Kristjan Ilves, the Estonian Nordic combined athlete, made a notable impression at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with a sixth-place finish in the normal hill competition. Ilves's performance highlighted his skill, as he won the morning jump round with an impressive leap of 99 meters, which earned him 132.6 points. He began the 10 km cross-country skiing event 15 seconds ahead of Austrian competitor Thomas Rettenegger, showcasing his strong jumping ability.

During the cross-country race, Ilves initially led the pack for the first one and a half laps but was eventually caught by the other competitors. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line in sixth place, finishing 41.1 seconds behind the gold medalist from Norway, Jens Luraas Oftebro. Reflecting on his performance, Ilves commented on the challenging competition and acknowledged the strength of those ahead of him, suggesting that his hopes for a medal were slim but still present.

Despite not securing a medal, Ilves expressed contentment with his performance, articulating that he did not feel disappointed with his sixth-place finish. He reiterated that it was his maximum effort for the day and recognized the exceptional talent of the athletes who finished ahead of him. His comments reveal the sportsman's desire for success while also indicating a level of realistic assessment of his competition and achievements at this high level of sport.