Minions Music Nearly Sidelines an Olympic Skating Debut

A last-minute copyright dispute nearly altered the Olympic debut of Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté, whose Minions-themed short program faced uncertainty just days before the Winter Games in Italy.

Guarino Sabaté had competed throughout the season using a medley of music from the Minions franchise, skating in blue overalls and a bright yellow top designed to bring humor and playfulness to the ice while still meeting all competitive requirements.

However, with only a week remaining before the opening ceremony, the skater was informed that the music could not be used at the Olympics due to copyright concerns. The decision placed his Olympic plans in doubt and raised the possibility of changing his short program at the last minute.

Days later, the situation shifted. Universal, which owns the Minions franchise, granted permission for the music to be used for the Olympic performance. Guarino Sabaté confirmed the update publicly, noting that while some final licensing details still needed to be resolved, the program was close to being fully approved.