In Pyeongchang in 2018, the Kyiv native became the first Ukrainian to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics. Heraskevych also competed in Beijing in 2022. After the third of four runs there, he held up a sign with the English inscription “No war in Ukraine” for the cameras at the finish line of the run. Thirteen days later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, Heraskevych has tirelessly used his sport to draw attention to the suffering of the people in Ukraine and to urge further strict sanctions against Russian sports. The skeleton racer was given the honor of being one of Ukraine’s flag bearers for the Milano Cortina Games’ opening ceremonies.
Heraskevych, however, is not among the likely medal contenders at the Olympics. He finished 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022.
What is his dispute with the IOC about?
Heraskevych wants to wear his “helmet of remembrance” not only in training but also during the Olympic race in Cortina. It features images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
In 2020, the IOC Athletes’ Commission published guidelines on how to implement this rule. According to these guidelines, athletes should only be allowed to express political views during the Olympic Games at press conferences, in interviews in the mixed zones, at team meetings, on internet platforms or through media outlets.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press conference this week: “There are 130 conflicts going on in the world. We cannot have 130 different conflicts featured, however terrible they are, during the field of play, during the actual competition.”
Therefore, Heraskevych is allowed to express his political views outside of competition, but not during the race.
Could a compromise be reached?
There is no current indication that this is possible. The IOC offered the Ukrainian the option of wearing a black armband during the competition — as a sign of mourning for his compatriots killed in the war.
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“We feel this is a good compromise,” Adams said.
Heraskevych sees things completely differently.
“The IOC has turned the ‘helmet of remembrance’ into an absurd farce,” the Ukrainian said on Wednesday. He insisted that he was not violating any IOC rule and accused the IOC of “double standards.”
Vladyslav Heraskevych wore the helmet of remembrance in trainingImage: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
United States figure skater Maxim Naumov displayed a picture of his parents, who died in a plane crash, after his short program on Tuesday evening in Milan, without any objections being raised. Heraskevych has previously pointed to the example of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, who held up a photo of his deceased wife after his Olympic victory in Beijing in 2008.
According to the IOC, the cases are not comparable. The rules have evolved since 2008. Naumov’s behavior was “a very emotional, very human, spontaneous gesture,” according to IOC spokesman Adams: “In a sense it highlights what we are saying, this Ukrainian athlete, he can do the same.”
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What happens if Heraskevych defies the IOC ban?
The IOC Athletes’ Commission’s recommendation regarding violations of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states: “If an athlete or participant is in breach of Rule 50 and the Olympic Charter, each incident will be evaluated by their respective National Olympic Committee, International Federation [of the sport] and the IOC, and disciplinary action will be taken on a case-by-case basis as necessary.”
This leaves room for interpretation. In the worst-case scenario, Heraskevych could face immediate exclusion from the Olympic Games.
What have the reactions been?
Heraskevych has received support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On X, he thanked the skeleton racer “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle.”
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Felix Loch would regard a disqualfication of Heraskevych as “sad and a bit of a scandal.”Image: Memmler/Eibner-Pressefoto/IMAGO
Thomas Weikert, president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), expressed understanding for Heraskevych’s action but advised him not to disregard the IOC ban and to abide by the rules.
Three time Olympic luge gold medalist Felix Loch, a close personal friend of Heraskevych, said if he were to be disqualified, it would be “sad and a bit of a scandal.” After all, there is “no text or anything like that” on the helmet in question, he noted.
Feb 11, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) drives into the basket around Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images
Jaren Jackson Jr. is fitting in well and making a solid first impression with the Utah Jazz.
The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year also has a solid offensive game, and he will look to record a 20-point performance for the fourth straight game with his new team when the Jazz battle the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
The clash will be the final one before the All-Star break for both teams.
Jackson might not want the time off as he has stood out since Utah acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies as part of an eight-player trade early last week.
He scored 22 points in 25 minutes in his Utah debut on Saturday in a road loss against the Orlando Magic. Two nights later, he again had 22 points in 25 minutes as the Jazz notched a road victory over the Miami Heat.
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Jackson kept it going Wednesday with 23 points in 22 minutes as Utah walloped the visiting Sacramento Kings 121-93.
“Credit to my teammates,” Jackson said after the latest win. “It’s been a great week. It’s been crazy. They have made me feel welcome and comfortable. I’m glad to get a home game in. It was loud. It’s been great.”
Jackson, a two-time All-Star, is averaging 19.5 points in 48 games, the first 45 coming for the Grizzlies.
The Jazz acquired Jackson to team with Lauri Markkanen, a former All-Star who narrowly missed making the team this season. Markkanen is averaging a career-best 26.7 points in 41 games after scoring 19 against the Kings.
