Figure skater Michael Martinez has launched a fundraiser in preparation for his 2022 Winter Olympics campaign in Beijing, China.
Martinez, the first figure skater from Southeast Asia to qualify and compete in the Winter Olympics and the Youth Winter Olympics, posted a gofundme link in a recent Facebook post and explained that he has no sponsors yet.
He is currently training in New Jersey with coach Nikolai Morozov in the hopes of competing for the Nebelhorn Trophy, a Winter Olympic qualifying event to be held in Germany in September.
"So I am humbly reaching out to you to join me on my journey towards the 2022 Winter Olympics and bring recognition once again to the Philippines," wrote the 24-year-old Martinez, spearheading the "Michael Martinez: Road to 2022 Winter Olympics" fundraiser.
In the gofundme's narrative, it was revealed that his team is spending around $16,000 every month, approximately P776,800, including fees on coaching, ice rental, doctor and chiropractor, athletic training supplies, medication, accommodation, food, among others.
"No tropical nation has ever won a Winter Olympic medal, and for all intents and purposes, Michael is vying to be the first. Nonetheless, his participation in this event is more than just becoming a champion, as it is also about generating more awareness about the sport and his motherland," a portion of the narrative read.
A two-time Winter Olympian, Martinez became the lone Filipino to compete in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics in Russia and South Korea, respectively.
He is the 2015 Asian Figure Skating Trophy champion, a two-time Triglav Trophy titlist, and a silver medalist in the 2014 Warsaw Cup and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will kick off in February next year.