Via the Wall Street Journal, an article on the Ukrainian athlete who held up a sign that said “No War in Ukraine” Beijing Olympics:

The Ukrainian athlete who held up a sign that said “No War in Ukraine” knew he risked breaking Olympic rules about making political statements. Then when he stepped off the track after his final race, he found himself face-to-face with an International Olympic Committee official.

It was the moment of reckoning in an act that Vladyslav Heraskevych, a skeleton racer from Kyiv, planned for weeks—and that was almost derailed by last-minute misfortune.

The 23-year-old Heraskevych got into skeleton because of his father and coach, Mykhailo Geraskevych, a former bobsledder. Heraskeyvch tried to follow in his father’s footsteps, but realized he was better at a related head-first sport. In 2018, he became the first skeleton racer to represent Ukraine at the Olympics, finishing 12th.

Over the next four years, he competed internationally while studying something for an edge: physics. “Technology is a lot of what matters in skeleton,” he said in an interview. Competitors configure sleds differently. “I want to find something fast,” said Heraskeyvch, who’s wrapping up a master’s degree.

As the Beijing Olympics approached, so did a buildup of Russian troops along its border with Ukraine. War felt possible. Heraskeyvch and his father tossed about an idea: What about using the Olympics to plead for peace?

Heraskeyvch remembered his great-grandfather’s stories about fighting in World War II. “It follows you all your life after that, and the lives of your kids,” he said.

Before leaving for China, he printed a graphic of his message, which was in English to maximize attention, over Ukraine’s flag.

Then he got sick.

Heraskeyvch had a 106-degree fever and the shakes. It wasn’t Covid—tests were negative—but whatever he had was so bad that he and dad considered staying home.

He recovered just enough to make the trip. He skipped the Opening Ceremony, which Russian leader Vladimir Putin attended, to focus on training on the skeleton track well outside Beijing.

On Friday, he raced in the third of his four heats. Waiting past the finish line was team physiotherapist Oleksandr Lavreniuk with the “No War” sign in a clear sleeve. Heraskeyvch took it and showed the cameras. NBC and China’s broadcaster captured the moment.

Heraskeyvch was aware of Olympic rules barring political statements during competitions, with an early trip home a potential consequence. He thought the risk was worth it. “If I can do something to stop war, I can sacrifice something in my life,” he said.

Heraskeyvch wouldn’t learn his fate for an hour, after a final heat that put him in 18th place. He got off his sled, did quick media interviews and then found himself before an IOC official.

The conversation was brief. Heraskeyvch recalled that the official said the IOC also wanted peace, and would soon make a statement that said Heraskeyvch’s message was fine. Heraskeyvch thanked him.

Heraskeyvch and his father plan to return home on Monday. They say they hope to land in a Ukraine without war.