From Russia with love

TOKYO – While the talk in sports is about the Summer Olympics these days, there’s a two-time Olympic figure skater who’s thinking about the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year. Michael Martinez, 24, is now in Russia training for the chance to compete for the country at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, next month. The meet is the final qualifying event for Beijing and seven slots are up for grabs in men’s singles.

Martinez moved to New Jersey last February to train close to his Russian coach Nikolai Morozov’s home base. Then, they relocated to Moscow for more intense training. “I’ve lost around 30 pounds and I’m now down to 150,” he said. “My new program is really something I’ve never done before. It’s very powerful. I have personal reasons why I chose the music. My short program combines two versions of ‘Requiem for a Dream’ from the movie of the same name. The music is really dark and represents the past version of myself during my hiatus when I thought my dreams were dead. I wanted to come back but there were many challenges and struggles. There were people who wished me misfortune. Those who didn’t want me to achieve my dreams, my goals. At some point of my life, I thought I lost it all. But I’m back and I’m standing up stronger. And there are people who believe in me. And that’s what my freeskate is all about, fighting against all odds.”

Martinez said his freestake is “something bright and positive, it’s about the present me.” The music is ‘Tanjiro No Uta’ from the anime series Kimetsu no Yaiba or Demon Slayer. “My freeskate is all about not giving up,” said Martinez who represented the Philippines twice in the Winter Olympics and once in the SEA Games before withdrawing from the sport for about two years “to find himself.” “No matter what happens, no matter how painful the journey is, you’re going to have to keep moving because you have something to protect and that’s yourself and your dreams,” he said. “It’s about cutting off that despair and moving forward. Nobody can steal my dreams. My dreams lie on the ice and I am here to get them back. If you lose, stand up. If you fail, start all over again. No room for giving up.”

Martinez said his routine is sharper. “All my triple jumps are really looking strong and better than before,” he said. “My body is different this time. My triple axel is finally back. I just remastered it and I’m very happy because after landing it perfectly a few months back, I’ve been landing it consistently since. We’ve started working with my quad loop and quad toe jumps. Coach is hoping my quad jumps will be ready for competitions.”

Martinez said he’s a big Hidilyn Diaz fan. “She’s amazing,” he said. “I saw her videos and during her last lift in the Tokyo Olympics, it gave me chills. I’m proud of her. I congratulated her on her Facebook.” As for his own Olympic sojourn, Martinez said he’s focused on delivering his best-ever performance at Nebelhorn if he’s chosen to compete for the Philippines. Qualifying for Beijing will make Martinez a three-time Olympian. “I’m doing my best every day to be able to actually compete against other amazing skaters and not just represent the country and be there,” he said. “I think we are way passed that already. Just being there, I don’t want that anymore. I’m pouring all myself into this to actually be able to show something different and make an impact on the audience. This journey is different than before. I’m happy. I’m putting all my heart into this. I’m surrounded by good people who genuinely believe in me and support me – my family, my friends, my fans, my management, my federation especially president Nikki Cheng and secretary-general Simoun Ferrer of the Philippine Skating Union and Sir Charlie Dy of Virtual Playground.” Will the Philippine success in the Tokyo Olympics carry over to the Winter Games next year?