I. Early Life: The Making of a Skating Talent
Iida Karhunen was born on 5 April 2008 in the Finnish city of Lappeenranta, a place known for its beautiful lakes and vibrant winter sports culture. From the moment she first stepped onto the ice, there was something unmistakable about her connection to figure skating. By age two, she was already enthralled with blades and balance – a fascination that set the stage for an extraordinary athletic career.
Iida grew up in an environment uniquely suited to nurturing her talents. She has two older sisters, Laura and Henna, both of whom were competitive skaters themselves and played key roles in supporting her early development on the ice. This family background not only gave Iida early exposure to competitive skating but also built a foundation of emotional and practical support that would prove invaluable as she advanced into more serious competition.
In Finland, where winter sports are deeply woven into the cultural fabric, it’s common for children to begin skating almost as soon as they can walk. But even in that context, Iida’s early dedication stood out. She began learning to skate in 2010, at only two years old, and her natural affinity for the sport quickly became evident. Under the early guidance of coaches like Elina Kutznetsova and Jacek Zylski, and later under the long‑term mentorship of Finnish coach Marina Shirshova, she developed strong foundational skills that allowed her to compete at increasingly ambitious levels.
Her hometown club, Lappeenrannan taitoluistelijat, became both a training ground and a community where she could hone her skills among peers and under experienced coaches. While many children might treat skating as a playful winter hobby, for Iida it quickly became a serious competitive passion – a life path shaped by early success and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
II. The Junior Years: A Rapid Ascent
Iida’s formal competitive career began in earnest at a remarkably young age. In 2013, only five years after first stepping onto ice, she began entering competitions – a clear sign that coaches and observers recognized her potential early on.
Her first international success came in 2020 at the Mentor Toruń Cup, where, as an advanced novice skater, she won the silver medal. This podium finish marked a young skater already comfortable with the pressure of international competition – an important milestone for anyone hoping to excel before adulthood.
2021–22: Gaining International Experience
The 2021–22 season was a breakthrough year for Iida at the junior level. In her international junior debut at the 2021 Volvo Open Cup, she captured the gold medal, immediately demonstrating her capacity to compete – and win – beyond Finland’s borders. Later that season, she also took silver at the 2022 Nordic Junior Championships and won other international competitions, consolidating her reputation as one of Finland’s up-and-coming talents.
But while victories were significant, perhaps the most important developments were personal and technical. Success at multiple international events showed that Iida was able to adapt to different competitive settings, travel schedules, and pressure situations earlier than many of her peers. These experiences would pay dividends as she moved into even more elite fields of competition.
2022–23: European Youth Olympic Triumph
The 2022–23 season saw Iida make her mark on a European level. Alongside respectable placements on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, she won first place at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival – one of the most prestigious youth titles in winter sports. This victory was a signal to the broader skating world that she was not just a promising junior but a major contender – someone capable of rising above an elite international field.
She also earned gold at the Nordic Junior Championships and captured her first Finnish junior national title in December 2022. However, not every event that year brought triumph: at the 2023 World Junior Championships, she placed 26th in the short program and did not qualify for the free skate. While disappointing, this result was an important learning experience, revealing the challenges that still lay ahead as she sought to refine her technical consistency and competitive resilience.
2023–24: Continued Dominance and Youth Olympic Experience
In the 2023–24 season, Iida continued to show immense promise. On the Junior Grand Prix circuit she earned strong placements — fifth in Austria and seventh in Hungary — and captured multiple international junior titles, including at the Volvo Open Cup and the Tallinn Trophy. Back at home, she claimed her second Finnish junior national title in December.
Another milestone came when she was selected for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea, where she finished eighth — a solid result among the world’s best youth skaters. Later, at the 2024 World Junior Championships, she achieved an impressive fourth place finish — narrowly missing a podium spot but unmistakably signaling her readiness to challenge the elite junior ranks.
In this phase of Iida’s development, what stands out is the balance between steady improvement and competitive consistency. Her ability to skate clean programs and rise against strong fields that included future senior stars began to mark her as a rising force whose future lay not just in national triumphs but in European and global elite competition.
III. Transition to Senior Level: Challenges and Breakthroughs
For many skaters, the transition from junior to senior competition is a formidable test. The technical elements are harder, artistic requirements are more demanding, and the psychological intensity is on an entirely different scale. Iida approached this transition in the 2024–25 season with characteristic determination.
2024–25: Final Junior Triumphs
As she neared eligibility for senior competition, Iida continued to dominate at the junior level. In the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix series she placed fifth and seventh, then claimed a silver medal at the 2024 Volvo Open Cup and a strong fourth place at the Bosphorus Cup. Back in Finland, she won her third consecutive Finnish junior national title and claimed gold at the 2025 Volvo Open Cup. She also earned gold at the 2025 Nordic Junior Championships and finished 11th at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
This season symbolized a culmination of her junior career — she had achieved the highest ranks possible, nearly reaching the senior podium even before making her official senior debut. More importantly, she had built an artistic and technical foundation strong enough to challenge skaters many years older and far more experienced.
IV. The 2025–26 Season: A Defining Year
The 2025–26 season was arguably the most significant in Iida Karhunen’s career to date — a year in which she stepped fully into the senior spotlight, competed at the highest levels, and earned a place among the world’s elite figure skaters.
