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Michael Christian Martinez leaves Sochi injured but happy

A bruised but happy Michael Martinez again thanked supporters Thursday as he announced that he is leaving Sochi after his stunning Winter Olympics debut.
 
“Thanks everyone! I’m leaving Sochi, but I’ll bring all the great memories with me!” the 17-year-old figure skater said in his Facebook page.
 
Martinez also thanked the doctors and therapists who attended to him during his Olympic stint. “Without them I would have not been able to compete,” he said.
 
“You see us perform and smile but you don’t see the bumps and bruises hidden beneath our costumes. That's how much we love skating!” Martinez added.
 
The Filipino Olympian’s mother earlier revealed that Martinez almost pulled out of the Sochi Games due to injuries, but pushed on amid overwhelming support.

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Martinez was the lone Philippine delegate to the Sochi Games and was the first Southeast Asian to qualify in the Olympic figure skating event.
 
He placed 19th in the men’s shorts, but was widely lauded for his performances, which were hailed “stunning” for an athlete from a tropical country.
 
Martinez has also said he hopes to qualify for the next Winter Olympics, which is expected to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.
 
“Aside from the unforgettable competition, I cannot forget all the nice people I met here, and the camaraderie among skaters,” Martinez also said in his post.
 
Among the friends Martinez made in Sochi was Canada’s three-time world champion Patrick Chan, whose routines the Pinoy skater used to study online.
 
At home, the buzz over Martinez has raised questions of government support, with reports saying the athlete’s family struggled to finance his sport.
 
While thanking both government and private donors, Martinez’s mother lamented that funds given them were never enough for the expensive training.

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Martinez is not expected to return to the Philippines after Sochi to prepare for another competition, but Malacanang said a warm welcome awaits the athlete upon his return.
 
“Ang tinitiyak ko lang po ay kinikilala natin ang mahusay na performance ni Michael Martinez,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.
 
“[T]iyak na makatatanggap siya ng mainit na welcome at pagkilala sa kanyang pagbabalik,” the Cabinet official has further been quoted as saying.