分类： sports

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been barred from competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics following his refusal to stop wearing a specially designed helmet memorializing Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The helmet, painted by Kyiv-based artist Iryna Prots, features detailed portraits of more than 20 individuals from Ukraine’s sporting community who lost their lives during the conflict. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the helmet in violation of regulations prohibiting political statements at the Games.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Prots praised Heraskevych’s decision to prioritize honoring the deceased over Olympic participation, calling it “a great act of heroism.”

“He could have refused. He could have said, ‘Fine, I’ll wear another helmet and fight for a medal,’” Prots stated. “But he didn’t. To stand up for his truth—that is great heroism.”

The project was a personal departure for Prots, who typically paints Tuscan landscapes exhibited in Italy. She expressed frustration at what she perceives as a lack of awareness among Europeans regarding the ongoing realities of the war.

“I understand that when a war is somewhere far away, people get used to it,” she remarked. “They have their own lives. But we are fighting every day. Fighting to survive.”

Prots described the emotional intensity of creating the helmet, working from photographs of the fallen. “This is pain—pain for our country,” she shared. “For the fact that we lost Olympic champions, essentially, and coaches who were raising this generation of Olympic champions.”

She also questioned the continuation of international sporting events like the Olympics while conflict persists. “The Olympics are supposed to symbolize peace,” Prots noted. “But today it’s hard for me to understand how there is celebration, anthems, dancing and singing, while we live under air raid sirens and bombs.”

Despite ongoing air attacks on Kyiv, Prots continues to paint, viewing her art as an act of resilience. “I keep painting beauty and nature,” she said. “It’s a form of resistance of my soul—believing that peace will return.”

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Aijaz Rahi, an accomplished photojournalist and photo editor with over thirty years of experience at The Associated Press, has chronicled some of the world’s most significant events. Based in Bangalore, his extensive career spans conflict zones in Kashmir and Afghanistan, major news across South Asia, and premier global sporting events including the soccer World Cup, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, and multiple Cricket World Cups.

His recent work at the Winter Olympics produced a powerful image that encapsulates the essence of athletic triumph. The photograph in question captures the raw, unfiltered emotion of Italian luge athletes the instant they clinched a gold medal on their home turf. It is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy and national pride, representing the ultimate payoff of years of dedication.

The technical execution of the shot was as deliberate as it was challenging. Rahi stationed himself directly at the finish area, enduring freezing temperatures to secure a head-on vantage point. This strategic positioning was crucial to immortalize the competitors’ immediate, visceral reactions as they completed their run. The composition naturally frames the medalists at the center while their elated teammates lean in from the sides, creating a layered narrative that emphasizes collective achievement and shared emotion.

The photograph’s power lies in its masterful fusion of dynamic action and profound human sentiment. The athletes’ ecstatic expressions instantly telegraph victory and relief, while the surrounding team members provide crucial context, adding depth to the story of a shared triumph. The tightly cropped composition eliminates distractions, pulling the viewer directly into the intensity of the celebration and fostering a tangible connection to the pinnacle of Olympic success.

MILAN — The Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team delivered a commanding performance on Thursday at the Milan Cortina Games, shutting out Finland 5-0 to secure second place in Group A. The victory sets up a quarterfinal matchup against Germany this Saturday.

Emily Clark emerged as the offensive standout with two goals, while goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens recorded a 17-save shutout in a game originally postponed due to Finland’s roster being depleted by a stomach virus.

The Canadian squad demonstrated resilience by bouncing back decisively from their previous 5-0 defeat against tournament favorites United States on Tuesday. That loss marked Canada’s first shutout defeat in Olympic competition history.

Team Canada continued to compete without captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who sustained a lower-body injury during Monday’s 5-1 victory over Czechia. Medical staff reported positive progress as Poulin returned to the ice for skating drills on Thursday, with expectations for her return during the knockout stage.

The outcome finalized all quarterfinal pairings, with Group A top-seeded United States set to face host nation Italy on Friday. Italy secured Group B’s final playoff seed with a 2-2 record.

Additional scoring contributions came from Kristin O’Neill (one goal, one assist), Jennifer Gardiner, and Daryl Watts. Finland, blanked in all three losses during preliminary rounds, will face Switzerland after finishing fourth in Group A.

In a bold strategic move, French national rugby head coach Fabien Galthié has selected 20-year-old Fabien Brau-Boirie for his international test debut at center against Wales in this Sunday’s Six Nations matchup. The rising star from Pau club will form a dynamic midfield partnership with his clubmate Émilien Gailleton, who earns his 12th cap for Les Bleus.

This unexpected selection comes as a direct response to France’s injury crisis following their commanding 36-14 victory over Ireland last Thursday. The defending champions lost three key centers—Nicolas Depoortère (calf), Kalvin Gourgues (ankle), and Yoram Moefana (knee)—forcing Galthié to tap into France’s deep talent pool.

Galthié expressed confidence in his young prospect, stating: “Brau-Boirie has been integrated within our system for over a year. His exceptional performances with the under-20 squad, combined with consistent weekend appearances for his club, have truly earned him this opportunity. He was originally slated to join our tour to New Zealand last July but unfortunately sustained an ankle injury.”

