Michael Christian Martinez: Ice Prince From the Tropics

The face of the Philippines at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is none other than De La Salle table tennis varsity player Ian “Yanyan” Lariba. She won’t only be participating as a member of the Philippine team, but will also be the official flag bearer of the country’s delegation, giving her the honor of leading them at the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremonies.

Two years ago, PeopleAsia Men Who Matter awardee Michael Christian Martinez was given the same opportunity at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. As the first Southeast Asian and Filipino qualifier for the winter games, it was an epic moment for him, his family and all Filipinos in and outside the athletic circle. From the 88 nations that were competing, Michael stood proudly as the sole bearer of the Philippine flag and he was there to win it.

Two minutes and 50 seconds. That was all he needed. In those few minutes, he would prove to the world that he, indeed, deserved a place in the XXII Olympic Winter Games, as the gods did in the gloried halls of Mt. Olympus.

This is his story.

A star is born

Michael could never forget the moment when he first stepped onto the ice in 2005 when he was just a scrawny eight-year-old boy.

Despite being a sickly child, who often fought bouts of bronchitis and asthma (he is allergic to his own sweat and the cold in the rink made him sick in the beginning, too), his mother Maria Teresa decided to indulge her son’s curiosity and allowed him to skate for the first time. When his skates nicked the ice, an undeniable spark was ignited.

“(After so many years), my passion for skating has never lessened,” reveals the soft-spoken, young man in the vernacular, with his eyes disappearing into a happy crinkle. “Even when I started high school, it never dimmed. When I’m angry and/or sad, I skate and it all disappears. I feel so free.”

It became an all-consuming passion as he matured, leaving his mother initially confused and equally intrigued. Yet she was willing to indulge his innocent pastime since, according to her, “It’s better to spend the money on skating than in the hospital.”

The impossible dream

But every dream—most especially an Olympic dream—has its price. In the case of Michael, it would cost them thousands of dollars, mortgaging their house and making do with a shoestring budget in order to make it to Sochi last February 2014.

Thankfully, in 2013, the Philippine Skating Union, the Philippines Skating Committee and SM pledged support for Michael (a total of P 1 million from SM). Not to be ungrateful, Teresa admits that they need more, much more—approximately $10,000 a month (covering the fees of the coaches, rent of the skating rinks, etc.) in order to train in the US, alongside other veteran skaters and coaches.

“Skating is a very expensive sport. Though we would love to train here in the Philippines, the coaches who are willing to train Michael live in the US,” adds his mother. There was very little budget, but thankfully, his mother has always persevered. He, in return, has learned to be practical.

“Who needs branded clothes and computer games, when I could use the money for my training?” he asks.

Michael recalls one such trip abroad. “I was really nervous,” he admits. “Due to financial constraints, I couldn’t bring my coach.” His mother, tough in her own right, noticed her son’s uneasiness and scolded him: “If you’re nervous, then pray!”

Today, Michael is on a warpath, with blades a-blazing towards the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Apart from working on his upper body strength to bulk up his lanky 5’8” frame to better ground his landings, he’s also working on his physical feats. “I’m trying to perfect my quadruple jump. I’m doing triple axels and can do a 3.5 rotation. So I just need to push a little more,” he shares, eyes lighting up with the exciting challenges ahead.

Debunking homophobia

On the other hand, the constant battery and stress he puts his body through are already showing their ugly head. Before, he would often whip out his Biellmann spins, spread eagle cantilevers and triple axels from his arsenal of tricks during his practices, to the delight of the audience.

“There are lots of people who say that skating (and the tricks I show) are gay, but I’m doing everything so we (the Philippines) would be recognized. If we showed (the judges) the expected, how can we stand out?”

His expression doesn’t break away from the sweet innocence, but a flicker of anger can be seen deep in his eyes when he firmly stresses, “Skating is not gay. The ice is a very dangerous thing. There’s always kaba (nervousness). With ice, you don’t know what happens.

It’s not what you do in the competition, but what you do in practice that defines you. The medal does not make you a champion,” he says, sounding wiser than someone just shy of his 18th birthday two years ago.

The ice prince from the tropics, Michael Christian Martinez has done what no other Filipino has been able to achieve—securing a seat for himself in the hallowed halls of Olympic history as the first figure skater from the Philippines to perform in the Winter Games. Despite not bagging a medal, he wears the immortal crown of a true winner.

(By KRISTEL DACUMOS-LAGORZA | Photography by MJ SUAYAN of AT EAST JED ROOT I PeopleAsia June – July 2014) 

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