Pinoy pride on ice: Fil-Am skaters set to dominate world figure skating stage

Filipino figure skaters made history as they break the five-year dry spell of the Philippines in prestigious skating competitions.

Fil-am Short Track Speed Skater, Peter Groseclose, secured the Philippines a spot in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics to be held in South Korea. The 15-year-old skater qualified through his standing at the recently concluded World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships held in Dresden, Germany on Jan 27-29, 2023.

This is a great milestone for the 15-year-old despite it being his first season competing internationally. He clinched a spot and landed among the 36 finalists among over 70 competitors and 30+ countries represented in the event.

Also, this is the country’s third time joining the quadrennial meet with the first in 2012 by figure skater Michael Christian Martinez and in 2020 by short track speed skater Julian Macaraeg.This is the first back-to-back appearance by PH ice skaters in the WYOG.

Groseclose started training at the young age of 7 as he was inspired by his older sister who figure skated. 

Meanwhile, figure skating duo Isabella Gamez and Alexander Korovin are set to compete in the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan on March 20-26, 2023.

Gamez and Korovin are the first Philippine and South East Asian pair figure skaters to qualify at the World Figure Skating Championships. They secured their spot after they qualified in their free skate scores at the Metro Trophee Metropole competition in Nice, France last October 2022, and their short program scores in the Challenge Cup held in Tilburg, Netherlands on February 26, 2023.

The last time the Philippines was represented in the World Championships was in 2017 by Michael Martinez.

The pair aims to qualify for the next Winter Olympics happening in 2026 in Milano, Cortina.

“We would like to congratulate our homegrown talents who have all glided their way to the world championships. These two major wins are definitely one for the books as once again, we will be able to show the world how talented Filipino skaters are. And we at SM Supermalls will always be proud that you have brought pride to the country,” said Joseph V. Silva, AVP for Operations for SM Lifestyle Inc. Sports & Leisure Centers.

SM Skating is the only ice skating rink in the Philippines and is home to the Philippine National Team of Ice Sports in partnership with the Philippine Skating Union (PHSU). All SM Skating branches (SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Seaside Cebu) boast state-of-the-art facilities such as Olympic-size rinks as well as skate aid rentals, assist coaches, and basic to advanced lessons.

Join the fun and fulfill your ice skating dreams when you visit SM Supermalls’ skating rinks! To know more about the exciting deals and promos at the rink, visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smskating on social media.

ADVT.