At the European Figure Skating Championships in Finland, the pioneering transgender figure skater, Minna-Maaria Antikainen, formerly known as Markku-Pekka Antikainen, experienced a notable stumble. During their debut on the international skating stage, Antikainen, a Finnish skater who transitioned at the age of forty-nine, took a dramatic fall.
Antikainen’s journey in figure skating is unconventional. They are not only the first transgender skater to compete internationally but also started the sport relatively late in life. When not on the ice, Antikainen manages a farm in Siilinjarvi, Finland. The Finnish Figure Skating Association honored them with a solo performance at the opening ceremony to emphasize their commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Despite eight years of rigorous training to become an international figure skating sensation, Antikainen was plagued by nerves during their inaugural performance for the Finnish Figure Skating Association. Identifying as a gender-neutral woman, they admitted to not being entirely comfortable with professional ice skating, resulting in a stumble early in their routine, causing them to fall.
The dramatic fall occurred mere seconds into their performance on the global stage. Fortunately, a female hostess carrying the Finnish flag came to Antikainen’s aid, assisting them to resume their routine after the mishap.
Before their international debut, Antikainen trained five hours weekly and participated in other competitive skating events both in Finland and internationally, as reported by Skating Finland.
The theme of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships’ opening ceremony was “Just be you.” In line with this theme, the organization chose to spotlight Antikainen to demonstrate their dedication to diversity and inclusion in the sport.
However, the sport of figure skating remains conservative and has yet to embrace diversity fully. Same-sex pairs are still prohibited in international competitions, and there is no category for non-binary skaters, as highlighted by Outi Wuorenheimo, the Executive Director of the Finnish Figure Skating Association. Wuorenheimo expressed hope for progress towards equality and diversity in the sport worldwide.
The ISU European Figure Skating Championships took place from January 25 to January 29, 2023.
Watch the video below to witness the first forty-five seconds of Antikainen’s routine, where they fall shortly after beginning their solo performance in front of the large audience.
