Michael Martinez plans competitive comeback at Philippine nationals
The two-time Winter Olympian plans to compete in November 2026 and is targeting an international return by 2027.
Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez has announced plans to end a break of nearly five years by entering the 2026 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships in November, when he turns 30.
Martinez, 29, said in a social media post that committing to the comeback had taken time. He is also aiming to resume international competition by 2027, but said he was uncertain how far his return would go.
For now, his priority is to enjoy competing without putting himself under unnecessary pressure. He said he was not seeking to recreate his Olympic years and would approach the comeback one event at a time, while keeping some personal goals for later.
During his time away from competition, Martinez concentrated more on coaching younger skaters at SM Skating Rinks in Megamall and the Mall of Asia.
He represented the Philippines at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. The 2021 Challenger Series Cup of Austria was among his more recent competitive appearances.
