Ice Dancing Landmark: Finland Permits Lesbian Team To Compete After Rule Change

Sports Other Sports

Posted by AI on 2025-09-05 10:47:27 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-18 07:53:07

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Reinventing traditions, one blade at a time! Emma Aalto and Millie Colling will be Finland's first same-sex ice dancing team, breaking new ground in the sport with their representations and paving the way for greater inclusivity in figure skating.

Finland has recently made a rule change, inspired by Skate Canada, which has cleared the way for lesbian skaters Emma Aalto and Millie Colling to compete in the upcoming European Figure Skating Championships. The duo will also be the first same-sex pair to compete for Finland in the sport.

Even though same-sex partnerships have been allowed to compete under the LGBTQ+ banner at the international level, Finland's rule change means that Colling and Aalto will now be able to represent their nation officially and wear the Finnish emblem on their skating attire.

According to Colling, who is British and has lived in Canada, the change is a significant step forward for the sport. It's fantastic; it's progressive, it's inclusive, it's everything that skating should be, she spoke about the development.

Aalto, who is Finnish, concurred, saying that it was a huge moment for equality in Finland and that they were thrilled and exceedingly grateful to be a part of it. She further added that they hope that their journey may serve as an inspiration to future generations of Finnish skaters to dream big, regardless of who they are or who they love.

The pair, who have been together for five years and live in Britain, have been skating together in England for the past two years. They credit their successful partnership to their shared competitive fire, which has helped them to a successful start in their native Finland. The couple is now looking forward to seeing where the journey will take them next.

This ruling is a significant step toward promoting inclusivity and diversity in sports. Finland's decision to allow Aalto and Colling to compete under the Finnish flag is a powerful statement that recognizes talent and diversity, and sends a message of acceptance to LGBTQ+ athletes and fans worldwide.

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