ASIDE from qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics in North Korea, figure skater Michael Martinez has set another lofty goal – winning a medal.
 
“Just qualifying (for the Winter Olympics) is no longer my goal. I will work hard and hopefully I can win a medal in Pyeongchang,” said Martinez, who became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian figure skater to compete in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
 
“Competing for the country in Sochi was an unforgettable experience for me, which is why my ambition is to capture a medal in the next Winter Olympics,” added Martinez, who finished 19 out of 30 participants in the men’s individual singles event in Russia two years ago.
 
Martinez, who is set to leave for the United States this weekend to resume training in Lake Forest, California, said his inspiration in his rigorous buildup for the next Winter Games is Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu, who came out of nowhere to upset Canadian favorite Patrick Chan and capture the men’s gold medal.
 
“If someone like Hanyu can do it, I believe, given the discipline and hard work, I have the potential of doing the same in the next Winter Olympics,” Martinez said
 
Martinez, 19, is under the tutelage of Ukrainian mentor Slva Zagoradnyuk, a former European and world junior champion, who has been working with the Filipino to perfect his quadruple jumps, a difficult jump that elite skaters usually include in their repertoire to boost their scores.
 
Backed by SM head honcho Hans Sy, Martinez recently conducted workshops at the SM Mall of Asia and SM Cebu skating rinks.
 
He is set to compete in the Lombardia Trophy on Sept. 8-11 in Bergamo, Italy.
 
Bothered by injuries and the recurrence of his old asthma, Martinez will not be able to defend his men’s singles crown in the Asian Trophy figure skating championships on Aug. 4 to 7 at the MOA skating rink.
 
Ranged against some of the top figure skaters in Asia, Martinez emerged as the first Filipino champion in the event held last year in Bangkok, Thailand.
 
“I don’t have enough practice (for the Asian Trophy) and I would really like to do well in front of my countrymen,” Martinez said. “This is why my coach and I are preparing for the Lombardia Trophy instead.”