Missing SEAG gold still haunts Martinez

MANILA, Philippines — It wasn't the result Michael Martinez wanted. But he'll take it.

But the figure skater, who gained stardom from his Sochi Winter Olympics stint almost four years ago, said that being unable to take home the gold medal—and settling for silver—haunts him.

"To be honest, there is a sting yet again," Martinez told the press during SM's homecoming for the ice team delegation that saw action in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Ang goal ko talaga is to win the gold medal. Pero para sa akin, (my sight's still on) the Olympics [over] the SEA Games," he shared.

The Winter Olympian Martinez earned a sum of 171.63 points in the individual free skating field. He crashed mid-routine, enabling hometown talent Julian Zhi-Jie Yee snare the gold medal with a total of 205.43 points.

But with defeat comes a lesson – and the silver lining. Martinez, who paved the way for many homegrown figure skaters to pursue their ice dreams, shared that he had been approached by judges of the contest.

"Three or the four judges approached me, [and told me] that this is the best performance [I've] ever done in my whole career," he revealed.

"I did my best and I did what I had to do there," Martinez shared.  "The next competition is in Germany."

The 20-year-old athlete is set to compete this month in the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany, which stakes six slots for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.