Athletes - Johnny Weir

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	Athletes - Johnny Weir

John G. "Johnny" Weir (born July 2, 1984 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania) is an American figure skater. He began skating at the relatively late age of 12 and his first skating hero was Oksana Baiul. Although he started late he quickly progressed through the USFSA novice and junior levels.

Weir won the U.S. national men's title in January 2004 and placed fifth at the World Championships the following March. In 2005, he successfully defended his U.S. title and placed fourth at the World Championships. He made his Olympic debut in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy after winning his third straight U.S. championship. After a second-place performance in the short program, Weir skated poorly in the free skate, due in part to arriving late at the arena. He fell to fifth in the final standings.

Weir trains at the Pond Ice Arena in Newark, Delaware under long-time coach Priscilla Hill. He has become as well known for his personality off the ice as much as his skating skill on it. For example, he has mentioned how important he feels it is to have a good aura and sees Christina Aguilera as an incredible role model.

In academics he studied linguistics at the University of Delaware before dropping out in his second year to concentrate on his skating, and has said that after his skating career is done he would like to study fashion design at either the Fashion Institute of Technology or Parsons School of Design in New York City. He is also a self-proclaimed "Russia-phile" who admires their style of skating and is proficient in the language. He also speaks French.

In 2003 and 2004, respectively, he likened his skating outfits to an icicle on coke and a carebear on speed, to the chagrin of skating officials.

In the midst of Weir's 2006 Olympic experience, retired openly gay figure skater Rudy Galindo caused a stir by insisting that Weir copies his skating style (a claim instantly laughed off by skating aficionados everywhere, who saw no resemblance between Galindo's often-clumsy stylings and Weir's graceful, Russian-influenced style) and also by demanding that the media ask Weir whether or not he is a homosexual, which they promptly did at the press conference following his short program. Weir declined to answer, stating that who he sleeps with has nothing to do with what he does on the ice. Some speculated that the media uproar that followed contributed to his loss of concentration in the long program and fifth place finish.

Competitive highlights

2005-2006:
* 7th place at the World Championships
* 5th place at the XX Olympics
* NATIONAL CHAMPION
* 1st place at Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge
* 3rd place at the Grand Prix Cup of Russia
* 7th place at Skate Canada
* 4th place at Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic
* 4th place at Japan International Challenge
2004-2005:
* 2nd place at the Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge
* 4th place at the World Championships
* NATIONAL CHAMPION
* 4th place at the Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating
* 2nd place at the Grand Prix Cup of Russia
* 1st place at the Grand Prix Trophée Eric Bompard Cachemire
* 1st place at the NHK Trophy
* 4th place at Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic
2003-2004:
* 3rd place at the Marshalls World Skating Challenge
* 5th place at the World Championships
* NATIONAL CHAMPION
2002-2003:
* U.S. Championships - withdrew (2nd after SP)
2001-2002:
* 1st place at Hershey's Kisses Challenge (Team event)
* 4th place at the Four Continents Championships
* 5th place at the U.S. Championships
* 3th place at the Trophée Lalique
* 7th place at Skate Canada
* 10th place at the Goodwill Games
2000-2001:
* WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION
* 6th place at the U.S. Championships
* 2nd place at the Harbin Junior Grand Prix
* 6th place at the St. Gervais Junior Grand Prix
1999-2000:
* 5th place at the U.S. Championships, Junior
* 1st place at the Eastern Sectional, Junior
* 2nd place at the Piruetten Junior Grand Prix
1998-1999:
* 4th place at the U.S. Championships, Junior
* 7th at the World Junior Team Selection
1997-1998:
* 3rd place at the U.S. Championships, Novice
1996-1997:
* 4th place at the Junior Olympics, Juvenile

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Johnny Weir ]

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Athletes - Johnny Weir

Competitive highlights

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