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Johnny Weir

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Johnny Weir
File:Johnny Weir Spreadeagle 06011329.jpg
Weir at the 2006 World Championships.
Height5 ft 9 in (172 cm)
Figure skating career
Country United States
CoachPriscilla Hill,
Marina Anissina
Skating clubSC of New York
Most Recent Results:
Event Points Finish Year
World Championships 206.97 8th 2007
National Championships 213.20 3rd 2007
Cup of Russia 196.28 2nd 2006
Skate Canada 198.70 3rd 2006

John G. "Johnny" Weir (born July 2, 1984 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania) is an American figure skater. He is a three-time U.S. national champion (2004-2006) and the 2007 national bronze medalist. He is currently ranked 6th in the world. [1]


Biography

Weir originally competed as an equestrian. He became interested in figure skating while watching Oksana Baiul win her Olympic gold medal. He taught himself how to jump on roller skates in his basement. After his parents bought him figure skates, he practiced on a frozen corn field. His parents then bought him lessons and, after showing promise, Weir focused completely on becoming a skater. Although he began skating at the relatively late age of 12, he progressed quickly through the ranks. He performed an Axel jump in his first week on skates. He competed in pair skating with Jodi Rudden on the juvenile and intermediate levels, but gave it up to focus on single skating.

Early career

Weir's first major victory came in 2001 when, at the age of 16, he won the World Junior Championships. There he skated three clean programs and came in first ahead of fellow American Evan Lysacek. This was the first time since 1987 that the U.S. had placed first and second on the World Junior podium. Weir also placed sixth that year at the senior U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

At the 2003 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, he literally hit the wall during his long program. He restarted the program, but injured himself later on a failed triple axel landing. This time he was too injured to restart, so he withdrew from the competition.

Senior success

The 2003-2004 season was the turning point for Weir. He qualified for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships by winning his regional and sectional championships. He received his first 6.0 during his long program at 2004 U.S. Championships, winning the gold over Michael Weiss and Matthew Savoie. He then competed at the 2004 Worlds and placed fifth.

In the 2004-2005 season, Weir won his first two Grand Prix titles. He won the first at the NHK Trophy in Japan and the second at Trophée Eric Bompard in France. He came in second at Cup of Russia behind reigning world champion Evgeni Plushenko. At the 2005 U.S. Championships, he successfully defended his title. At Worlds the following month, he placed fourth.

The 2005-2006 Olympic season would prove difficult for Weir. He came in seventh at Skate Canada International after injuring his foot on a jump landing at the start of the free skate and struggling through the rest of the program, and third at Cup of Russia. He rallied at the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, winning his third consecutive title and was automatically named to the U.S. Olympic team.

At the Olympics, Weir skated a brilliant short program and was in second place behind Evgeni Plushenko in that segment. However, Weir omitted some of his planned jumps in the free skating, and fell to fifth in the final standings. At the 2006 World Championships, Weir finished seventh, fighting a nagging back injury. Weir also landed his first clean quadruple jump at the competition.

He began the 2006-2007 competitive season at Skate Canada International, where he placed third. He went on to Cup of Russia and won the silver medal, his third consecutive medal at that event. He withdrew from the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final after the short program due to injury. In the 2007 National Championships, Weir was in second place after the short program, less than a point behind Evan Lysacek. In the free program, he did not have his best performance. He was unable to complete his triple axel combination, fell on a triple loop and doubled several of his planned combinations. He attempted a quadruple toe loop but it was heavily two-footed on the landing. Weir finished in third place behind Ryan Bradley and Evan Lysacek.

Weir trains at the Pond Ice Arena in Newark, Delaware, under long-time coach Priscilla Hill. Unlike most figure skaters, he is a clockwise spinner.

Off the Ice

Weir competing at the 2004 World Championships.

Weir studied linguistics at the University of Delaware before dropping out in his second year to concentrate on his skating. He is interested in fashion design and is a self-proclaimed "Russiaphile" who admires the style of skating and language of Russia. He also speaks French.


Off the ice, he has appeared in a fashion spread in BlackBook Magazine and taught Kathy Griffin how to skate in the season two finale of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. Weir modeled for the Heatherette show during Olympus Fashion Week in the fall of 2006 and again in the spring of 2007. He is an avid collector of Russian Cheburashka memorabilia.

Programs

2006 – 2007 Season

Short Program

  • King of Chess by Silent Nick (Karl Jenkins - Palladio Suite)

Long Program

Exhibition

Occation

Fallen Angels Program

2005 – 2006 Season

Short Program

Long Program

  • Amazonic + Hana's Eyes + Wonderland by Maksim Mrvica
  • Otonal by Raul DiBlasio
  • Return to Otonal at the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships

Exhibition

2004 – 2005 Season

Short Program

Long Program

Exhibition

2003 – 2004 Season

Short Program

Long Program

Exhibition

2002 – 2003 Season

Short Program

  • "Innocence" and "Zydeko" by Benoit Jutras

Long Program

2001 – 2002 Season

Short Program

Long Program

  • Themes from "The Puppet Master," "Spirit of the Peacock," and "City of Sadness" by Zhao Jiping and Nic Rain

Exhibition

  • Cinema Paradiso
2000 – 2001 Season

Short Program

Long Program

Exhibition

1999 – 2000 Season

Short Program

  • Espana Cani by Erich Kunzel

Long Program

  • "An American Tail" Soundtrack

Exhibition

1998 – 1999 Season

Short Program

  • Sabre Dance

Long Program

  • Malaguena
1997 – 1998 Season

Short Program

  • Russian Folk Music by Svetit Masjaz

Long Program

  • Malaguena
1996 – 1997 Season

Juvenile Program

  • "Rudy" Soundtrack

Choreography

Competitive Short Program


Competitive Long Program


Exhibition

Competitive highlights

Event 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007
Winter Olympic Games 5th
World Championships 5th 4th 7th 8th
Four Continents Championships 4th
United States Championships 3rd N. 4th J. 5th J. 6th 5th WD 1st 1st 1st 3rd
Grand Prix Final WD
Skate Canada International 7th 7th 3rd
Trophée Eric Bompard 4th 1st
Cup of Russia WD 2nd 3rd 2nd
NHK Trophy WD 1st
Finlandia Trophy 2nd
World Junior Championships 1st
Junior Grand Prix, China 2nd
Junior Grand Prix, France 6th
Junior Grand Prix, Norway 2nd
Junior Grand Prix, Czech Republic 7th
Junior Grand Prix, Slovak Republic 1st
Triglav Trophy 2nd N.
  • N = Novice level; J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

References

  1. ^ http://www.isufs.org/ws/wsmen.htm
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