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“He can do everything on the court,” Jackson said of Markkanen. “This fan base knows what he brings. I’m happy to be out there with him, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
Utah has won back-to-back games for the first time since late December. The Jazz lost 12 of 14 games before the wins over Miami and Sacramento.
The two victories came without standout guard Keyonte George (sprained right ankle), who has missed five of the past six games, the first three due to a sprained left ankle.
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Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are completing a quick two-game road trip.
Portland fell into 10th place in the Western Conference when it was blasted 133-109 by the Timberwolves on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Julius Randle had 41 points for Minnesota.
Jrue Holiday led Portland with 23 points while All-Star Deni Avdija managed just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. He missed all seven shots from behind the arc.
Avdija has struggled with lower back pain in recent weeks and is a candidate to be rested on the second end of the back-to-back.
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Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe (left calf strain) will likely miss his fourth straight game.
Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter wasn’t pleased with the effort against Minnesota. Particularly disturbing was seeing his squad turn the ball over 26 times to match its season worst. The Timberwolves scored 43 points off the miscues.
“Of course, not a great game. We couldn’t get our rhythm,” Splitter said. “They did a tremendous job with their defense. We turned the ball over way too much. Can’t win a game like that.”
Portland might fare better Thursday as it is 2-0 against the Jazz this season. The Trail Blazers recorded a 136-134 win on Oct. 29 in Salt Lake City, and Portland led by as many as 32 points during a 137-117 home win over the Jazz on Jan. 5.
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“We got to get better and we will,” Splitter said. “I think it was an off-game for everyone (Wednesday).
“We got to bounce back. We have another game (Thursday) night. We have to regroup and see who’s ready to play.”
Tyson Fury is aiming to become a three-time heavyweight world champion but there is one man looking to intervene and disrupt those plans by sending Fury into a more permanent retirement.
‘The Gypsy King’ has hung up the gloves on several occasions but, at the age of 37, th ere was a sense that his most recent retirement, off the back of consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, could have been his last.
However, it has now been confirmed that Fury will return to action in two months’ time, as he sets about his goals of becoming boxing’s fifth three-time ruler.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Camille Estephan, founder of Eye of the Tiger Promotions and promoter of Makhmudov, stated that his fighter’s goal is to send Fury into a ‘real retirement’.
“Our goal and objective is send him to retirement, this time for real!”
Of Makhmudov’s 19 wins inside of the distance, 17 have come within the first three rounds, meaning Fury will need to be prepared for an attempted early onslaught when he collides with the Mozdok-born underdog.
It is believed that Fury-Makhmudov will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, April 11, after failed attempts to stage the event at Old Trafford.
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The event will broadcasted live by Netflix at no additional cost to a standard subscription, with further details regarding the undercard expected imminently.
Nottingham Forest have dismissed head coach Sean Dyche, meaning Nigerian players Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will soon work under a new manager.
The club decided to part ways with Dyche after a poor run of results this season. Forest have struggled for form and are currently close to the relegation zone.
Dyche was appointed after Nuno Espirito Santo left the club last November following disagreements with the club owner. Although Dyche started well, the team later lost consistency and dropped points in many matches.
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Forest confirmed his exit after their goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The coaching change could affect Aina and Awoniyi in different ways. Aina has been a regular starter at left-back and is expected to keep his place in the team.
Awoniyi, however, may face more competition. Injuries have affected his season, and other strikers are fighting for a place in the starting line-up. If he fails to impress the new coach, he could get fewer minutes on the pitch.
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Nottingham Forest are expected to announce a new manager soon, and the Super Eagles duo will be hoping the new appointment improves their chances in the team.
Feb 7, 2026; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) shoots free throws in overtime while his teammates watch in their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images
Michigan State faces a tough road challenge when the No. 10 Spartans take on Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference matchup Friday night in Madison, Wis.
Both the Spartans and Badgers are coming off overtime victories against nationally ranked Illinois.
Michigan State (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) has been idle since an 85-82 OT win over the Fighting Illini on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
Wisconsin (17-7, 9-4) overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to rally for a 92-90 overtime victory at Illinois on Tuesday, bouncing back from a 78-77 OT loss at Indiana on Saturday.
“This league is not for the faint of heart,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said following the Illinois game. “As I told Brad (Underwood, the Illinois coach,) after the game, he’s got a heck of team, which I knew coming in, but we’re growing into a heck of a team, too.”
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Michigan State overcame a nine-point deficit early in the second half to rally past Illinois. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and overtime while adding 15 assists to pace the Spartans.
Jaxon Kohler added 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for Michigan State, which hit 20 of 23 free throws. The Spartans also had a 48-38 edge on the boards and a 22-0 advantage on fastbreak points.
