Martinez fails to qualify for 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

Michael Martinez competes in the men’s individual figure skating in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SEA GAMES MEDIA POOL

Michael Christian Martinez missed the cut for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after finishing eighth in the 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy Saturday at Eissportzentrum Oberstdorf in Oberstdorf, Germany.

The Filipino figure skater fell just a spot short of qualifying. He registered 191.74 total points after scoring 67.50 in the short program and 124.24 in free skating.

Jorik Hendrickx of Belgium ruled the 26-man meet with 253.06 points in what served as the last qualifying event for the biennial meet.

It was a disappointing outcome for Martinez, who made waves back in 2014 Sochi Olympics after being the first Southeast Asian skater to compete in the winter games.

Only the top six booked a trip to Pyeongchang, South Korea but with silver medalist Alexander Johnson of USA already qualified, Yaroslav Paniot of Ukraine, who finished in seventh, was awarded the last slot.