By DAVID CASUCO M.C. Martinez does the tough split/spin move LOS ANGELES (Mabuhay) -– At the kiss-and-cry area of the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, young Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez did his final spin – capping his auspicious Winter Olympic debut by telling the whole world that winter-less Philippines is where he came from. The crowd at skating arena, earlier captivated by his not-so-perfect but nonetheless elegant freeskate, responded with a mild roar. A few minutes later, the international media were making a beeline to interview the Filipino athlete. Martinez, who came to the Olympics with a bag of distractions and a shoestring budget, got more than what he bargained for. He set his goal to make the freeskate, he placed 19th; he dreamed to be in the same stage with figure skating stars, he became one of them; he wanted to get the attention of potential sponsors for the next four years, he got the attention of the whole world. The youngest in the field of 30 men’s qualifiers, Martinez has accomplished a great part of his goal to enter the medal round in this, the grandest stage of athletic competition where perfection and excellence are norms. The other half of that dream is compete and win a medal in his next important stop: the 1218 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Widely regarded in the skating world as “one of the next figure skating stars,” Martinez has proved to all and sundry that he has what it Read More …
