Honored by City of Carson
LOS ANGELES – Due to nagging injuries, Filipino Winter Olympian Michael Christian Martinez bowed out of the 2014 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, which will take place in Bulgaria this week (March 10-16).
According to an ABS-CBN News report by Steve Angeles, the decision to pull out the Filipino figure skating sensation came from his coach and doctors, who all agreed that Martinez needed to fully recover from his back and knee injuries before getting back to competition form.
“I just feel very, very sad,” Martinez said to ABS-CBN News, “I was hoping I could compete but three of my coaches said ‘no’ because [I need] to conserve [my] body to prepare for the next four years, the next Winter Olympics. Even my doctor said no. I’m the only one who said yes.”
A testament to his competitive will, Martinez skated through injuries last year in preparation for the winter games in Sochi. But the decision to pull out from the Junior Worlds gives him time to fully heal — time that he didn’t have last year.
“It’s time to rest and take time to heal my injuries,” he said. “Last year, I really prepared for the 2014 Olympics, so there was really no time for the injuries to heal.”
According to Michael’s mother, Teresa Martinez, his participation in the the Junior Worlds would have boosted his rankings.
“If he finishes in the top 10, he will get points for that, which will increase his world ranking,” Teresa said to ABS-CBN News, “But considering what the danger is right now, it’s still better for him to withdraw and earn points next season in [an]other competition.”
Honored
His injuries, however, were not an issue on Friday night, March 7, as the City of Carson honored Martinez for his historic Winter Olympics stint.
Carson Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina and City Mayor Jim Dear presented Martinez with a certificate of recognition at the iDance Studios in Carson — the very same venue where the skater’s Zumba family held many of his fundraisers.
Fil-Am Disney and Broadway starl Anna Maria Perez De Tagle also joined the celebration on Friday night to meet Martinez.
“I’m very proud of him and I hope that he will accomplish greater things,” Perez De Tagle said.
Martinez’s growing popularity is reaping blessings as various groups and companies have expressed their desire to extend help. One of them is a local physical therapist, who has also stepped up to help Martinez in the rehabilitation/recovery process.
Henrick Macalintal of Motion Plus Aquatic Therapy Center said that he is thinking of implementing low impact exercises and aquatic therapy for the athlete.
Martinez will be in the US for about two more weeks to undergo rehabilitation before he returns to the Philippines.
(With reports from Steve Angeles of ABS-CBN News)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend March 15-18, 2014 Sec A pg.1)