Finnish figure skater Iida Karhunen lands spots in two major Grand Prix events

Finnish figure skating talent Iida Karhunen has received exciting news, securing invitations to two prestigious Grand Prix (GP) competitions this autumn. The 18-year-old skater will compete in Canada and Finland, facing off against a field of world-class athletes, including Olympic gold medalists.

Karhunen expressed her delight at earning her own GP spot, noting that securing a place in a competition outside of Finland could lead to two invitations. She will compete in Canada in October, with the Finnish Figure Skating Association awarding her the second spot for the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki based on her performance last season. This marks a significant achievement early in her senior career.

Alongside Karhunen, Finland's top ice dance duos, Juulia Turkkila – Matthias Versluis and Yuka Orihara – Juho Pirinen, have also earned spots in two GP events each. They are scheduled to compete in Helsinki and Tokyo in consecutive weeks. The Grand Prix series represents the highest level of figure skating outside of major championships.

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It had been on my mind for a long time that it would be really nice to get my own GP spot. We knew that if you got it in something other than the Finnish competition, you could get two competition spots.

The Finlandia Trophy, the fifth event in the GP series, will take place in Helsinki in November. The event promises a star-studded lineup, featuring Olympic champions Alysa Liu (women's singles) and the ice dance pair Laurence Fournier Beaudry – Guillaume Cizeron. Other international stars expected include the USA's Isabeau Levito and France's Adam Siao Him Fa, known for his quadruple jumps.

Karhunen, who debuted in senior competitions last season, made a strong impression, achieving personal best scores with near-perfect performances at the World Championships in Milan. Her journey to securing these GP spots was a key goal for her breakthrough season. The Helsinki event will also see Olivia Lisko competing in women's singles for Finland, alongside the aforementioned ice dance pairs.

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It is really great to get those two spots right after the first senior season.