After a year marked by both challenges and renewed attention, the Finnish cross-country skier now sits among Finland’s most searched athletes and has become the subject of a light-hearted title in local media.

The newly divorced cross-country skiing star is among the most popular athletes in Finland, regardless of sport. Now she has also been named the “hottest single cross-country skier.”

“A media outlet called me Finland’s ‘hottest single cross-country skier.’ When you’re Finland’s hottest single cross-country skier, Google must have sung its praises, and those who Google me probably get lovely pictures of snot on my cheeks,” Krista Pärmäkoski jokes.

Also Read: Cross-country star divorces after 10 years

Divorced in April

Cross-country skier Krista Pärmäkoski and coach Tommi Pärmäkoski were granted a divorce in April 2025. Their relationship had already ended in the summer of 2024. Now she has been voted the hottest single cross-country skier.

Even though the Finnish star is now divorced, she has chosen to keep her ex-husband’s surname. There are several reasons for that, both practical and personal.

“It was my life at the time and is part of me. I’ve built my own brand with that surname,” Pärmäkoski tells Iltalehti.

By “her own brand,” she refers, among other things, to her KP headwear collection.

“I don’t have many years left in my career, so we’ll see what surname I end up with after that,” the Finnish star says.

Her maiden name is Lähteenmäki. She used it until August 2014, when she took the name Pärmäkoski upon her marriage.

Seventh overall, regardless of sport

Krista Pärmäkoski is the most-searched female athlete in Finland, based on Google searches.

According to an analysis from the digital agency Wuohi Digital, her name is googled an average of 53,100 times per month.

“Oh,” Pärmäkoski says when told the number.

The most googled Finnish athlete globally is racing driver Valtteri Bottas, with an average of 265,200 monthly searches. Basketball player Lauri Markkanen is second (223,800 searches per month), and ice hockey player Patrik Laine is third (207,700).

Pärmäkoski is seventh on the list, and among female athletes, pole vaulter Wilma Murto (44,400) is the only other woman in the top ten, ranking tenth.

The Finnish cross-country skier, who turns 35 in December, has already been pre-selected for the 2026 Olympics. It will be her fifth Olympic Games. Pärmäkoski has already competed at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, Sochi in 2014, PyeongChang in 2018, and Beijing in 2022. She has five Olympic medals, but no gold.

What happens after the 2025/2026 Olympic season remains unclear.

Also Read: Half the national team is considering retirement

Injuries, bullying, and mental struggles

Pärmäkoski’s World Championships in Trondheim and much of last season were ruined by a persistent injury. The day before the 50km, she was forced to end her season. She threw in the towel and opened up about the injury nightmare.

In addition, Pärmäkoski has also struggled mentally. Last autumn, she released her autobiography Avoin, which, in English, can be translated as “Open”—by author Laura Arffman.

In the book, she speaks honestly about life behind the scenes, about years of anxiety and restlessness, internal conflicts within the national team, bullying, and exclusion.

On Friday, she will be ready for the World Cup opener on home snow in Ruka.

Also Read: Finnish national team for the Ruka World Cup premiere

FACTS Ruka World Cup Season 2025/2026

• When: Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30 
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Ruka, Finland
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Ruka, Finland

PROGRAM

Friday, November 28: 10km Interval Start Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 10:30 CET: 10km Individual C, Women
• 13:15 CET: 10km Individual C, Men

Saturday, November 29: Sprint Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 8:55 CET: Sprint Qualify C, Women
• 8:55 CET: Sprint Qualify C, Men 
• 11:25 CET: Sprint Final C, Women 
• 11:25 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Sunday, November 30: 20km Mass Start Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Men
• 11:45 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Women

After Ruka, the World Cup heads to Norway (Trondheim). Then, to Switzerland (Davos) and the Tour de Ski (Italy). This period is followed by competitions in January in Germany (Oberhof) and Switzerland (Goms).

Then, it’s time for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games from February 7 to 22, 2026.

After Milano-Cortina, the World Cup ends the season with weekends in Sweden (Falun), Finland (Lahti), Norway (Drammen-Oslo), and the USA (Lake Placid).

Read More: Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season 

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.