The selection marks a significant moment for Pau club, which currently sits second in the French Top 14 league, thanks in part to the contributions of both Brau-Boirie and Gailleton. Adding to the youthful injection, 21-year-old Stade Francais center Noah Nene has been named among the reserves, awaiting his potential debut.

France faces a Welsh squad reeling from a devastating 48-7 defeat against England at Twickenham last weekend. Despite Wales facing the prospect of a record-extending 13th consecutive Six Nations defeat, Galthié remains wary of the challenge awaiting in Cardiff.

The French coach acknowledged the unique atmosphere of the Welsh stadium, noting: “In my opinion, it represents the most magnificent stadium globally, with those relentless Welsh chants that create an extraordinary environment. This distinctive atmosphere effectively levels the competitive field and provides the Welsh team with additional motivation.”

Wales hasn’t secured a victory against France on home turf since 2018, adding historical context to this highly anticipated Six Nations confrontation.

The International Olympic Committee has ignited international controversy by excluding Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milan Cortina Games for wearing a helmet honoring athletes and coaches killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer, acknowledged the power of Heraskevych’s message while defending the decision. “No one—especially me—is disagreeing with the messaging. The challenge we are facing is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for just the field of play,” stated Coventry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered unequivocal support for the athlete, declaring: “I thank our athlete for his clear stance. His helmet, bearing the portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes, is about honor and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence.”

The banned athlete expressed cautious optimism about his meeting with Coventry, noting: “I want to believe that the reason is that she really felt sorry as an athlete, as a former athlete, and that she really wants me to compete.”

Prominent voices across the sports and diplomatic world condemned the IOC’s decision. British skeleton Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold conveyed her “real sense of sadness and real surprise” regarding the exclusion.

European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova highlighted the stark contrast in the Committee’s approach, stating on Instagram: “He was excluded by the same Olympic Committee that allowed 20 Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha delivered one of the strongest condemnations, asserting: “The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.”

The athlete’s father and coach, Mykhailo Heraskevych, expressed the personal devastation caused by the decision: “The International Olympic Committee destroyed our dreams. It’s not fair.”

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — British skeleton racer Matt Weston demonstrated extraordinary focus at the Olympic track on Thursday, remaining completely unaware of a major controversy unfolding around him as he secured the lead in the men’s skeleton competition. The World Cup champion and Olympic favorite posted the fastest times in both heats, finishing the day with an impressive time of 1 minute, 52.09 seconds.

While Weston concentrated solely on his performance, Ukrainian slider Vladyslav Heraskevych was unexpectedly disqualified from the competition just before the event began. The dramatic development became the day’s biggest Olympic story, occurring trackside moments before the start. Weston remained oblivious to the situation until hours later when journalists confronted him with questions.

“I had someone shove a mic in my face saying, ‘What about this?’” Weston revealed. “And I’m like, ‘Well, I hadn’t heard of it.’”

Weston’s performance places him in a strong position for Friday’s final two runs, though his lead remains narrow. German competitors Axel Jungk, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, and defending champion Christopher Grotheer trail closely behind at 0.30 and 0.46 seconds respectively.

American slider Austin Florian, who recorded the best start in the field, acknowledged awareness of Heraskevych’s disqualification since the Ukrainian was scheduled to compete immediately before him. “We’re generally pretty focused on what we’re doing. We’re aware of it,” Florian commented. “Everyone’s aware of it, obviously. And we try not to let it affect us.”

Despite the competitive environment, Weston expressed genuine disappointment for Heraskevych, whom he considers both a friend and technical inspiration. The British slider studies the Ukrainian’s driving techniques as part of his own strategic preparation.

“I think he’s an insane slider. He’s really, really good, very technical, very smooth,” Weston praised. “I get him on the push, but he’s always one that I look at his lines to see what he’s doing because he’s always pretty consistent. I think he could have done very well here. Another reason why I’m a bit gutted for him as a person.”

PARIS — The French Ligue 1 championship landscape has undergone significant transformation as Marseille’s title aspirations have effectively dissolved following their devastating 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. This crushing loss precipitated the immediate dismissal of manager Roberto De Zerbi and sparked visible fan discontent, with supporters confronting players at the airport to express their profound disappointment.

With Marseille now trailing by twelve points and dropping to fourth position, RC Lens has emerged as the only serious contender capable of challenging PSG’s dominance. Sitting merely two points behind the league leaders, Lens demonstrates remarkable consistency and determination as the season approaches its critical phase.

This weekend’s fixtures present compelling narratives: PSG travels to face a struggling Rennes side that has suffered four consecutive defeats while conceding twelve goals. Meanwhile, Marseille attempts to reconcile with their disillusioned fanbase during a home encounter against Strasbourg. Lens faces Paris FC, and Lyon continues their surprising ascent under coach Paulo Fonseca, seeking a thirteenth consecutive victory across all competitions against Nice.

Individual performances have captured attention, particularly Ousmane Dembélé’s exceptional display against Marseille—featuring two goals and an assist—signaling his return to peak form after injury setbacks. Lens winger Allan Saint-Maximin also impressed with a spectacular debut goal, promising to be a valuable asset in the title pursuit.

Beyond the pitch, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi received recognition from FIFA’s Gianni Infantino for his instrumental role in opposing the controversial Super League project, highlighting the ongoing structural evolution within European football.