After a lengthy back-and-forth copyright battle, Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté performed his viral Minions routine at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I am very happy to announce that we have made it: We have obtained the licenses for all four musical pieces,” Guarino Sabaté wrote via Instagram in February 2026. “I will be able to skate my Minions program at the Olympic Games. It has not been an easy process, but the support from everyone who has followed my case has been essential in keeping me motivated and optimistic throughout these days.”
Throughout his competitive season, Guarino Sabaté skated a routine using music from the Despicable Me franchise while dressed in a Minions-themed outfit consisting of a yellow shirt, denim overalls and large glasses.
Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of Guarino Sabaté’s journey to perform his Minions routine at the Olympics:
Behind-the-Scenes on Team USA’s Dramatic Journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics
Why Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate Couldn’t Perform His ‘Minions’ Routine
After Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté qualified for the 2026 Olympics, he was not immediately able to clear the rights to all four songs in the medley.
Guarino Sabaté, like most skaters, performs the same routines all season long. The Minions dance is his short program.
What ‘Minions’ Songs Does Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate Skate to?
Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté’s program includes a medley of Minions-inspired songs, including one of Pharrell Williams’ tracks from Despicable Me 3.
Other Figure Skaters Have Weighed In
“I’ve been keeping up to date with this Minions saga,” American women’s singles skater Amber Glenn said in a February 2026 press conference. “I have been on it. I know he has three of four pieces cleared. He’s currently in talks with Pharrell Williams, like, I am on this. I told people they were going to see the Minions at the Olympics, and I don’t want to be a liar.”
How Figure Skating Music Is Chosen
Individual skaters pick out their short and long program music at the start of the season.
“We don’t have 100 percent control over [whether] ‘This is 100 percent clear,’” Amber Amber Glenn said in a press conference ahead of the 2026 Olympics. “We do our best.”
All arrangements, however, needed to be cleared by record producers.
“It’s been a very strenuous process for many of us,” Glenn, who skates to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” acknowledged. “We have a great team around us that is supposed to handle that, because we have a job to do ‘cause we have to go and ice skate. I just focus on what I can do and what I can control, and let the people around me handle that.”
Salma Hayek and More Stars Who Love the Olympics
How Was Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate’s Music Saga Resolved?
Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté announced via Instagram on February 6, 2026, that his team secured the music rights just days before his Olympics short program.
“My only goal is to give my very best on the ice and deliver a program worthy of all the affection I have received from people around the world,” he said in a statement. “I am deeply moved by the love shown to a small skater from a small federation.”
2026 Olympics Standings
While Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté won over the crowd with his Minions routine, the judges didn’t quite feel the same way. Guarino Sabaté received a score of 69.80, finishing in 25th place and failing to qualify for the free skate. (Only the top 24 skaters are able to move onto the second round in their attempt to earn a medal.)
