Rukajärvi is one of Finland's biggest medal hopes in 2014. She is currently slopestyle World Champion.
“Of course, this is a great honour,” says the bright eyed mistress of the slopes. “The Olympic games highlights nationality and Finnishness is more prominent than snowboarding in general. It’s great to be part of the Finnish team.”
The choice was easy in the end, says Finnish team leader Mika Kojonkoski. He says that slopestyle snowboarding represents a new, relaxed, fresh and energetic sports culture, meaning that Rukajärvi was the perfect candidate for flag bearer.
In the previous Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the Finnish flag was carried by hockey player Ville Peltonen.