Senior Debut and Challenger Circuit Success
Iida began her senior career on the ISU Challenger Series — the circuit that bridges high-level international competition and the Grand Prix series. She finished sixth at the 2025 CS Nebelhorn Trophy and eighth at the 2025 CS Trialeti Trophy, performances that demonstrated adaptability to the senior field’s pace and rigor.
She then captured gold at the 2025 Volvo Open Cup, a victory that symbolized her readiness for regular senior competition.
Grand Prix Debut and National Championship Triumph
In late November 2025, Iida made her Grand Prix debut at the 2025 Finlandia Trophy — one of the sport’s most prestigious annual events outside the championship and Olympic circuits. In a highly competitive field, she finished sixth, a remarkable result for a first-time appearance and a clear signal that she could contend with established senior skaters.
Her success didn’t stop there. She won the silver medal at the 2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, achieving her personal best combined score of 187.05 points, and showcasing both technical prowess and artistic maturity.
Then, in December 2025, Iida claimed the 2026 Finnish national championship title, a milestone marking her ascent to the pinnacle of Finnish women’s figure skating. This victory secured her reputation not just as a national leader but as a skater capable of representing her country with distinction on the European and world stage.
European Championships and Olympic Selection
In January 2026 at the European Championships, Iida continued her streak of impressive accomplishments. After placing 16th in the short program, she delivered a strong free skate and finished 10th overall — an outstanding result given her relative youth and recent transition from junior competition.
Her performance earned admiration for its technical confidence, artistic expression, and maturity beyond her years — qualities that made many in the skating world take notice. At just 17, she was showing the competitive character and resilience required of a senior international contender.
These performances and rankings led to her selection for Team Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina — one of the most remarkable achievements in her young career. She became one of the youngest Finnish figure skaters to compete at the Olympics, a dream realized through years of dedication.
V. Olympic Debut: A Moment of Promise and Growth
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo marked a defining chapter in Iida Karhunen’s story. For most athletes, especially those in individual sports, the Olympics are the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and competitive nerve — and for many, also an emotional crucible. Iida’s Olympic debut was no exception.
Despite intense pressure and the sheer scale of the Olympic stage, she rose to the occasion. In the short program, she delivered a performance that earned her her highest Olympic score yet — 65.06 points — and secured her place in the free skate portion.
Her coach, Marina Shirshova, praised her mental strength and poise, highlighting the calm focus she brought to her routine against a backdrop of global scrutiny. The success of her performance was not just technical but psychological — a testament to her years of disciplined training and her natural competitive composure.
Iida herself acknowledged the difficulty of competing under such intense pressure but said that she “enjoyed every moment” and was excited for future opportunities. Her Olympic experience, while only the beginning of what promises to be a long international career, already demonstrated how she could harness nerves into performance energy.
Outside the competitive arena, the Olympic experience also included moments that highlighted her personality and maturity. She engaged with fellow athletes, participated in the vibrant Olympic athlete community, and even enjoyed social milestones — like the traditional Finnish senior school dances — demonstrating her capacity to balance elite sport with the normal experiences of adolescence.
VI. Style, Technique, and Influences
Iida’s skating style reflects a blend of artistic expressiveness and meticulously developed technical elements. She has cited figures such as Kaori Sakamoto, Loena Hendrickx, and Nathan Chen among her skating idols – athletes known for their powerful jump technique, musical interpretation, and competitive artistry.
Her programs reveal a careful attention to musicality and choreography. In the 2025-26 season, her short program drew from Coupure électrique by Britney Spears and Jacquadi by Polo & Pan – pieces that allowed her to showcase both precision and personality on the ice – while her free skate to Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky emphasized classical elegance and emotional depth.
Her choreographer, Adam Solya, has played a significant role in helping craft routines that highlight her strengths, whether in dynamic jump sequences or lyrical expression. This collaborative creative process has been a defining feature of her performances.
VII. Challenges and Growth
Despite her successes, Iida’s journey has not been without hurdles. At the 2026 European Championships, she faced early adversity, finishing 16th in the short program before staging a strong comeback in the free skate. On the bigger stage of senior championships, such fluctuations are common, and they underscore the need for psychological resilience alongside physical preparation.
Earlier in her career, she also faced the effects of a rule change by the International Skating Union raising the minimum age for senior eligibility. This change delayed her transition to senior competition, creating a sense of frustration – but also an opportunity to mature further at the junior level. Her coach described this delay as ultimately beneficial, suggesting that rushing into senior competition too early can inhibit holistic artistic growth.
Her performances in events like the European Championships’ short program in January 2026 included uncharacteristic errors that were widely discussed by skating commentators. These moments serve as reminders that even elite athletes must navigate performance pressure and elements of unpredictability. Yet Iida has approached such setbacks not as failures but as learning opportunities – transforming challenges into fuel for growth.
VIII. The Significance of Her Career So Far
Iida Karhunen’s journey, while uniquely her own, reflects larger themes in the sport of figure skating – the transition from juvenile promise to senior excellence, the importance of psychological balance under pressure, and the role of consistent artistic development. As a young athlete who has achieved national titles, international medals, and an Olympic debut by age 17, her story resonates far beyond Finland’s skating community.
She has become a role model for younger skaters – particularly in nations where figure skating is competitive but not traditionally dominant on the world stage. Her achievements demonstrate that with disciplined training, artistic vision, and emotional maturity, it’s possible to challenge more established powers in global figure skating.
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