THE very first figure skater from South East Asia to qualify and compete in the Olympics, where he  finished 19th overall, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympian skater Michael Martinez, moves closer to his dream of competing anew in the 2018 edition in Korea.

Because skating is a very expensive sport with the needed  training and international competition, Martinez signed a four-year contract with the SM Group.

The giant retail chain will provide him with a P36-million funding support to help him prepare  for  the 2018 games.

“We are considering at least six international competitions a year for him and he will  also  undergo training with elite coaches abroad.  All  issues  are  behind  us  now  and  we look  forward  to seeing  him  in the Olympics  in  2018,”  said his mother  Teresa Martinez, who has supported her son’s efforts to achieve his Olympic  dream.

According  to  Michael,  his  biggest  problem last year was that the  family could  not  afford  a  high-level  training  program for him that  costs around $15,000 for  a  four- to  five-minute  routine.

“My routine was  not up to Olympic level, but with  the  support of Mr. Hans Sy  and SM  Group,  I  am looking  forward  to  a  top  five finish  in  Korea  in  2018,”  said  the  17-year-old skater,  who  is  foregoing  his studies to focus on his training.