Michael Martinez aims for the Winter Olympics

Michael Martinez became a household name after his scintillating performance at the Sochi Winter Olympics, and it also thrust the sport of figure skating in the limelight. Now, the general public is hungry for updates on his exploits and the results of the competitions he participates in. More and more kids are also getting into the sport because they have seen that Filipinos can excel in the sport, despite us living in a tropical country.

Last year was a very fruitful one for Martinez as he retained the Triglav Trophy in Slovenia last April, then won the gold medal at the Asian Figure Skating event in Bangkok. He also finished 9th at the Finlandia Trophy, 6th at the Audi Cup of China, 4th at the Warsaw Cup, then finally 7th at the Golden Spin of Zagreb.

SM Prime Holdings and SM Lifestyle Entertainment, through the SM Foundation, which support Michael’s campaign, coordinated this interview for The STAR.

STAR: How would you assess your 2015 season?

MICHAEL MARTINEZ: The 2015 season started very well with the Triglav Trophy 2015 Jesenice in Slovenia and the Asian Trophy in Bangkok, where I placed first. There was a dip midway in the Finlandia Trophy Espoo due to several injuries caused by my attempts to try higher-level jumps, such as the quad jumps. With the help of my team of coaches, in conjunction with my new medical team (Doc Eddie), I was able to prepare better, manage my injuries, and prevent new ones so my performance was able to pick up in the succeeding competitions. At the Cup of China, I scored my new personal best of 220.36 and placed sixth out of 12.

What are your priorities this coming year?

For the remaining competitions this season and for next season, my main priorities are: 1) to consistently improve my personal best score in each competition, 2) to successfully and consistently land my quad jump(s) at the World Championships, March 28 to April 3 in Boston, 3) to continue to work with my new medical and strength-training team to prevent further injuries and to strengthen any weaknesses that I have. Also I will be working with my team this coming summer, doing a lot of unorthodox and challenging things in preparation for the upcoming season.

How frustrating has your recent rash of injuries been for you?

It has been frustrating because it has caused me to lose a lot of training time. However, my coaching team, along with the help of Doc Eddie, has already made a difference in my physical recovery by doing a lot more office work to prevent further injuries as well as weekly sessions of physical therapy two to three days a week.

More and more kids are getting into the sport because of your success. How does this inspire you and are you proud that you are now considered a role model for the youth?

This fuels my determination to succeed and consistently improve in everything that I do for them, for my family, and for my country. I am very grateful for all the support and love everyone has been giving me. I am very humbled to be able to inspire and empower the youth. Through my experiences as an individual and as an athlete, I would like to continue inspiring them to never give up on their dreams.

What is still the ultimate goal for you?

My ultimate goal is to win a medal at the Winter Olympics and to give back by helping and empowering the Filipino youth and athletes to achieve their dreams.

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