Michael Christian Martinez of the Philippines warms up during the men’s short program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland on March 30, 2017.
/ AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL
Filipino Winter Olympian Michael Martinez advanced to the free skate final of the World Figure Skating Championships held in Helsinki early Friday (Manila time).
Martinez, whose rise started in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics as the lone Filipino competitor, was the 24th-ranked skater in the Short program with a score of 69.74.
The 2015 Asian Figure Skating champion will be the first to perform in the final round while reigning titlist Javier Hernandez from Spain will be the last in the April 1 event.
The World Championships is a qualifier for the 2018 Winter Olympics.