2026 Olympic Games: what is behind the ban on Ukrainian athlete Oleg Gandey’s helmet
12 February 19:22
The International Skating Union (ISU) has banned Ukrainian athlete Oleg Gandey from competing in his helmet at the 2026 Olympic Games. The reason for this was an inscription with a quote from Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko, which international sports officials considered to be a political slogan.
This was reported bySuspilne Sport, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
What exactly was banned
The inscription on the helmet reads:
“Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat.”
According to the athlete, the organizers explained the ban by saying that the quote allegedly has political undertones and is related to the war, and therefore contradicts the requirements for “political neutrality” at the Olympic Games.
Handey says he tried to prove the apolitical nature of the phrase by translating it literally, but the decision was not changed.
Not the first case for Ukraine
Oleg Gandey became the third Ukrainian athlete to be banned from competing in the Olympics in his own helmet:
- Kateryna Kotsar (snowboarding) — for the inscription ” Be brave like Ukrainian“;
- Vladyslav Heraskevych (skeleton) — for a helmet commemorating Ukrainian athletes who died as a result of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation;
- Oleg Gandey — for a quote by Lina Kostenko.
The athlete himself believes that the publicity surrounding previous cases may have played a role in the tougher stance taken by international bodies.
An atmosphere of tension on the eve of the start
Gandey also speaks of an increase in provocations from representatives of Russia and so-called “neutral” athletes. According to him, this is not just about individual statements, but also about systematic attempts to normalize the presence of Russian athletes at international competitions, despite the war against Ukraine.
These statements were made against the backdrop of controversial remarks by a Russian Olympic champion, who previously publicly called Ukrainian athletes “nationalists” and made calls for violence — an incident that only heightened tensions surrounding the issue of “neutrality” in sport.
When will Gandey start?
Despite the change in equipment, Oleg Gandey remains registered for the competition. He is scheduled to compete in the 1500-meter short track event at the 2026 Olympics on February 14.
