Spanish Figure Skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate Clears Minions Music for Olympic Debut
In a thrilling development for fans of animated comedy and winter sports, Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate has successfully secured the necessary rights to perform his Minions-themed short program at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympic Games. The final approval came through on Friday, just hours before the Olympic figure skating events commenced, allowing Sabate to skate to a medley from the popular Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment film series.
Copyright Challenges and Last-Minute Resolutions
Sabate had been using the Minions program throughout the competitive season, relying on the ClicknClear system for initial music licensing. However, last week, Universal Studios requested additional details regarding the specific music cuts and his Minions-inspired costume, creating uncertainty. The skater managed to quickly obtain approval for two music segments and secured a third by contacting the artist directly, a fellow Spaniard. The major hurdle was the song "Freedom" by American musician Pharrell Williams, which was finally approved on Friday morning.
Expressing his relief and joy, Sabate took to social media to announce, "I'm so happy to announce that we've done it! We've secured the licenses for all four songs, and I'll be able to skate the Minions at the Olympic Games." He acknowledged the difficult process, highlighting the crucial support from followers that kept him motivated during the tense final days.
Broader Copyright Issues in Figure Skating
This incident underscores a growing problem in figure skating, where the shift from wordless, public domain music to modern tracks has led to increased copyright disputes. Since rule changes in 2014 allowed more contemporary music, artists have become more vigilant about unauthorized use. Sabate's case is not isolated; Belgian skater Loena Hendrickx also faced copyright issues ahead of the Olympics. She had to change her short program from Celine Dion's "Ashes" to "I Surrender" at the last minute due to licensing concerns, though she managed to secure permission through ClicknClear's catalogue.
Sabate's Olympic Journey and Fan Support
Despite not being a top medal contender—he placed 20th at last year's world championships—Sabate has garnered significant global attention and support through this ordeal. At one point, he resorted to practicing his previous Bee Gees-inspired program, but as approvals trickled in, his hopes revived. He even practiced the Minions routine, which features character laughter, during a Thursday session. The Royal Spanish Ice Sports Federation confirmed the resolution on Friday morning.
Sabate expressed gratitude, stating, "I want to thank ClickClear and the RFEDH, as well as Universal Pictures, Pharrell Williams, Sony Music and Juan Alcaraz for managing the rights in such a short time so I can perform my program in Milan." He added, "Right now, I just want to give my all on the ice and perform a program worthy of the love I've received from around the world. I'm thrilled by the love that a small skater from a small federation has received."
As the men's competition begins on Tuesday night, Sabate is set to bring a touch of whimsy and entertainment to the Olympic stage, backed by a wave of encouragement from fans worldwide.
