Filipino figure skater hailed after reaching Sochi final

MANILA, February 14, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez was hailed as a hero on Friday even as a senior athletics formal denied accusations that the governing administration had failed to assistance him.
The 17-calendar year-aged, the lone consultant of the tropical country at the Sochi Online games, designed background following he capable Thursday from the men’s shorter system for the totally free skate on Friday, even with quite a few disadvantages, which includes getting pressured to study his craft on a skating rink in a shopping mall.
Neighborhood information reports instructed his family members experienced struggled to spend for his education and that the government did not present any support.
But Ricardo Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Athletics Commission, mentioned Martinez had gained ample fiscal assistance from the govt and personal donors.
“We are very joyful with his efficiency. For a person who uncovered how to skate in the Philippines, to make it to the finals… it is truly awesome,” Garcia informed AFP.
“This is a pretty large issue for us. We have an athlete who is an Olympian who produced it to the final rounds,” he added.
Some of the country’s wealthiest tycoons ended up sponsoring Martinez and the countrywide skating association hardly ever asked for extra resources for him, Garcia reported.
The Philippine Olympic Committee requested the government for $7,200 to address some of Martinez’s extra expenditures but this revenue was unveiled in December, he additional.
Speaking after his overall performance at the Iceberg Skating Palace on Friday, Martinez was elated with his general performance: “The first half was rather superior, but halfway however the program I obtained out of breath, but I did my most effective all the way by means of. This is the initial time I landed the triple axel in the next half of the system.”
He is previously looking to the subsequent Winter season Games in South Korea.
“If I can get additional guidance monetarily, I’m imagining about the following Olympics and obtaining a medal there,” he added.
Customers of social media ended up agog more than Martinez’s achievement in a activity so alien to his state.
Well-known director Jose Javier Reyes wrote in a message to Martinez on Twitter: “The medal is immaterial. In the hearts of your countrymen, your feat is a lot more than an Olympic Gold. You Encourage!”
“Was teary eyed when I observed #MichaelChristianMartinez wave his jacket with PHILIPPINES printed on it. He put his heart&soul in his efficiency,” a different tweet stated.
Garcia mentioned the youngster experienced “the angle of a winner” and would use his time in Sochi “as a stepping stone to gain extra practical experience for the future Olympics”.