Olympian Michael Martinez dazzles Thailand’s Queen Suthida with solo skate

Two-time Olympian Michael Martinez, the Philippines' "Ice Prince," enthralled Her Majesty Queen Suthida of Thailand with a stunning solo performance at the Skate Chiangmai 2025 competition in Chiang Mai, Thailand on February 17. He showcased his signature routines and captivated the Royal Consort at the event that highlighted the growing figure skating scene in the kingdom.

 

 

 

 

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Martinez made history as the first Southeast Asian to qualify for the Winter Olympics, debuting at the Sochi Games in 2014. During his recent performance, he delivered his short program, echoing the routine he elegantly executed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

In addition to Martinez, several talented Thai skaters performed before Queen Suthida, the wife of King Vajiralongkorn.

Now focusing on nurturing the next generation of Filipino figure skaters, Martinez expressed optimism about the future. “I believe there are several promising skaters from our recent national competitions, and I hope they can qualify for the next Winter Olympics,” he stated.

The next Winter Olympics will take place in Italy in 2026, and Martinez is hopeful that with dedication and training, another Filipino skater will follow in his footsteps on the ice. — BM, GMA Integrated News