Iida Karhunen books place in women's free skate after assured short program
Finnish figure skater Iida Karhunen delivered a composed short program on Tuesday at the Milano–Cortina Olympics and clinched her spot in the women's free skate. The result keeps Karhunen in contention as the competition moves into its final stages.
Short program: clean lines and controlled nerves
Karhunen skated in the women's short program earlier on Tuesday and produced a performance that combined clean elements with solid interpretation. The routine drew positive reactions for its technical stability and clarity under pressure — a notable achievement at an Olympics that has already seen intense competition in the ladies' field. Her showing was enough to place her among the skaters advancing to Saturday's free skate, giving her the chance to climb in the overall standings.
What comes next: free skate and wider Finnish momentum
Karhunen will return for the free skate later in the competition schedule, where higher base-value elements and stamina often reshuffle the leaderboard. The free program represents the primary opportunity to move up; Karhunen now has a clear task to refine jump execution and presentation details in the days ahead.
The Finnish contingent has enjoyed a strong stretch at these Games, with notable results in the Nordic disciplines. That broader momentum provides an encouraging backdrop for Karhunen as she prepares for her free skate. Her advancement adds depth to the nation's presence across the roster of events and gives Finnish fans another figure to watch as medal contenders and personal-best seekers vie for late-week glory.
Schedule notes and context (times in Eastern Time)
Organizers scheduled several cross-country and combined events earlier on Tuesday; for reference, a midday ski start listed at 14: 45 local time corresponded to 8: 45 AM ET, and a subsequent relay slated for 15: 30 local time matched 9: 30 AM ET. Karhunen's short program took place during the same competition day, and the free skate will follow later in the Olympic timetable. Exact session times for the free skate will determine how much recovery and preparation time Karhunen will have before delivering her long program.
With the short program secured, Karhunen and her coaching team can focus on polishing technical content and performance details ahead of the free skate. A confident showing there could elevate her ranking and mark a memorable Olympic progression for the Finnish skater.
