Pilipino ice skater Michael Christian Martinez competes in the men's free skate figure skating final at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Winter Olympics on Feb. 14, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Ranged against the creme dela creme of the sport the 17 yr. old Martinez, the youngest among the 24 finalist in the free skate program, capped his memorable participation the way he started it, regaling the crowd with a bevy of veteran moves. Martinez earned a total of 184.25 points after collecting 64.81 in the short program the day earlier and while his grade paled in comparison with the gold medal winning showing of a Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu, who garnered 280.09, the newbie from Paranaque City, made waves before the skating aficionados and the crowd at the Iceberg Skating Palace as well. Patrick Chan of Canada settled for the Silver Medal, while Dennis Ten of Kazakhstan got the Bronze Medal. The commentators were so awed of Martinez that the reed thin fellow who took up the sport while shopping with his mother 9 yrs. ago in one of SM's gigantic malls in Metro Manila will get better. Twirling and spinning like a lovable character from Disney world, Martinez did his thing for 4 minutes and 30 seconds to the tune of "Malaguena" of Ernesto Lecuona, earning accolades and applause from the highly appreciative crowd who were thunderstruck as to how hot and humid country like the Philippines can produce such a graceful performer on ice. Even though Martinez suffered a fall, the skinny scene stealer who has caught the fancy of the entire Pilipino nation still went on to make an impression.
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