Martinez finds silver lining in first SEA Games
THE gold medal did not go to Southeast Asian (SEA) Games debuting figure skater Michael Martinez but his experience in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was something he said would only serve him better as he moves on with his career.
Earning a silver in the men’s individual figure skating, Mr. Martinez said that while a gold medal would have been better, still he felt what they wanted to achieve in the regional biennial sporting meet were met and that all told he was satisfied with his performance.
“I felt happy and excited to be competing in the SEA Games, representing the Philippines. As for my performance I feel I could have done better but yet again this is my first time to include quads in my program and visually I made it. I landed and that’s one of the goals heading into here so as to prepare me for the next competition. And I have to say I’m satisfied with my performance,” Olympian Martinez said following his silver-medal showing.
Infusing a new program for the SEA Games, Mr. Martinez struggled in his routine that left him to settle for the silver with a total score of 176.63 points in his event over the weekend, behind gold medalist Julian Lee of Malaysia, who tallied 205.43 points.
“Basically this was the first time I was trying out my new program in a competition. This is so far the hardest among all the programs I have ever done,” he said.
“It usually takes three to four months to master the routine. This was the first time I included quads ( jumps) in my program so there were still some refinements to do in my transition,” added Mr. Martinez even as he shared that he felt gold medalist Lee did not take risk that way he did.
Just the same, Mr. Martinez said his first SEA Games was very memorable in so many ways and that he is looking forward to competing in it again here in the Philippines in 2019.
“It was a memorable experience which I hope I can repeat two years from now in Manila where I definitely will go out to win the gold,” he said.
Next for Mr. Martinez is the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany next month where he hopes to do well to be able to qualify for the Winter Olympics in 2018.
Back in 2014, Mr. Martinez made history by becoming first Southeast Asian skater to compete in the Olympics. —