Although Winter Olympic fans found USA skeleton racer Austin Florian’s Venom helmet cool, it caused outrage with some online following the banning of a Ukrainian helmet honouring athletes and coaches killed by Russia
Outrage has been sparked online after American skeleton racer Austin Florian went viral for his custom Venom-inspired helmet, but it is not over the design.
Florian’s cool looking helmet was widely shared at 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday (February 13) at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
However, some people have said it has showed double standards after Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from competing in the same event over his custom helmet by the International Olympic Committee.
Hersakevych’s helmet featured pictures of athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia and was ruled to contravene regulations if used on the field of play.
The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said Heraskevych’s decision to wear the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.”
American sports journalist Ariel Helwani spoke out about the decision after watching Florain use the Venom helmet. While sharing a photo of the Venom helmet, he wrote on X: “The IOC’s decision to DQ the Ukrainian skeleton racer would have merit if they said look there’s a uniform and you can’t stray from that. But as you can see, that’s not the case. So they are ok with paying homage to a comic book character but not slain athletes. Absurd.
“Again, Vladyslav’s helmet was not controversial. It was not a political statement. It was not propaganda. Who opposed it? They couldn’t have gotten this more wrong. They are ok with banning Russia but not ok with a helmet honouring the dead? Insanity.”
Another person on X said: “Remembrance is not political. You mishandled this terribly. Venom is ok on a helmet but not pictures of athletes and coaches who will never get to compete again. Make it make sense.”
A second added: “So why is this ok but it’s not ok for Ukraine to wear a helmet to honor fallen soldiers? Seems off. The venom helmet is super cool but calling the kettle black.”
Despite in-person discussions between Heraskevych and IOC president Kirsty Coventry at the Cortina Sliding Centre before the start on Thursday morning, an agreement could not be reached, with Coventry reportedly tearful as she exited the meeting.
Heraskevych said: “Yesterday we had a formal meeting and today we had (one) just before the race with Mrs Coventry here, at the venue – me, my dad, and Mrs Coventry.
“In Ukraine now, we also have a lot of tears and I don’t want to downsize her feelings, but I believe that we should be controlled by the rules and I believe that we didn’t violate it.
“I want to also thank her for kind words, what she told me in this meeting. But as I told her, this situation again plays along with Russian propaganda, and it does not look good.
“I believe I did a great proposal for them this morning, when I proposed to allow me to use this helmet, and also to show solidarity with Ukraine, and give some generators for Ukraine.
“I believe it’s a great way to show that you have solidarity with Ukraine and to remove all this scandal.
“Because also, from another point of view, this situation is very terrible for this venue and for this race. I believe because of IOC actions, that Olympic moment was stolen not only for me, but also from others from this venue.
“Because of this scandal, now all you (the media) are here, you’re not watching the race, and I believe it’s a terrible mistake made by the IOC.”
Today, the Ukrainian skeleton athlete was unsuccessful in his appeal against his disqualification from the Winter Olympics.
He appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and a sole arbitrator was appointed to consider the case as a matter of urgency with the event being held tonight – won by Team GB’s Matt Weston.
A statement from CAS said: “The sole arbitrator, whilst fully sympathetic to Mr Heraskevych’s commemoration, is bound by rules in the IOC Athlete Expression Guidelines.
“The sole arbitrator considers these Guidelines provide a reasonable balance between athletes’ interests to express their views, and athletes’ interests to receive undivided attention for their sporting performance on the field of play.
“The sole arbitrator appointed for this matter wished to state that she is fully sympathetic to Mr Heraskevych’s commemoration and to his attempt to raise awareness for the grief and devastation suffered by the Ukrainian people, and Ukrainian athletes because of the war.”