The Homecoming of Winter Olympian Michael Martinez

Michael Martinez, who is he? He at a tender age of 17 yrs made a mark in the figure skating by being the youngest and the only Asean to compete in the Winter Olympics. He may not won the gold but he had won the heart of his fellow Filipino. Everyone was glued at their seats during the entire times that he was competing. Everyone was cheering him on their own homes as made his every move at the ice rink.  

 

Michael Martinez

Lucky me to be able to get a selfie shoot from Michael Martinez

Michael Martinez maybe alone when he went out to Sochi but he was welcomed as a new athlete hero when he came home last Feb. 23,2014 as SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property conglomerate of the SM Group of Companies, was all set to give a warm welcome to the Winter Olympian and homegrown skating rink talent.

Michael Martinez first started ice skating at the tender age of 8 in SM Southmall Skating Rink enrolling in formal acting lessons towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional figure skater.  Eventually, he transferred to SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink, which had a bigger rink, to continue his trainings and participate in many local skating competitions. To date,Martinez has garnered 194 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions. Martinez clinched 7th place at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany that qualified him for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Through the years, SM and the Philippine Skating Union have conducted several figure skating competitions that have ushered in international champions such as Martinez.  The excellence demonstrated by skaters during competitions is a mark of quality of the world-class venue and facilities of the SM Ice Skating Rink. 

SM made the SM Skating Rink to allow Filipinos to experience the kind of entertainment that four-season countries enjoy. Little did they know that through this, they also  able to hone the first ever South East Asian Winter Olympian. Of course, they are very happy about what Michael Martinez has accomplished and  promise to continue to support and produce more world class Filipino figure skaters like him.

Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates ice skating rinks through SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, Inc. at the SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, SM Southmall in Las Pinas and SM Clark in Pampanga.

To honor Martinez, SM  hold a motorcade at the Mall of Asia grounds last February 23 at 4 PM, which culminate in an awarding ceremony inside the mall.

As a way to thank his fans for their unwavering support, Michael Martinez was at the SM Southmall Ice Skating Rink for a meet and greet last February 24 at 4-5 PM, SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink on February 25 at 12- 1 PM, and at the SM Skating Rink in Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall on February 25 at 4-5 PM.

For information, please visit SM Skating Rink’s website at www.smiceskating.com or visit an SM Skating Rink near you.