Three top-calibre figure skaters, led Michael Christian Martinez, are now taking part in a virtual selection process for next year’s Winter Olympics.
The 24-year-old Martinez, the first and only figure skater from the Philippines to make it to the Winter Olympics, is seeking a comeback following a three-year absence.
Martinez took part in the Olympic Qualifier Evaluation, with reigning Philippine National Champion Edrian Paul Celestino and lone SEA Games 2019 figure skating medalist and former World Championships representative Christopher Caluza.
PSU president Nikki Cheng said in an interview with the Manila Standard the selection process was able to push through before the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine lockdowns.
“For the skaters that are based locally, they are not able to train on the ice since the ice rinks have been closed for over a year now,” said Cheng.
The PSU believes that they are in a very critical time for the figure skating athletes in the Philippines.
This series of competitions will determine how the Philippines will be able to claim a slot for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Beijing, China.
The three athletes vied for seats in their respective categories, showcasing their short and free-skate programs.
Martinez is seeking to make a comeback after his last stint in Pyeongchang in 2018.
The online tryouts are being done in two parts.
The first involved unedited footages of short and free-skate programs that have been previewed virtually for assessment by international judges.
The athletes’ performances are evaluated through the ISU’s point-based system by ISU-accredited judges.