| Pinoy skater dreams big |
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 08 April 2008 08:00 | |
|
WHILE all eyes are on the elite athletes' intensive preparations for the coming summer Olympic Games in Beijing, a young boy is looking to stamp his mark in the 2014 Winter Games. Michael Christian Martinez, barely out of his childhood at 11 years old, has already made his mark as a champion figure skater many times over. A member of the newly established Philippine Figure Skating and Ice Hockey Foundation, Michael is dubbed as the country's best bet to clinch a first gold medal in the Winter Olympics. Although athletes in contact sports are deemed to have the best chances for Filipinos to win the country's first-ever Olympic medal, with boxers and taekwondo jins getting the biggest support from the government and the private sector, Michael is determined to show that kids his age can excel in his sport, displaying grace and form rather than using brute force. After dominating last year's Skate Asia 2007, where he won a whopping 16 gold medals, Michael is looking forward to hitting the world stage anew and delivering worthy performances while wearing the country's national tri-colors. Michael may still be a young teen. But his extensive experience in the difficult but graceful sport has taught him enough to plan his career, with the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia as the ultimate goal since the 2010 Vancouver Games is quite an unrealistic target. “I would like to someday win an Olympic gold for the Philippines. And I'm very focused on my training to achieve that goal,” Michael said. Still an innocent-looking adolescent, Michael will turn 16 in the XXII Olympic Winter Games, where he is expected to be more mature, confident, experienced and certainly a force to reckon with. By then, he would be more than ready to claim the precious gold in the quadrennial meet. “I'm really looking forward to it,” added Michael. Although he has been mentioned a few times in the same breath with Asian Formula Three Diver of the Year awardee Tyson Sy and multi-titled diver Sheila Mae Perez, among other young icons in their respective fields, Michael knows there is a lot more work ahead of him. “It's flattering to hear those compliments, but I want to win more titles. It doesn't stop at Skate Asia,” said Michael. But like most athletes, Michael needs backers to sustain his training and exposure in international stints. And unlike the more popular sports, figure skating continues to struggle to draw the needed support, since the skaters have mainly been backed by their own families. Fortunately, the establishment of PFSIHF will now enable skaters and hockey players to have proper training and program that will enhance their performance. “It's hard when you know that your son has what it takes but you can't back him up, financially,” said Michael's mom Maria Teresa, who is also the chairman and president of PFSIHF. A 2008 Galing Pilipino Movement awardee for excellence in figure skating, Michael trained under the watchful eyes of renowned world and Olympic coaches Hoon Kim, Kathy Casey and Janet Champion. “Michael has only been skating for two years and is already one of the best skaters that I have ever seen. Michael is very talented and with the proper training and financial support, I feel that Michael could represent the Philippines in International, World and Olympic Championships before long,” said Casey of the Filipino prodigy, who passed 12 skating levels in just two years and emerged as the top Filipino skater in the 2006 Skate Asia held in Shenzhen. “He's a quick learner and practices with the work ethic of a champion. His physical abilities are complemented by his incredible positive attitude and absolute joy in what he is doing,” said Champion. “Given the right training, his attributes can take him far. He has a natural talent, physical strength and determination to excel in the skating world. I believe Michael Martinez has all the physical and mental attributes to become a world-class skating champion.” Currently, Michael, winner of the intermediate division in last year's Philippine National Figure Skating Championship and 11 golds in the ISI World Championship in Chicago and the same number of gold medals in the Japan edition of the event aside from winning the trophy for being the “Most Impressive Skater,” is back in training as he prepares for the Philippine Grand Prix Championships, the ISI World Championship in Denver, Skate Japan and the Skate Asia Philippines among other prestigious international events. As days pass, the Summer Games Beijing this year and the London Games in 2012 get nearer and the time to prepare the elite athletes become shorter and shorter. And it feels good to know that while aging boxers and jins hang on to boost the country's quest for the elusive Olympic gold, an 11-year-old lad is doing his own bit for his country—starting young and dreaming big.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 1132 Comments (2)
...
i bet by that time michael can reach for the stars... i saw him when he was still starting with coach rene until now. i can see his dedication and love in doing this sport though MONEY can really be hindrance for mostly skaters of our country right?... |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Congrats Micheal! 
