The World’s First Trans Figure Skating Routine Did Not Go According To Plan

At the European Figure Skating Championships in Finland, the world’s first transgender figure skater, Minna-Maaria Antikainen, faced a challenging debut, tumbling spectacularly seconds into her routine.

Formerly known as Markku-Pekka Antikainen and a newcomer to skating at 49, she operates a farm in Siilinjarvi, Finland, alongside her training.

Despite eight years of preparation, nerves got the better of her during this pivotal performance, disrupting her debut. The Finnish Figure Skating Association had chosen her to highlight diversity and inclusion, reflecting their theme, “Just be you.”

However, despite this message, same-sex pairs remain banned in figure skating, highlighting the sport’s conservative nature.