Michael Christian Martinez: First Filipino Figure Skater at the Winter Olympics

Filipinos witnessed sports history on February 13 and 14 as Michael Christian Martinez participated in men's single figure skating at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Martinez, the lone Filipino delegate to the quadrennial event, is also the first Southeast Asian skater to qualify for the Olympics.

Image Credit: InterAksyon

Considering that the Philippines does not have winter, audiences from other countries got amazed with Martinez's flexible moves. Despite the lack of proper training facilities in this country, Martinez still pulled it off. No thanks to the government, their family's house was even mortgaged to finance the preparations. He has proved that dedication and determination is a bigger factor to realize significant achievement in sports (and any other endeavor).

Martinez may have finished nineteenth in a field of thirty competitors, but his first Olympic stint is considered a quantum leap for his skating career. Only seventeen years of age, he has still lots of opportunity to further improve his skills and prove to be a threat to leading names in figure skating.   This young man has just proved that there is hope for Philippine sports. Let us support his quest to win the elusive Olympic gold medal and impart glory to this country.