A trans figure skater from Finland by the name of Minna Maaria had an epic fall during the opening ceremony of the European Figure Skating Championships. The competition took place in Maaria’s home country of Finland and Maaria was the highlight. The now-viral video that displays the spill on the ice also shows the other (biologically) female skaters circling around Maaria. This skating pattern suggests that Maaria was some sort of highlight.
Minna Maaria says becoming an ice skater as a woman, although born male, was a dream since childhood. Maaria also says that their skating journey did not begin until age 50, which seems like a contradiction.
It is not clear why the EFSC would place a 59-year-old male-to-female transgender skater front and center… aside from the obvious diversity optics. Outi Wuorenheimo, executive director of the Finnish Figure Skating Association and secretary general of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, did actually mention “diversity and equality” as things that they champion.
SOURCES:
Trans Figure Skater Makes History, Then Slips On Ice
Transgender figure skater suffers epic fall at the European Figure Skating Championships in Finland | Daily Mail Online
FALLEN AND CAN’T GET UP: Finland trans figure skater falls in opening ceremonies | News | westernstandard.news
Taitoluistelu: Minna-Maaria Antikainen kertoo kaatumisestaan EM-avajaisissa – Taitoluistelu – Ilta-Sanomat
