.
