The 17-year-old Filipino athlete, Michael Christian Martinez, marked the history for the prestigious sports competition for the year 2014 as the first ever Pinoy athlete qualified on the Winter Olympics after 22 years.
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Michael Christian Martinez secured the seventh spot during Nebelhorn Trophy tournament which is the final qualifying tournament before entering the 2014 Winter Olympics which will be held in Sochi, Russia on February 2014.
Michael Christian Martinez has brought pride and honor in the country after performing a difficult and complicated stunt, “triple axel” which involves air rotation. The achievement was confirmed by International Skating Union.
Martinez who won the coveted spot was mentored by coaches John Nicks, and formerly, Ilia Kulik and Peter Kongkasem. Michael Christian Martinez debuted his p(–foul word(s) removed–)ion on international skating during Junior Grand Prix series in the 2010–2011 season.
In 2012, Martinez won his first senior international title during Crystal Skate of Romania which also debuted as the first ever title for the Philippines in the field of senior skating category.
Michael Christian Martinez will be representing the Philippines in the XXII Olympic Winter Games which will be held in Sochi, Russia on February 2014.
“He started serious training in the US only in 2010 – just for two months a year – only to return to the Philippines with just a video for the Filipino coaches to follow,” his mother Maria Theresa Martinez said.
Despite of being distressed financially, Michael Christian Martinez made it to the top and all the way to victory with the support of his own family.
Photo Credit: Maria Theresa Martinez Facebook