Krista Pärmäkoski, a 35-year-old Finnish skier, completed her competitive sports career on Sunday by participating in the 50-kilometer race at the Olympic Games, where she finished in 21st place. The race proved to be a grueling struggle for Pärmäkoski as she faced exhausting physical challenges, particularly as her energy levels plummeted towards the end of the competition. She described experiencing significant muscle cramps, which made it difficult for her to even put on her clothes after the race, requiring help from a friend.

Pärmäkoski revealed that her struggles began earlier in the race due to problems with her skis, which compounded her difficulties throughout the competition. According to Reijo Jylhä, the head coach of the women's national team, the initial issues with her equipment set off a cycle of further problems that impacted her performance negatively. By the second lap, she had to adapt her skiing technique significantly, which is a telling sign of the physical and mental toll the race took on her.

In her final race, Pärmäkoski displayed determination and resilience by giving her all despite the physical limitations she was encountering. She stated, 'I left everything on the course; when the body is empty, there is no more to find in the climbs.' Her ending in competitive skiing is marked by a profound struggle against the odds, symbolizing both the challenges athletes face and the passion they carry for their sport until the very end.