Ilkka Herola, who recently earned two medals at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, continued his impressive performance in ski jumping at a historic World Cup event in Kulm, Austria, marking the first time men are competing in a World Cup ski flying competition. His extraordinary jump of 221 meters secured him second place in the qualifying round, only edged out by competitor Johannes Lamparter who achieved a jump half a meter shorter but gained higher style points.

Other Finnish competitors also participated, with Eero Hirvonen finishing ninth and Otto Niittykoski in seventeenth place. The competition in Kulm was particularly significant as it represents a groundbreaking event in ski flying for men, drawing considerable attention from the sporting community. Herola's recent Olympic success, which included a silver medal from the team competition alongside Hirvonen and a bronze in the large hill event, has elevated his profile in the sport and showcased his potential as a leading athlete.

The main ski jumping competition in Kulm is scheduled for Friday morning, followed by the skiing portion in the afternoon. With Herola's recent momentum and strong performance in qualifying, he is poised to be a contender for top honors in the upcoming event, which will not only contribute to his career accolades but also enhance Finland's visibility in the international ski jumping arena.