Olympic skater returning home tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - After shining on the ice in Sochi, Michael Christian Martinez is coming home to a rousing welcome.

A motorcade has been prepared for the 17-year-old Martinez, the first Filipino figure skater to compete in the Winter Olympics, when he arrives tomorrow.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property conglomerate of the SM Group of Companies, is on top of the grand reception for the newest toast of Philippine sports.

“When I first heard that we we’re going back to Manila, I was really happy because I’d be seeing again my friends from school, my friends from the skating rink and especially my family, so I am really excited,” he said.

Martinez discovered and fell in love with the sport in one of SM’s ice-skating rinks, and the country’s biggest chain of malls and department stores took notice of him.

For his participation in Sochi, SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy shouldered most of his expenses, although there were others who also supported Martinez.

With a total score of 184.25 points, Martinez finished 19th out of the 24 finalists last Feb. 14 at the Iceberg Skating Palace.

“We are very proud of Michael. Not only did he give honor to our country, but he is also a shining example for the youth as someone who saw no limits to what he can achieve,” said Sy.

“He has already inspired millions by following his dreams and by competing in the Winter Olympics. He will continue to inspire us all as he works towards earning medals in future Olympic competitions,” he added.

Martinez will be showered with gifts after a motorcade scheduled to start at 4 p.m. that will take the young skater around the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

When asked about the hero’s welcome awaiting him in the Philippines, Martinez hid his face under his coat collar and jokingly said: “I’m going to hide from the crowds!”

“I am really happy but it’s a totally new feeling. It makes me somehow timid because there are so many others who are much more deserving of this attention. But I am excited. I want to thank all of those who cheered for me, prayed for me,” he added.

As he trained to become a figure skater, Martinez frequented the SM Southmall in Las Piñas and later on, SM Mall of Asia.

Martinez struggled early on as he suffered from asthma and the cold surroundings made it more difficult for him. But he pushed on and with medication, he got better.

He started skating when he was eight years old and has a total of 194 medals and trophies from local and international competitions in his growing collection.

Looking back at his Olympic experience, Martinez said he “really can’t say what was the best part of the Olympics.”

“It felt really great marching with the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony.  And it was just amazing being together, competing with the world’s top skaters,” he recounted.

But he said he is convinced that the most difficult moment was qualifying for the final skating event because all the other skaters were good and much older than him.

“The pressure was really great since I was taking with me the whole country, all my past sacrifices,” the young Olympian told The STAR.

Before departing for Manila, Martinez and his mother visited the Philippine embassy in Moscow yesterday.

Cheers from the Filipino community in the Russian capital welcomed Martinez at the embassy, where he was received by Philippine Ambassador to Russia Alejandro Mosquera.