"Prots, speaking amid continuing missile and drone strikes-which have led to an energy blackout in Ukraine and left many in the country without heat-says that banning Heraskevych and the helmet violates the Olympic spirit. "I believe that they did not treat Vladyslav fairly," she says. "The helmet was dedicated not just to athletes, but to Olympians, former or future, whose lives were taken by war.""
"Prots explains she is a family friend of Heraskevych, and has known him since he was a boy. He had come to her, she says, "not as an athlete to an artist" but "as a person to a person", with a wish to commemorate Ukrainian athletes who had fallen in the war. "He said 'I want them to be with me. Those who did not reach this start'. And I understood: this will not be a drawing; it will be a presence.""
Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics after refusing to abandon a helmet featuring imagery honoring athletes killed during the conflict with Russia. The helmet images were created by artist Iryna Prots, who describes feelings of anger, rage and pain at the IOC decision. Prots is a family friend of Heraskevych and says he wanted the helmet to serve as a presence for Ukrainian athletes who did not reach the start. Heraskevych chronicled his intentions on Instagram and accused the IOC of double standards. The IOC stated it sought a respectful solution but said he openly defied guidelines on athletic expression.
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