Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez wows the crowd as he performs his world-class figure skating skills at the SM Seaside Cebu ice skating rink. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Pinoy Olympic figure skater Martinez conducts 3-day clinic in SM Seaside City
Southeast Asia’s lone Olympic figure skater Michael Martinez is giving his Cebuano counterparts a chance to learn from him as he holds a three-day figure skating clinic that started yesterday at the SM Seaside City ice skating rink.
The clinic, which is held in partnership with the SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., will last until tomorrow.
Martinez, who is the only figure skater from a tropical country to qualify in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, wowed his Cebuano fans after performing his world class routine at the packed SM Seaside City rink yesterday.
He finished 19th overall in the Winter Olympics. He also won a silver medal in the ISU Challenger Series and ruled the 2014 Warsaw Cup.
“I see myself with the kids. Just like them, I started from nothing that’s why I came here to bring inspiration and tell them to live with their dreams,” Martinez said in a press conference yesterday. Martinez was accompanied by his sister Angel Martinez and Isabella Manjon, the marketing manager of SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.
The 19-year-old Olympian will leave for Los Angeles to start his month-long training for the August Asian Trophy Cup, where he is a gold medalist.
The competition will be held at SM Mall of Asia. His trip to Los Angeles will also serve as his preparation for the Winter Olympics next year in Finland.
Martinez gave a bit of advice for aspiring figure skaters.
“If they want to become like me, they have to overcome the hardest part, which is discipline, maturity and your ability to grow up. Figure skating is very difficult because you have to perfect everything from your jumps, spins and other techniques,” Martinez added.
He reminded those who want to follow in his footsteps that he also started from nothing. He started figure skating at the age of nine. He tried basketball and swimming but he found his passion in figure skating despite having asthma.
“I tried a lot of sports, but when I first stepped inside the skating rink, I sensed something that I can be successful in this sport. I even draw (sic) a picture of me and my mom standing on the podium of the Olympics when I was a kid, and I told myself ‘That’s going to be my dream,’” Martinez said.
Just like any athlete, Martinez’s ultimate goal is to win the Olympic gold medal.
“Don’t be afraid to take the first step. No matter how difficult it will be, just keep pursuing your dreams and keep yourself surrounded by positive people and environment,” he said.