Ilkka Herola, a Finnish athlete and gold medal favorite in the combined ski jumping competition, delivered a disappointing performance during the event at the Milano-Cortina games. Despite showing promise in previous practice sessions where he ranked high, his actual jump placed him only seventh in the competition. In a candid moment, Herola criticized his jump, describing it as one of the worst he has performed at the Predazzo hill, which contributed greatly to his current predicament in the competition.

During an interview with a state media outlet, Herola did not shy away from expressing his dissatisfaction with his performance, saying, "It was a bad jump and it really bothers me." His lackluster jump led him to lose 32 seconds to the event's winner, Ryota Yamamoto of Japan, when converting his times for ski racing. Herola acknowledged the tough conditions on the track but also indicated that he needs to take risks if he hopes to recapture any hope of a medal in the ongoing competition.

Despite his disappointing results, Herola maintained that the situation wasn't as dire as it seemed at first. He pointed out that both Yamamoto and Kristjan Ilves of Estonia, who finished sixth in the jump, could also falter during the 10-kilometer ski race portion, hinting at the unpredictable nature of competitive skiing. Thus, while his performance fell short of expectations, Herola remains aware of the ever-changing dynamics of the competition, demonstrating his resilience as he prepares for the next challenges ahead.