“They had won 12 in a row, and we were limping,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “That’s a better team right now, and yet, I thought we played better, and that’s why you play the games on this night. But just think, all the things we’re talking about, and it still took overtime.”
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Michigan State, 8-2 away from East Lansing, scores an average of 79.1 points while allowing 65.6. The Spartans also significantly outrebound opponents by a whopping 13.1 per game, the second-best margin in the nation.
Fears averages 9.1 assists, tops in the nation, and 15.1 points per game. Kohler adds 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. Coen Carr contributed 11.4 points and Carson Cooper 10.0.
Wisconsin overcame a 68-56 deficit at Illinois in the final nine minutes, then scored the first eight points in overtime. John Blackwell hit the first of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to make it 92-90, and Illinois missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Nick Boyd had 25 points, Blackwell added 24 and Austin Rapp came off the bench for 18 in the victory. The Badgers had 16 3-pointers to improve to 14-2 when hitting 10 or more beyond the arc.
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Wisconsin committed only four turnovers compared to Illinois’s 13, leading to a 23-6 advantage in points off miscues.
Wisconsin, which owns a 12-2 home record, is averaging 83.3 points scored and 75.8 allowed. The Badgers are 15-0 when they score at least 80 points.
The backcourt of Boyd and Blackwell went into the Illinois game as one of three high-major duos to both average at least 18.5 points.
Boyd averages 20.2 points and Blackwell 18.7. Nolan Winter adds 13.9 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds with 11 double-doubles.
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The recent series has been almost even, with Wisconsin winning six of the past 10. The Badgers won the latest meeting 77-74 in the semifinals of the 2025 Big Ten tournament.
Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu took a serious fall during an Olympic qualifying run Wednesday.
Competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was briefly suspended while Liu remained largely motionless on her back in the snow at the bottom of the halfpipe. The toe edge of Liu’s snowboard appeared to get caught in the snow, sending her slamming, face-first, into the bottom of the halfpipe.
An emergency sled was used to remove the 33-year-old from the area for further evaluation. Liu was able to avoid major injuries to her spine, The Associated Press reported, citing sources with knowledge of the professional snowboarder’s medical report.
Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her qualifying run in the women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
It is believed that Liu maintained consciousness after the scary fall.
Liu was trying to finish her second and final qualifying run with a 900-degree spin. After she slammed into the halfpipe, her legs and board snapped over her back, a wreck known in snowboarding as a “scorpion.”
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Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her run in women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Riders wear protective gear, including helmets, during competitions. Despite the precautions, dangerous crashes remain a strong — and sometimes life-threatening — possibility. If the head or neck is impacted during a fall, the risk of serious injury rises sharply.
Liu Jiayu of China competes in the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Former world champion freestyle skier Dave Murray died in 1990 after suffering serious injuries in a halfpipe crash in Utah. In 2010, Kevin Pearce sustained brain injuries while training for the Vancouver Olympics.
Earlier this week, Australian snowboard cross racer Cam Bolton was hospitalized. Representatives for Bolton confirmed he was dealing with multiple stable neck fractures.
Speedskating isn’t an easy sport to break through into the mainstream, but Stolz has all-time talent and the charisma to be the biggest star of these Games
Feb 7, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; DePaul Blue Demons guard CJ Gunn (11) shoots the ball during the second half against the Providence Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Brandon Maclin banked in a go-ahead drive with seven seconds remaining in regulation as DePaul snapped a 23-game losing streak against Creighton with a 72-71 victory in Chicago on Wednesday.
NJ Benson totaled 23 points with 10 rebounds for the Blue Demons (13-12, 5-9), who ended a four-game overall losing streak.
DePaul trailed 65-59 with a little less than six minutes left in the contest but chipped away and eventually put itself in position to win while holding the Bluejays (13-12, 7-7) without a point for the final 2 1/2 minutes.
The Blue Demons, who shot 52.8% and held a 46-12 advantage in paint points, scored the final four points of the night.
Maclin, who finished with 17 points after being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 29, drove through traffic and some contact to use the glass on a layup that erased a 71-70 deficit.
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Benson recorded a key three-point play to kick off the final 13-6 surge for DePaul, which beat Creighton for the first time since Jan. 7, 2015.
Austin Swartz scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second half for the Bluejays, who went 14 of 27 (51.9%) from 3-point range for the game but shot just 39.1% overall in the second half. Josh Dix and Jasen Green each scored 13 for Creighton, which has lost four of the past five and saw its 11-game winning streak at DePaul come to an end.
The game featured six ties and 11 lead changes.
