In a disappointing start to her Olympic career at the Milano-Cortina Games, Krista Pärmäkoski, a 35-year-old Finnish skier, finished far off the pace in the 10+10 kilometer combined event. Pärmäkoski finished with a time that placed her four minutes behind the leader, which has left experts questioning her ability to compete effectively in subsequent events. Iltalehti's skiing analyst, Pirjo Muranen, expressed grave concerns about Pärmäkoski's performance, suggesting that such a result raises questions about her potential participation in future races in the Olympics.

Pärmäkoski, who had previously earned medals in the last two Olympic Games, struggled notably during both the classic and freestyle techniques. Her lagging performance, finishing nearly two minutes behind gold medalist Frida Karlsson in the freestyle leg, has sparked discussions about her capacity to compete for medals at these Olympics. Muranen speculated that unless significant improvements are made, this could potentially be Pärmäkoski's first and last Olympic experience.

Looking ahead, Pärmäkoski has another opportunity in the upcoming traditional sprint event scheduled for next Tuesday, which will be crucial not only for her personal aspirations but also for the Finnish skiing team's prospects in the games. The skiing community and fans are watching closely to see if she can rally and turn the tide on what has so far been a disappointing Olympic campaign.