Michael Martinez eyeing Olympic return, SEA Games gold

Filipino figure skater Michael Martinez already has his sights set on the 2018 Winter Olympics.

During a press conference on Tuesday shortly after his return to the Philippines, Martinez announced that he has begun training to qualify and place at the next Olympics.

"I'm really on track [for 2018]...I'm training really, really hard for the next season, trying to qualify again for the next Olympics and to place there," he told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday.

Martinez had represented the country in the 2014 Winter Olympics, being the first Filipino and Southeast Asian figure skater to participate in the competition.

He placed 19th overall.

This time, he is aiming to earn a medal or a spot in the Top 5.

"I'll really do my best to be in the Top 5 or to medal," Martinez said.

But while he considers gold to be too much of a reach in the Olympics, he has no such reservations for the 2017 South East Asian (SEA) Games, which will be held in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia.

"I'm targeting gold, of course," Martinez said.

Martinez is currently preparing for the start of the next season, which will be kicked off by the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Manila from August 5 to 8.

The winter Olympian said he has already prepared two performances for the short and long program.

"My first program is Emerald Tiger by Vanessa May, and the other one. the free skate program which is Nella Fantasia," he said.

"I just need to land a jump, and it would make a great difference in the next season," he added. —JST, GMA News