Krista Pärmäkoski reveals where she will race for the last time

Finnish cross-country star Krista Pärmäkoski, 34, will retire after the current season. She disclosed the decision on Instagram, saying she now feels a sense of peace that the timing is right. After a difficult 2023 World Championships and contemplation about continuing, a surprise victory in Lahti’s World Cup 20 km classic interval-start in March 2024 helped her decide to extend her career two more seasons.

Pärmäkoski debuted in the Cross-Country World Cup at age 17 in Ruka in 2008, then competing under her maiden name Krista Lähteenmäki. The 2025–26 winter will be her 18th World Cup season. She told Yle at Ruka that the decision matured over the summer; the plan always included this season and the upcoming Olympics. She intends to enjoy the final year fully, embracing both the highs and lows of competition.

Her final race is scheduled to be the Finnish Championships in Inari: the 30 km classic individual start on April 12, 2026.

Pärmäkoski is one of Finland’s most successful female skiers of the 2010s and 2020s alongside Kerttu Niskanen. Internationally, she has five Olympic medals: silver in the 2014 women’s relay; at PyeongChang 2018 silver in the 30 km classic mass start and bronze in both the skiathlon and 10 km freestyle interval start; and bronze in the 10 km classic interval start at Beijing 2022. She has seven World Championship medals: team sprint silver (Oslo 2011), team sprint bronze (Val di Fiemme 2013), four relay bronzes (2011, 2015, 2017, 2021), and individual skiathlon silver (Lahti 2017).

Outside skiing, she has been active in other endurance sports, including orienteering at the Venla relay and track running, placing fourth over 5,000 m at the Finnish Championships in 2024.