Finland's Ilkka Herola demonstrated an impressive performance during the ski-jumping training sessions leading up to the combined competition. He recorded placements of 5th, 1st, and 1st in the first session of three jumps on Friday, and later achieved placements of 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on Monday at the Predazzo ski jump. These results indicate Herola is in peak condition and positioned well to contend for a medal, potentially even gold, in the upcoming competition scheduled for Tuesday.

In contrast, fellow Finn Eero Hirvonen, who is an Olympic bronze medalist in the normal hill competition, struggled with his jumps. He placed 8th, 20th, and 15th on Friday, and followed that with placements of 12th, 15th, and 5th on Monday. While Hirvonen has had success in the past, his recent performance could present challenges in the competitive field.

The combined ski jump event is set to take place in Italy, starting at 11 AM Finnish time for the ski jump, followed by a 10-kilometer cross-country skiing portion at 2:45 PM. Herola's outstanding training results raise expectations for his performance, with hopes that he will secure a podium finish for Finland.