Martinez finishes 7th in skating tourney despite leg injury

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Olympic skater Michael Christian Martinez fought through a leg injury and was able to finish seventh place in the Golden Spin of Zagreb skating tournament held Friday, December 4, in Croatia.

The 19-year-old received treatment for his left leg prior to the free skate portion, but was able to post 137.16 points, which was eighth in the men’s division. 

Martinez also registered a seventh-bet 65.66 points in the short program portion. Overall, he finished with 202.82 points, good for seventh best in the tourney.

Denis Ten of Kazakhstan won gold with 276.39, Adam Rippon of the United States was second with 237.87, and Adian Pitkeev of Russia was third with 223.68.

“Thank you very much to the Croatian Federation’s doctor for treating my lower leg injury this afternoon. Otherwise, I would have not survived the freeskate tonight,” Martinez posted on his Facebook account.

“Although it was still painful on every push [and] landing, the treatment lessened the pain [and] swelling [and] I was able to finish my program.”

Martinez, who became the first Southeast Asian to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics figure skating competition in Sochi, Russia, is also coming off a gold-medal finish in the 2015 Asian Open Figure Skating tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, just this past August. – Rappler.com