Vladyslav Heraskevych is one of the best skeleton pilots in the world. But this season is different. The war completely changes the Ukrainian's life and presents him with new challenges.
Vladyslav Herskevych in January at the Luge World Cup in Winterberg
Once again Vladyslav Heraskevych focuses on the ice rink in Sigulda in Latvia. His gaze is fixed, he flexes tensely from one leg to the other. His father and trainer Mychajlo stands next to him and encourages him once more. It's the last race of this World Cup season for the Ukrainian skeleton pilot. Then Heraskevych takes another deep breath and pulls his helmet over his head. The word “Ukraine” is emblazoned in large letters on the side of his helmet, which a friend designed.
It is a special season for the athlete, who was born in Kiev in 1999, because there has been war in his homeland for about a year. “Compared to last year, it's very difficult for me,” Heraskevych told DW. “I'm just exhausted. It's very difficult to concentrate on the competitions when there's a war in your homeland and people I know are fighting and dying at the front.”
Heraskevych: “We are still here”
With loud cheers from his father, the 24-year-old throws himself into the ice track. The start is successful, Heraskevych goes into the first corners of the track a few tenths of a second behind the leaders. Unlike many of his friends, the skeletoni is allowed to leave Ukraine for his sport. He has a special permit and can continue to pursue his sport. And fight for his country at sporting events.
Vladyslav Heraskevych had a special helmet designed that he wore remembers his homeland
“It's a platform where we can talk about Ukraine,” he says. “We can show that Ukraine still exists. We are still here.” And that, according to Heraskevych, motivates him to start again and again.
The whistle of the rockets
The skeleton driver races through the tight curves of the Latvian ice track at over 100 km/h, works a lot with his body, but in the penultimate corner he misses the ideal line. He drifts slightly and ends up only 16th in the first run. “In the summer you usually prepare for the season. You work on your equipment and train a lot,” says Heraskevych. “But this time I traveled across Ukraine for my foundation.” And when he had time to train with his father, these sessions were often interrupted by air raid alarms.
“We had to go into the bunker and wait. Then we went back to the training hall and warmed up,” he says. However, his practice sessions were often interrupted again by the loud sirens that forced him and his father back into the bunker. “It wasn't good for the preparation.” Heraskevych reports that he was often nervous when he trained in Kiev. “It drives you crazy when you hear the whistle of rockets. All you can do is hope that rocket doesn't hit your home.”
Skeleton driver Vladyslav Heraskevych is currently having a hard time concentrating on his sport
Heraskevych pauses and takes another deep breath. He finds it difficult to talk about the situation in Ukraine. “Of course, the war changed me. I'm a different person now,” he says. “I've become cynical. If you're too emotional, it's unbearable.” He lost many people he knew. “I used to be much more emotional, now I'm just shocked.” It is impossible to get used to the war. “It's like another world, a world I don't like.”
“Your childhood is being stolen”
In addition to training and competitions, the Ukrainian organizes aid deliveries for the worst affected areas. In March 2022 he and his father founded a foundation for children. “During this time, it's important to make children happy because their childhood is being stolen from them,” says Heraskevych: “Our children can tell which rocket is flying by the noise. They can tell whether it's rockets or machine gun shots It's very frightening.”
Skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych after training with children in Borodyanka, Ukraine
The athlete travels across Ukraine and organizes small sporting events for children. Some of these take place in stadiums that were destroyed in the fighting. Heraskevych wants to convey the values of sport and distract from everyday wartime life. It's about friendship, respect and togetherness. “We're trying to give the kids a little joy. That's what sport can do.” The 24-year-old remembers the first training session in Kiev, where children from Mariupol were also present. “Your eyes shone. That was great,” says the skeleton pilot.
“Don't compete with a murderer”
The second run in Sigulda is coming up. Once again Heraskevych gathers his strength, concentrates and throws himself down the ice channel. He manages the second round better and the skeleton can make up time. In the end, however, he missed the top ten and finished twelfth. It wasn't enough against the international competition this time. Still, it was a good competition because it showed that Ukraine is still alive.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were not at the start, because Belarus and Russia are almost completely isolated in the world of sports. And if Heraskevych has his way, it should stay that way. “I am very grateful that many organizations have suspended Russian athletes because they can no longer use competitions for propaganda.” Heraskevych does not understand the idea of IOC President Thomas Bach, who wants to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again in the future.
Vladyslav Heraskevych holds up a sign that reads 'No war in Ukraine' at the 2022 Winter Olympics
“Today, Russian athletes can murder civilians in Ukraine, and tomorrow we'll welcome them to a competition,” says the Ukrainian, making it clear: “I don't want to compete with a murderer.”
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Support for luger Felix Loch
After the race in Latvia, the World Cup season is over for the skeleton pro. Heraskevych ends up in 13th place overall. But for him that is irrelevant at the moment. Because in addition to some other competitions in South Korea and the USA, Heraskevych will train Ukrainian youth teams in skeleton together with his father and also accompany them to competitions.
He will be supported by luger and Olympic champion Felix Loch and his wife Lisa. Loch, co-founder of the organization “Athletes for Ukraine e.V.”, and Heraskevych have become friends over the past few months and also spent Christmas together.
Whenever possible, Loch is also present at the training sessions, the Heraskevych organized for Ukrainian children. It is important to support them, says the Ukrainian skeleton pro: “When I see this new generation, I have hope. They are our future. And to see the light in their eyes makes me happy.”