Finland’s Minja Korhonen has enjoyed her best season to date in Nordic combined, most notably at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024, where she won golds in the Gundersen and team normal hill events.

Korhonen followed that with another gold medal in the Gundersen normal hill competition at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Planica, while earlier in the season she earned her first World Cup podium at the age of 16 with a third-place finish in Ramsau in the Gundersen normal hill event.

Inspired by the community spirit she has experienced progressing through the sport, Korhonen wants to become a role model for upcoming Nordic combined athletes.

She said: “When I first jumped into international competitions, I was welcomed with open arms. I also got the nickname “a little star”, which amused me and warmed my heart. I always started racing with enthusiasm and the same enthusiasm has remained until this moment.

“It was great to become part of the Nordic combined family. I want to share the kindness and be the role model and friend that other women have been to me, so that other new talents can experience the same sense of community that I have.”