Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez is surrounded by students at the Muntinlupa School for Child Development, his alma mater, in Bayanan, Muntinlupa, when he visited the school on Feb. 24. (Photo by Jonathan Hicap)
The recently concluded Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, has turned 17-year-old Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez into an overnight celebrity.
He arrived in the country last Feb. 23 to a hero’s welcome as Filipinos celebrated his performance in the figure skating competition in Sochi.
Not only was Martinez the lone Filipino athlete in the Games but he was also the first figure skater from Southeast Asia to qualify.
The whole Philippines was ecstatic when Martinez placed 19th in the figure skating short program and qualified for the finals held last Feb. 14.
In his hometown in Muntinlupa, Martinez was treated as a hero and pride of the city. At the flag raising ceremony at the Muntinlupa City Hall on Feb. 24, Martinez received a P100,000 check from Mayor Jaime Fresnedi.
The incentive came from a resolution passed last week by the Muntinlupa City Council commending Martinez for his performance in the Winter Olympics.
“The City Government (of Muntinlupa) is proudly united in congratulating Michael Martinez and takes pride as well that he brings enormous goodwill to Muntinlupa City, and to the rest of the country, as his story of triumph inspires our youth into realizing that success is close to those who are determined and willing to work hard to achieve it,” according to the resolution.
The resolution said Martinez “is the most bemedaled Filipino skater having won a total of 189 medals (143 gold medals, 28 silver and 18 bronze/pewter medals).”
After the ceremony, Martinez toured the whole city in a motorcade to greet Muntinlupa residents.
Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez (4th from right) and his mother Maria Theresa (4th from left) hold the mock check of P100,000 incentive given by Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (3rd from right) at the Muntinlupa City hall flag raising ceremony. Martinez was rewarded for his feat in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. With them are (from left) DepEd-Muntinlupa Superintendent Priscilla de Sagun, Danny Carandang, Danny Garcia, Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac and Majority Floor Leader Atty. Patricio Boncayao Jr. (Photo courtesy of Muntinlupa PIO)
He said he was overwhelmed by their support.
“I was so happy because they were very supportive. I saw in their eyes that they are proud of me,” Martinez told Bulletin Entertainment in an interview.
After the motorcade, he proceeded to the Muntinlupa School for Child Development, his alma mater, in Bayanan, Muntinlupa, to be with his former teachers and students.
The Muntinlupa City Council also passed a resolution commending the school for nurturing Martinez, who finished high school last year.
Principal Elizabeth Carandang said Martinez finished elementary and high school in their school.
“He’s very quiet, very friendly, sociable and humble,” Carandang said.
Carandang said Martinez visited the school last December and gifted them with chocolates before flying to the US for his training.
Martinez said it was a whole new experience when he competed in the Winter Olympics.
“It was a different feeling. There was pressure because I was representing the Philippines and this was the product of my hard work in the last few years. And you’re making history,” he said.
Martinez began figure skating when he was eight years old in 2005. Last year, he won first in the Skate Helena in Serbia and a bronze in the New Year’s Cup figure skating competition in Slovakia. He placed fifth in the 2013 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Martinez said his main goal is to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics that will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“I’m really eyeing the 2018 Olympics. This 2014, we were just hoping to qualify. I’m ready but not fully complete unlike the other skaters who are much older than me, more experienced and they are supported,” he said.
He is currently ranked 30th in the International Skating Union World Standings.
Martinez will be leaving the Philippines on Feb. 27 to train in the US before he competes in the 2014 World Junior Figure Skating Championships slated from March 10 to 16 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Winter Olympics transforms Michael Martinez into a celebrity
Source: Mb.com.ph (February 25, 2014 at 01:16PM)
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