Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate has secured last-minute clearance to perform his crowd-pleasing Minions-themed short program at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, ending days of uncertainty just before the men’s competition begins.
Sabate, 26, had planned all season to skate to a lively medley inspired by the popular animated franchise produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. While he believed all licensing requirements were met through the ClicknClear music rights system, additional documentation was requested only days before the Olympic events were set to open.
The unexpected review focused on both the selection of music and the skater’s costume, which draws visual inspiration from the animated characters. Although approval for several tracks came quickly, one key song — “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams — remained unresolved until Friday.
With the final authorization arriving just hours before Olympic figure skating officially got underway, Sabate confirmed the news publicly, expressing relief and gratitude for the support he received throughout the process.
The skater had already begun preparing a backup short program using music from a previous season in case the licensing issue could not be resolved. However, as progress was made and approvals steadily came in, Sabate resumed training with the Minions routine, even running through it during practice sessions earlier in the week.
Spain’s Royal Ice Sports Federation later confirmed that all copyright concerns had been fully addressed, allowing Sabate to compete as originally planned. He credited ClicknClear, his national federation, Universal Pictures, Pharrell Williams, Sony Music, and music rights representatives for their swift cooperation.
Copyright clearance has become an increasingly prominent issue in figure skating since rule changes in 2014 allowed athletes to perform to music with lyrics. While the shift opened the door to modern and popular soundtracks, it also introduced legal complexities, particularly when artists or rights holders withhold approval.
Sabate is not alone in navigating these challenges. Belgian skater Loena Hendrickx, a two-time world medalist, also adjusted her Olympic short program after concerns arose about licensing for her original music choice. She ultimately switched to an alternative Céline Dion track already cleared within ClicknClear’s catalog.
Although Sabate is not expected to contend for medals — he finished 20th at last year’s world championships — his journey has captured international attention. The combination of persistence, public support, and a playful program has made him a fan favorite heading into Olympic competition.
As he prepares to take the ice in Milan, Sabate says his focus is simple: delivering a performance that reflects the encouragement he has received from fans worldwide and enjoying the moment on the sport’s biggest stage.
