Sawt Falasteen - Ukraine's Heraskevych appeals to CAS over Olympic ban as Malinin eyes second gold

Heraskevych was disqualified on Thursday after refusing to ditch a helmet depicting victims of Ukraine's war with Russia.

Gestures of a political nature during competition are forbidden under the Olympic charter.

The decision drew a stinging response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the "Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors".

Heraskevych's case was heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, sitting in Milan, on Friday.

"I'm really thankful for the opportunity to speak and we were treated equally at the hearing room and arguments were heard," the Ukrainian told reporters following the CAS hearing.

"We are waiting for the decisions, but as you see I look pretty happy so I'm pretty positive about how it went. I hope truth will prevail and still I know that I was innocent."

It is not clear what practical impact any ruling from CAS would have as the skeleton competition ends on Friday.

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said speculation over the outcome would be unhelpful.

"We will do whatever we can, whatever the result is, but I think we have to wait for this result," he said.

- 'Quad God' -

The main focus of the sporting programme on Friday is the Milano Ice Skating Arena, where Malinin is favourite to top the podium in the men's figure skating singles for his second gold of the Games.

The 21-year-old, unbeaten over the past two years, has revolutionised his sport, injecting breathtaking energy and athleticism into his routines, which include back flips and gravity-defying quadruple jumps.

Malinin, the son of Olympic figure skaters who competed for Uzbekistan before emigrating to the US, leads Japan's Yuma Kagiyama after Tuesday's short programme.

Kagiyama and Adam Siao Him Fa of France are both within six points back of the "Quad God" ahead of the free skate.

Malinin, who won team gold earlier in the Games, is a two-time reigning world champion and winner of the past three Grand Prix Finals but he says the Olympics are another level.

"It felt different than any other competition," he said after the short programme. "Sometimes it still overwhelms you, and I definitely felt that in the team short programme."

In early action on Friday, Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klaebo equalled the Winter Olympics record of eight gold medals by winning the men's individual 10 km time trial -- his third victory of the 2026 Games.

In Livigno, reigning world and X Games champion Scotty James of Australia will start as favourite in the men's snowboard half-pipe final.

The Australian has been a dominant force in the event over the past decade but has never won gold on the biggest stage, taking bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver four years later in Beijing.

A clutch of four Japanese athletes were also among the 12 qualifiers for Friday's final under the lights in the Italian Alps, including reigning Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano.

"I've tasted it before," said James. "Getting an Olympic medal is an amazing achievement for any athlete.

"It's been really cool to do that. For sure, I wouldn't be honest if I said I wouldn't like to achieve the top spot."

It comes a day after US snowboard superstar Chloe Kim missed out on a historic hat-trick in the women's halfpipe final.

Kim was dethroned by South Korean teenager Choi Gaon, who recovered from a brutal fall to take gold, pushing her America rival into second place.

Kim, who an injury-disrupted build-up to the Games, said she was proud of her silver.

"Today might've been my eighth day on snow this entire winter," she said. "I haven’t been able to practise as much as I would've liked. Just proud of myself for putting it down today."

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST