Two-time Winter Olympian to compete at the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships, eyes international return in 2027
Filipino figure skating star Michael Christian Martinez is returning to competitive skating after nearly five years away from the sport, marking a new chapter in the career of the athlete who made history as the first Filipino to compete in figure skating at the Winter Olympics.
Martinez announced on October 19 that he would compete at the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships this November, ending his extended break from competition. He also expressed hope of returning to international competition in 2027.
The announcement comes as Martinez approaches his 30th birthday on November 4, 2026. In his characteristic humor, he joked about choosing the national championships as a way to celebrate the milestone, adding a playful reference to the physical demands of skating.
“I’m competing again,” Martinez declared in his social media announcement. His decision follows years of concentrating on coaching, mentoring younger athletes, and pursuing other professional activities.
FROM OLYMPIC HISTORY TO A NEW BEGINNING
Martinez became a household name in Philippine sports when he represented the country at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. At just 17 years old, he finished 19th in the men’s figure skating competition, becoming the first Filipino figure skater to compete at the Winter Olympics.
He returned to the Olympic stage in 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea, where he finished 28th.
His achievements were particularly significant for a country without a winter climate conducive to developing ice sports outdoors. Martinez demonstrated that Filipino athletes could compete internationally in disciplines traditionally associated with countries that have extensive winter sports infrastructure.
He also became the first Filipino to land a triple Axel in competition, further cementing his place in the country’s figure skating history.
Although he did not win an Olympic medal, his accomplishments helped raise the profile of figure skating in the Philippines and inspired aspiring skaters to pursue the sport.
YEARS AWAY FROM COMPETITION
Following his Olympic appearances, Martinez faced the challenges of maintaining a competitive skating career, including injuries and the demands of international qualification.
His last competitive appearance was at the 2021 Finlandia Trophy in Finland. He subsequently stepped away from competitive skating and devoted more time to coaching, sharing his technical knowledge and experience with younger athletes.
The years away from competition also gave him an opportunity to reassess his relationship with the sport. According to his comeback announcement, repeated questions from supporters about whether he would ever compete again eventually encouraged him to reconsider his decision.
After considerable reflection and encouragement from people around him, he decided to return.
A DIFFERENT MINDSET AT 30
Martinez is approaching his comeback with a different perspective from the one he carried during his Olympic years.
He has acknowledged that his body has changed with age and that returning to elite-level competition after a prolonged absence presents physical challenges. He is not expecting to reproduce his previous performances immediately.
Instead, he wants to rediscover the enjoyment of competing without placing unnecessary pressure on himself to achieve particular results.
His approach reflects an important shift: rather than defining his comeback solely through medals, rankings, or Olympic qualification, he is giving himself the opportunity to compete again because he still loves the sport.
In an interview published by PAGEONE on October 23, Martinez also discussed how watching his students compete helped him realize how much he missed performing himself. He explained that he now wants to enjoy skating without making winning the only measure of success.
COACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
While Martinez has been away from competitive skating, he has remained connected to the sport through coaching.
His experience as a two-time Winter Olympian gives him a valuable perspective to share with developing athletes, from technical preparation to the discipline and mental resilience required for competition.
His return could also provide a powerful example for his students. By preparing for a competition himself, Martinez can demonstrate that athletes continue to learn, adapt, and confront challenges even after achieving major milestones in their careers.
His comeback therefore represents not only a personal decision but also an opportunity to reconnect with the competitive side of the sport he has continued to support through coaching.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Martinez’s immediate objective is the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships in November. Beyond that, he hopes to return to international competition in 2027, although the extent of his comeback remains uncertain.
For now, he is taking things one competition at a time and keeping some of his personal goals private.
His return does not automatically mean another Olympic campaign. Rather, it signals his willingness to test himself again, rebuild his competitive rhythm, and discover how far he can go after years away from the international stage.
For Filipino sports fans, Martinez’s announcement offers another reason to follow the development of Philippine figure skating. His Olympic appearances already established an important legacy; his next chapter will be about what he chooses to do with that legacy.
After nearly five years away from competition, the question is no longer simply whether Michael Christian Martinez can return to the ice.
It is how much he can rediscover, achieve, and inspire in this new stage of his career.
One competition at a time, the Ice Prince from the Tropics is ready to skate again.
PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Christian Martinez / Instagram, via When In Manila.