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Creighton shot 53.8% from the field during a first half in which it shot 10 of 16 from 3-point range to lead 42-40 at the break. Green, who entered with 12 made 3-pointers on the season, scored the Bluejays’ first eight points and went 3-for-4 from distance to score 11 before halftime.
DePaul, though, shot 56.3% and held a 30-4 points-in-the-paint advantage through the first 20 minutes. After the Bluejays went on an 8-0 run to take the lead, the Blue Demons’ CJ Gunn knocked down a corner 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Tempted laid down a formidable mark for her peers with a powerful resurgence in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, leaving Apocalyptic poised to respond in kind.
The Michael Freedman-prepared three-year-old filly steps out again in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, coming a week on from Tempted’s decisive defeat of colts and geldings first-up across the same ground.
Yet to cross paths, the two fillies are charting paths that will intersect at the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28, and Apocalyptic’s assertive comeback could forge a thrilling encounter.
“I guess there will be the prospect of us locking horns in the Surround,” Freedman said.
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“They’re animals, so I never get too far ahead of myself, and I certainly never get over-confident with any horse.
“But I’m very happy with her and looking forward to getting her back to the track.”
A reliable stable force in recent times, this Group 1 winner is earmarked for stud duties next season, with Freedman keen to bolster her achievements first.
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“This will probably be her last campaign, I’d suggest, before she goes off to the breeding barn, so I’d love to try to pick up another stakes win for the Emirates group,” Freedman said.
“She has been here since the Gimcrack and she’s still matching strides (with the better mares).
“She’s never been what you call a headliner, but it’s rare to see them win before Christmas, a stakes winner at two, stakes winner at three and then a stakes winner at four. It’s a pretty good resume.”
Recent reports have suggested that a deal for Fabio Wardley to face Daniel Dubois in May is done, but Tyson Fury has his reservations and has advised fight fans to be curb their enthusiasm.
It made the 31-year-old knockout artist the United Kingdom’s 11th heavyweight world champion, but Wardley is keen to truly validate his position as a worthy titleholder with a strong first defence.
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He has been on the lookout for an opponent that would allow him to prove his quality and he seems to have found the perfect dance partner – Britain’s 10th heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois.
“I’ll tell you what I find funny, I’ve seen it all over the internet today that Wardley vs Dubois is done, it’s in every media outlet, it’s everywhere except from the actual promoter of both fighters, Frank Warren at Queensberry, so until they put it out it’s not confirmed, believe that!
“Everybody has rushed to get a scoop on inside info apart from the confirmation being from the actual promoter of these fighters, Frank Warren. Until Frank says it’s on, it’s not on.”
It is understood that Wardley and Dubois will collide on Saturday, May 9, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, in what will be the seventh all-British heavyweight world title contest in boxing history.
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Fury, meanwhile, returns in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, and may well target the winner should he come through as expected.
An all-British heavyweight world title clash is on the horizon, as Fabio Wardley prepares to take on Daniel Dubois in his first defence of the WBO belt. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his thoughts on the proposed match-up.
The Ipswich fan-favourite was upgraded to full world champion and ever since, the 31-year-old sensation has been looking for a showdown that will prove his worth as a legitimate titleholder and kickstart his reign in style.
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It now appears as though Wardley has found the perfect dance partner, with reports suggesting that he will collide with former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, who lost his belt to Oleksandr Usyk last time out in July.
Speaking with iFL TV, Eddie Hearn explained why he believes Dubois’ decision to jump straight into another world title contest may be a naive one.
“If I was Daniel Dubois, I would be coming back with a [lesser] fight, but what happens is you make so much money that you don’t want to come back with one of those fights because you are not really looking at the long play.
“I think sometimes that is a little bit of a poor decision. The last time Daniel Dubois fought was July, against Usyk, that was now eight months ago. So, if he fights in May, he is going to have been out of the ring for 10 months after getting knocked out.
“Daniel Dubois is the kind of guy where, if he has any doubts in himself or if he is not 100% confident, he is much easier to beat than the flip side of that.”
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Hearn then went on to reveal why he believes the scrap favours Fabio Wardley stylistically, predicting that the reigning champion will break Dubois down if he is able to survive an early onslaught.
“Daniel Dubois hits really hard, he can take anybody out or hurt anybody early but if you get past two, three or four rounds with him and you start making him second guess himself, you can break him down real quick.
“I think that Wardley and his team will look at that fight and say ‘that is a good fight for us’.”
Wardley-Dubois is being touted for Manchester on Saturday, May 9, whilst Usyk is currently being linked to a shock clash with Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on the same date. Although, it is unclear whether the Ukrainian’s three heavyweight world titles would be on the line for that bout.
