In a surprising turn of events, Vilma Ryytty has emerged as a key player for the Finnish women's Olympic relay team, despite not initially being part of the squad envisioned by head coach Reijo Jylhä during the summer training period of 2025. Jylhä had originally mapped out a different team, but an unexpected decline in performance from star skier Krista Pärmäkoski, due to a COVID-19 infection in December, prompted a re-evaluation of the team lineup.

Ryytty was thrust into the relay team and assigned to the critical third leg of the race. Heeding Jylhä’s advice, she aimed not to push herself too hard during the race, which she felt added a layer of pressure that was manageable for her. After the competition, Ryytty shared her excitement about the potential for winning a medal, stating that this motivation had driven her performance. She competed with a sense of responsibility, knowing that the Finnish team was in the running for a podium finish.

During the race, Ryytty benefited from a strong start by Kerttu Niskanen, who handed her the baton in second place, approximately 20 seconds behind the leader Norway. With a gap of some 20-30 seconds separating Finland from major competitors like the USA and Germany, Ryytty delivered a stellar performance, increasing her team’s lead significantly and distancing herself from these rivals by over 40 seconds. This impressive showing highlighted her integral role within the team and propelled Finland towards claiming the bronze medal, marking a successful chapter in her skiing career.