“The IOC banned the helmet for performances at the 2026 Olympics not only for Vladyslav Heraskevych, but also for freestyle skier Kateryna Kotsar. The athlete herself spoke about this on air at the Olympic Studio on Pershyi Channel”, - the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine’s Telegram channel reported on February 11.
“I have a signature helmet that I compete in — ‘Be brave like Ukrainians’. And about a week before the Olympic Games I received an email saying that the International Olympic Committee considers this helmet propaganda, which is why I cannot compete in it at the Games. Because of a lack of some experience, knowledge and probably confidence, I simply changed the helmet, and now there is just a small Ukrainian flag on it”, - Kotsar said.
The freestyle skier also assured that the helmet ban was the result of actions by the IOC itself, not the International Ski Federation, since she had been competing in it at international events since 2022.
“I just refused it at the Olympic Games, but I will by no means give it up in the future. This is definitely not a ban from the International Ski Federation, because I’ve been competing in this helmet since 2022 and it has always had this inscription. I try to carry it around the world”, - Kotsar said.
