PH skaters bid Beijing Olympic hopes goodbye


Filipino-Canadian Edrian Celestino and Filipino-American Sofia Frank bid their 2022 Beijing Olympic hopes goodbye after finishing their figure skating campaign in the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany over the weekend.

Filipino skaters Edrian Celestino (second from left) and Sofia Frank (second from right) strikes a pose with Philippine Skating Union (PHSU) President Nikki Cheng prior to the 2021 Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany. Also in the photo are their coaches Nicholas Young and Nicole Larsen. (Photo from PHSU Facebook page)

Celestino placed 18th overall out of the 30 skaters in the men's division while Frank ranked 24th overall in the 37-woman field.

Only the top seven skaters in the men's skate will be qualified for the 2022 Winter Games while the top six skaters in the women's division will advance.

Celestino garnered 176.10 points, combining 111.78 from his free skating routine and 64.32 in the short program.

Frank, for her part, scored 81.13 points in the free skate and 47.65 points in the short program for an overall of 128.78 points.

Despiting missing the spot for the Beijing Olympics, both skaters have qualified to the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (4CC) as top skaters from Canada, Japan, China, and the United States await Frank and Celestino.

The Four Continents event scheduled from Jan. 17 to 22 in Tianjin, China was postponed due to "travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, safety concerns and logistical challenges" deemed as "extremely challenging.

A decision for the final date and next host is expected next week, October 1.

Meanwhile, Michael Martinez remained as the sole skater from the Philippines who represented the country in Winter Games, competing both in the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang.