Minna-Maaria Antikainen (59), formerly known as Markku-Pekka Antikainen, made their debut as the world’s first transgender national figure skater at the European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland.
Despite being the center of attention, Antikainen’s shakey performance resulted in a fall on the ice.
According to Finnish media, Antikainen had no prior skating experience, and their appearance on the ice was simply a fulfillment of a “childhood dream.”
Despite the lack of skill, the press release for the event stated, “With this diverse group of performers, we want to show that the ice has space for everyone.”
While some praised Antikainen for their bravery, others were quick to point out that athletic ability took a backseat to the promotion of inclusivity.
The theme of the opening ceremony, “Just be you,” focused on presenting skaters of various backgrounds and abilities.
“With the diverse group of performers, we want to show that the ice has space for everyone,” the press release reads. “The opening ceremony will present skaters at various levels from non-professionals to top athletes. On the ice, we will see Single Skaters, Synchronized Skaters, and Pairs. Included among the performers are Figure Skater Minna-Maaria Antikainen, who defines herself as a gender-neutral woman, adaptive skating performers, and a male synchronized skating team.”
