Filipino figure skater hailed after reaching Sochi final

MANILA, February 14, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine Olympic determine skater Michael Christian Martinez was hailed as a hero on Friday even as a senior sports official denied accusations that the governing administration experienced failed to aid him.
The 17-12 months-aged, the lone agent of the tropical country at the Sochi Online games, built background after he skilled Thursday from the men’s shorter program for the no cost skate on Friday, regardless of several down sides, together with being compelled to find out his craft on a skating rink in a purchasing shopping mall.
Local news experiences recommended his relatives experienced struggled to shell out for his teaching and that the government did not provide any support.
But Ricardo Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Athletics Commission, stated Martinez experienced been given adequate fiscal assistance from the governing administration and personal donors.
“We are very delighted with his performance. For a man who figured out how to skate in the Philippines, to make it to the finals… it is seriously awesome,” Garcia advised AFP.
“This is a very big problem for us. We have an athlete who is an Olympian who made it to the closing rounds,” he additional.
Some of the country’s wealthiest tycoons have been sponsoring Martinez and the nationwide skating affiliation by no means questioned for more resources for him, Garcia explained.
The Philippine Olympic Committee asked the govt for $7,200 to include some of Martinez’s more charges but this revenue was produced in December, he included.
Speaking just after his functionality at the Iceberg Skating Palace on Friday, Martinez was elated with his general performance: “The first 50 % was fairly good, but halfway while the system I received out of breath, but I did my best all the way by. This is the first time I landed the triple axel in the 2nd 50 % of the program.”
He is already seeking towards the subsequent Winter Games in South Korea.
“If I can get a lot more guidance monetarily, I’m considering about the upcoming Olympics and having a medal there,” he extra.
Consumers of social media had been agog over Martinez’s accomplishment in a sport so alien to his region.
Common director Jose Javier Reyes wrote in a information to Martinez on Twitter: “The medal is immaterial. In the hearts of your countrymen, your feat is additional than an Olympic Gold. You Inspire!”
“Was teary eyed when I noticed #MichaelChristianMartinez wave his jacket with PHILIPPINES printed on it. He set his coronary heart&soul in his performance,” an additional tweet claimed.
Garcia said the youngster experienced “the angle of a winner” and would use his time in Sochi “as a stepping stone to acquire a lot more knowledge for the up coming Olympics”.