Figure skater Michael Christian Martinez – the only Filipino in the 2014 Sochi Olympics and “a first for Southeast Asia,” according to CNN – advanced to the Top 24 in the figure skating competition Thursday (early Friday morning Manila time). Out of 29 skaters, he placed 19th with a score of 64.81, qualifying him for the free skate program, where medalists will be determined on Friday night. Olympics commentators described as “fantastic” his debut performance to the tune of the “Romeo and Juliet Love Theme” by Arthur Fiedler. The 17-year-old’s bid has sparked fundraising efforts by various groups after his mother revealed that, given little support from the Philippine government, they had to mortgage their home so he could train and compete in Russia.
Read the full story on Rappler.
See Martinez’s performance in photos.
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