Spanish Olympic figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate says he is hopeful he will be allowed to skate to Minions music at the Winter Olympics after receiving copyright clearance from Universal Studios.
Sabate, known for his colourful and fun routines, has used music from the Minions films all season while dressing like the characters in a yellow T-shirt and blue overalls. On Monday, he said he had been told he could not use the music at the Olympics because permission had not been granted.
However, Universal Studios later changed their decision, and Sabate now says he is “so close” to being allowed to perform the routine at the Milan-Cortina Games, which officially begin on Friday.
He thanked fans for their support on social media, saying Universal granted permission for this special occasion, though a few details still need to be finalised with other music used in the program.
Sabate’s short program has been popular with fans, including at the European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield. The six-time Spanish champion is set to make his Olympic debut in Milan.
If approval is not fully completed, Sabate may instead skate to Bee Gees music, which he used in the 2024-25 season. The men’s event begins on Tuesday, with the ISU saying copyright issues can be difficult in artistic sports.
