At the European Figure Skating Championships in Finland, Minna-Maaria Antikainen, the world’s first transgender figure skater, faced a notable stumble during her international debut. Formerly a Finnish male skater, Antikainen took up figure skating at forty-nine, becoming a late entrant to the competitive scene. Despite operating a farm in Siilinjarvi, Finland, Antikainen earned a solo act at the opening ceremony, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

The fall occurred seconds into the routine, disrupting the performance. Antikainen, a gender-neutral woman, expressed nerves during the debut. A hostess with the Finnish flag assisted her, allowing the skater to resume the routine. The Finnish Figure Skating Association aimed to highlight diversity with the theme “Just be you,” challenging the conservative nature of figure skating that prohibits same-sex pairs. Outi Wuorenheimo, Executive Director of the Finnish Figure Skating Association, advocates for equality and diversity in the sport. The incident unfolded during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships from January 25 to 29, 2023.