The International Olympic Committee pleaded on Wednesday with skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych to compete without a banned helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia¡¯s invasion and avoid potential disqualification.

The athlete, however, remained defiant after a meeting between ?the two sides on Wednesday afternoon failed to break the impasse.

The IOC offered him the opportunity to display ?his ¡°helmet of ?remembrance¡± depicting 24 images of dead compatriots before the start and after the end ?of Thursday¡¯s race at the Milano Cortina Games, while also allowing him to wear a black armband while competing. However, the 27-year-old, who again trained on Wednesday in the helmet, said he would go ahead and wear it ?for Thursday¡¯s race.