Ukraine’s skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Games on Thursday over the use of a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia, the International Olympic Committee said.

He was informed of his disqualification after a meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry early in the morning at the sliding venue.

His team said they would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Coventry told reporters she had wanted to meet the athlete face to face in a last-ditch effort to break the impasse.

“I was not meant to be here but I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him face to face,” Coventry told reporters.

“No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging, it’s a powerful message, it’s a message of remembrance, of memory.

“The challenge was to find a solution for the field of play. Sadly we’ve not been able to find that solution” she added, choking up.

“I really wanted to see him race, It’s been an emotional morning.”

The IOC offered him the opportunity to display his “helmet of remembrance” depicting 24 images of dead compatriots before the start and after the end of Thursday’s race at the Games, while also allowing him to wear a black armband while competing.

“I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment,” said Heraskevych.

The skeleton competition starts later on Thursday.

-Reuters

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U.S. President Donald Trump criticised American Olympic skier Hunter Hess on Sunday, days after the athlete expressed mixed feelings about representing the U.S. at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy.

“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social media platform, referencing Hess’ comments. “Very hard to root for someone like this.”

Political tensions have surfaced at the Milano Cortina Olympics, including over the presence of personnel from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency has faced widespread protests across the U.S. after agents shot and killed two people in Minneapolis last month.

During a news conference in Milan on Friday, Hess, a freestyle skier, said it was “a little hard” to represent the U.S., and he felt mixed emotions.

“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” he said. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

Fellow ski team member Chris Lillis spoke out against ICE at the same news conference, saying he felt heartbroken.

“I think that as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect,” Lillis said. “And I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realise that that’s the America that we’re trying to represent.”

A spokesperson for U.S. Ski & Snowboard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-Reuters

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When Samuel Ikpefan finally marched into the National Stadium for the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2022, it felt like history closing a long, emotional circle.

Nigeria’s first-ever Winter Olympic skiing representative had missed the Opening Ceremony after testing positive for COVID-19. So sharing that final parade with athletes from around the world carried extra weight—for him, and for Africa’s most populous nation.

“Riding the high-speed train with athletes from all nations and sharing that magical moment was unforgettable,” Ikpefan told Olympics.com. He was Nigeria’s lone competitor at the Games, carrying the flag—and expectations—alone.

Ikpefan’s Olympic baptism was anything but smooth. A positive COVID-19 test just days before his first race forced him into isolation—three days confined to his room, followed by two more in a hotel for severe cases.

“I was in perfect health, so it was frightening,” he recalled. Released only two days before the competition, he had no time to acclimatise. He eventually abandoned the 15km classic race after burning too much energy early.

“It was a tough experience, but it taught me mental resilience.”

That resilience now fuels his push toward Milano Cortina 2026, where the 32-year-old France-born skier is determined to make a fuller statement.

“My goal is to compete in all individual cross-country events and give my absolute best—push my limits, maximise my capabilities, and proudly represent Nigeria while learning from the world’s toughest competition.”

Life beyond the Olympic tracks

After Beijing, Ikpefan channelled his energy into growth—both personal and communal. He began coaching and mentoring young skiers, staying close to the sport even as sponsorships and team support dried up.

“The journey hasn’t changed drastically, but the challenges have grown,” he said. “I continue to train with determination and keep my goals in sight.”

For Ikpefan, cross-country skiing is more than medals and results. It is a philosophy.

“It’s physically and mentally demanding. It teaches determination, humility and self-improvement. It connects you with nature and unites athletes from different backgrounds.”

That bond with skiing began early. Growing up near Annemasse in France, he started racing at seven or eight, drawn by the sport’s endurance demands and mental intensity.

Ikpefan’s athletic identity stretches far beyond skis. He swims, cycles, plays football, runs mountain trails and recently returned to tennis. At 15, he finished third in France’s national swimming championships in the 100m backstroke, while also competing in judo and football.

“These experiences shaped my discipline and mindset,” he said.

Off the field, he nurtures a broad curiosity—reading, visiting museums, cooking, playing board games, and exploring geopolitics and business ideas.

Opening doors for Nigeria

Ikpefan sees the Winter Olympics as sport at its purest.

“For two weeks, the magic of our inner child resurfaces. It’s a global celebration of humanity.”

But inspiring young Nigerians to take up skiing is no small task. Infrastructure is scarce, systems are thin, and winter sports remain culturally distant.

“My long-term goal is to make skiing more accessible to Nigerian youth, at home and abroad,” he said. “There are obstacles, but my journey shows that nothing is impossible.”

That belief is reinforced by support from Olympic Solidarity, which currently backs hundreds of athletes worldwide—Ikpefan among them—on the road to Milano Cortina 2026 through monthly training grants.

Being Nigeria’s first Olympic skier is a responsibility Ikpefan carries with pride.

“Representing a country rich in culture and diversity is a responsibility I cherish. It’s a way to honour my ancestors and inspire future generations.”

Medals, he admits, are hard for African athletes in winter sports—but not impossible.

“With the right systems, resources and determination, success is within reach.”

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 gathers pace, Samuel Ikpefan is chasing more than results. He is carving a pathway—on snow and beyond—for Nigerians who may one day follow his tracks into winter’s rarefied world.

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