Figure skating-Music rights add extra layer of pressure for figure skaters

MILAN, Feb 4 : Uncertainty surrounding Spaniard Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate’s Minions-themed programme struck a chord across figure skating, where clearing music rights can be one of the most stressful and least predictable parts of competition preparation.

Guarino Sabate said on Tuesday he would be allowed to skate to music from the "Minions" film franchise after Universal Studios reversed its earlier objection, just days before the Milano Cortina Winter Games are set to kick off. 

American skater Amber Glenn said even when skaters follow correct procedures, final decisions can be out of their hands.

"We have tried our hardest to get everything cleared, do what we can and, honestly, a producer can just decide, never mind, no. We don't have 100 per cent control over this," she said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Glenn, 26, said the threat of a last-minute reversal often hangs over skaters throughout the season.

"I'm just hoping and praying that I don't get an email saying ... oh, by the way, they've reached out and they said they don't want you to use it."

She added that athletes rely heavily on their support teams to handle the process while they stay focused on training.

"It's been a very strenuous process for many of us, but we have a great team around us that's supposed to handle that, because we have a job to do, we have to go skate," said Glenn.

"So for me, I just focus on what I can control and what I can do and let the people around me handle that kind of stuff."

MUSIC CAN ADD LAYER OF RISK, SAYS MALININ

Twice world champion Ilia Malinin said selecting distinctive music can add another layer of risk, particularly for skaters looking to stand out.

The 21-year-old American will skate his short programme to a video