Lizzy Yarnold
Two-time Olympic skeleton champion on BBC One

On the decision to ban Ukrainian Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing:

"I think it is actually quite shocking. Within the sliding community there is shock and confusion. Taking away his accreditation means he has to leave the Games.

"This [wearing the helmet] was a reaction to something which was an act of memorial and incredibly emotionally important to him.

"I think the IOC owe him an apology and this was the wrong decision."

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport in Cortina

Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from competing at the Winter Olympics for continuing to wear a helmet which features images of athletes killed during Russia's invasion of his home country.

Heraskevych, who has worn the helmet in all of his training runs before the competition began on Thursday, was told by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday the helmet "does not comply" with the Olympic charter and said he was not allowed to wear it.

But on Wednesday he again wore the helmet to official training and told reporters he believed he "has all the rights" to wear it.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry visited the 26-year-old at Cortina's sliding track before the first skeleton heat on Thursday and said Heraskevych "did not consider any form of compromise".

In a statement, the IOC added: "The IOC was very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete. This is why the IOC sat down with him to look for the most respectful way to address his desire to remember his fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

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Image source, Reuters

Great Britain's Matt Weston was up first and immediately laid down a marker by setting a new track record of 56.21 despite a bump on one of the early corners.

That remains the time to beat after 17 of the 25 athletes have completed their first run.

The other Brit in the men's skeleton, Marcus Wyatt, is down in seventh, 0.31 seconds behind Weston but ahead of world number two Yin Zheng of China in eighth.

Germany's Axel Jungk took silver in Beijing four years ago and he is in second place again right now, only 0.06 seconds behind Weston, with Italy's Amedeo Bagnis third.

Defending champion Christopher Grotheer of Germany is fourth.

1. Matt Weston, Great Britain - 56.21 (TR)
2. Axel Jungk, Germany - 56.27
3. Amedeo Bagnis, Italy - 56.37
4. Christopher Grotheer, Germany - 56.39
5. Chen Wenhao, China - 56.43
6. Felix Keisinger, Germany - 56.44
7. Marcus Wyatt, Great Britain - 56.52
8. Yin Zheng, China - 56.56

Image source, Getty Images

Beijing 2022 marked the first Winter Olympics in which Great Britain failed to win a medal in skeleton but there is every hope of putting that right in Milan-Cortina.

Matt Weston dabbled with rugby and taekwondo before finding skeleton but could now become Britain's first male Olympic champion in the sport.

Two-time reigning world champion Weston dominated at the World Cup this season, while team-mate Marcus Wyatt is also among the medal contenders at these Games.

In fact, Wyatt is the only man other than Weston to win a World Cup race this season.

The first of four runs has already begun on the new track in Cortina and the second begins at 10:08 GMT, with the final then on Friday.

So let's get straight to that first run...

Image source, Getty Images

The day six of the Winter Olympics and the wait goes on for Great Britain's first medal.

It was heart-break for Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in the ice dance last night as they missed out on a medal but today is a new day - and one that many expect to mark the start of a British push not only for a medal but maybe even a lovely gold one.

That's because the men's skeleton is under way - and when it comes to skeleton, it feels there is always hope of British success and this year is no different...