Iida Karhunen, a 17-year-old figure skater, has been selected to represent Finland by carrying the national flag at the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, set to take place in Verona. This prominent role is particularly meaningful to Karhunen as she reflects on her first year competing in the senior category, which has been marked by a significant upward trajectory. In a statement released by the Olympic Committee, she expressed her excitement about concluding the competitions with such an honorary task and mentioned that the experiences gained from participating in the Olympics will greatly energize her future endeavors.

In her debut Olympic appearance, Karhunen achieved her personal best scores in both the short and free programs at the Milan Olympic ice rink. Her total score of 192.79 earned her a commendable 16th place in the women's singles skating event. Reflecting on her performance, Karhunen rated her Olympic debut highly, giving herself a score of "maybe nine and a half," while noting some minor imperfections in both routines which she acknowledged as areas for improvement.

The head of the Olympic team, Janne Hänninen, praised Karhunen's performance as a "fantastic success" in another statement from the Olympic Committee. Traditionally, the honor of carrying the flag during the opening ceremony has been reserved for seasoned and successful athletes, making Karhunen's selection a notable achievement early in her career, highlighting both her potential and the pride she brings to her nation as she represents Finland on such a prominent stage.