Johnny Weir: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Similar names|John Weir (disambiguation){{!}}John Weir}}

{{Infobox person

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|07|02}}

| birth_place = [[Coatesville, Pennsylvania]]

| occupation = {{hlist|[[~~Figure skating|~~Figure skater]]|television commentator}}

| height = {{height|m=1.72}}

| module = {{Infobox figure skater

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'''John Garvin Weir'''<ref name="biography">{{cite web |title=Johnny Weir – Age, Skating & TV Hosting – Biography |url=https://www.biography.com/athlete/johnny-weir |website=Biography |date=April 15, 2019 |publisher=A&E Television Networks, LLC |access-date=February 14, 2022}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|'|w|ɪər}}; born July 2, 1984)<ref name="biousfs" /> is an American ~~retired~~television ~~competitive~~commentator and retired [[figure skater]] ~~and television commentator~~. He is a two-time Olympian ([[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]] and [[2010 Winter Olympics]]), the [[2008 World Figure Skating Championships|2008 World bronze medalist]], a two-time [[~~Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|~~Grand Prix Final]] bronze medalist, the [[2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|2001 World Junior Champion]], and a three-time [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. National champion]] (2004–2006). He was the youngest [[2004 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. National champion]] since 1991, in 2006 the first skater to win U.S. Nationals three times in a row since [[Brian Boitano]] in the late 1980s, and the first American to win [[2007 Cup of Russia|Cup of Russia]] in 2007.

Weir was raised in [[Quarryville, Pennsylvania]], winning several [[Equestrianism|equestrian]] competitions before switching to figure skating at the age of 12. [[Priscilla Hill]] was his first coach. He became eligible to compete in the Junior Grand Prix during the 1999–2000 season and won the 2001 Junior World Championship. The following season (2000–2001), Weir competed as a senior for the first time, coming in sixth place at the [[2001 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Nationals]]. The 2003–2004 season was "the turning point" for Weir, when he trained with [[Tatiana Tarasova]] and won his first national title at age 19.

At the [[2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2006 U.S. Nationals]], Weir was the first male skater to win three consecutive U.S. titles since Brian Boitano almost 20 years previously. He finished third at the [[2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2007 U.S. Nationals]] and replaced his long-time coach Priscilla Hill with [[Galina Zmievskaya]] for the 2007–2008 season. At the [[2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2008 U.S. Nationals]], he tied for first place with [[Evan Lysacek]], both with a combined score of 244.77 points, but Lysacek was named the U.S. champion because following ISU regulations, he won the free skate. Weir finished fifth place at the [[2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2009 U.S. Nationals]], the first time since 2003 that Weir did not qualify to compete at the Worlds championships. He was ready to quit figure skating before the [[2009–10 figure skating season|2009–2010 season]], but ended up qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics by winning bronze at the [[2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2010 U.S. Nationals]]. Weir retired from competitive figure skating in 2013. He joined [[NBC]] as a commentator beginning at the [[~~2014 Winter Olympics|~~Sochi Olympics]] in 2014. He was teamed with sports commentator [[Terry Gannon]] and fellow figure skater [[Tara Lipinski]]; also in 2014, they became NBC's primary figure skating analysts, commentating for skating in two Olympics.

Weir had a classical skating style and was known for being "a very lyrical skater"<ref name="weir-21" /> and "an entertaining artisan".<ref name="parees" /> He often designed his own costumes or worked extensively with his designers and later was known for his fashion choices as a broadcaster. His costume choices and outspokenness caused conflicts with [[U.S. Figure Skating]], the governing body of the sport in the U.S., throughout his skating career. Television commentators would bring up his [[sexual orientation]] during his performances, causing him to publicly address homophobic remarks by commentators during the 2010 Olympics. He [[~~coming out|~~came out]] in early 2011<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2011 |title=Johnny Weir, Figure Skater, Comes Out as Gay |~~work~~publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/johnny-weir-figure-skater-comes-out-as-gay/ |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> and has been involved with [[~~LGBT~~LGBTQ]]Q activism.

==Early life==

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Weir won the Junior Eastern Sectionals in 1999 and 2000. The following season (2000–2001), Weir competed as a senior for the first time, coming in sixth place at the [[2001 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Nationals]] despite "a bad hip flexor injury",<ref>Weir, p. 42</ref> and winning the Eastern Sectionals as a senior. He was the third alternate at the [[2000–01 ISU Junior Grand Prix|2000 Junior Grand Prix]] final, coming in sixth and second place at his two Junior Grand Prix assignments, but won, at the age of 16, the gold medal at the [[2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]].<ref name="icenetworkresults" /><ref>{{cite web |title=2000/2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Men Standings |url=http://ww2.isu.org/figure/events/0001/jgp00men.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110040801/http://ww2.isu.org/figure/events/0001/jgp00men.html |archive-date=January 10, 2016 |access-date=December 24, 2022 |publisher=International Skating Union}}</ref> He was the tenth American to win at Junior Worlds and the first American male skater since [[Derrick Delmore]] won in [[1998 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1998]]. Lysacek won the silver medal; it was the first time since [[Rudy Galindo]] and [[Todd Eldredge]] in [[1987 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1987]] American men came in first and second place. Despite falling on the simplest jump in his short program, a triple [[Flip jump|flip]], Weir was placed first going into the free skate. Weir received the best artistic scores, receiving 5.7s for presentation in his free skate.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 2, 2001 |title=Plus: Figure Skating; U.S. Men Finish First and Second |page=D7 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/02/sports/plus-figure-skating-us-men-finish-first-and-second.html |access-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>Weir, p. 45</ref>

Weir was ranked 18th-best in the world in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2002 |title=ISU World Standing for Figure Skating and Ice Dancing: Men |url=http://www.icecalc.de/isu/ws/wsmen2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020613192308/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/ws/wsmen2.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2002 |access-date=December 24, 2022 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> He came in seventh place and fourth place in his two Grand Prix assignments during the 2001–2002 season, participated in the [[Goodwill Games]] and a team pro-am competition, came in fifth place at the [[2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2002 U.S. Nationals]], and came in fourth place in the [[~~2002 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|~~2002 Four Continents Championships]].<ref name="icenetworkresults" />

In the 2002–2003 season, which figure skating reporter Lou Parees called "disastrous" for Weir,<ref name="parees" /> he skated in one international competition, the [[2003 Finlandia Trophy|Finlandia Trophy]] and withdrew from the [[2002 Cup of Russia|Cup of Russia]].<ref name="icenetworkresults" /><ref name="weir-54">Weir, p. 54</ref> He also withdrew, during his free skate, from the [[2003 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2003 U.S. Championships]] in Dallas, which gold medalist [[Michael Weiss (figure skater)|Michael Weiss]] called "the most bizarre national championships ever".<ref name="associatedpress">{{cite news |date=January 18, 2003 |title=Weiss Wins Third U.S. Title on Ugly Afternoon |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2003-01-18-usskating-men_x.htm |access-date=December 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408191542/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2003-01-18-usskating-men_x.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> Weir was in second place after the short program, with a clean skate with all eight required elements.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crumpacker |first=John |date=January 17, 2003 |title=Kwan Shows Top-Flight Form; Cohen, Hughes Trail after Uneven Short Programs |work=San Francisco Gate |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Kwan-shows-top-flight-form-Cohen-Hughes-trail-2639812.php |access-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref> He felt confident going into the free skate, but hit the rink wall 23 seconds after he started, catching his blade between the ice and wall while doing a "simple crossover".<ref>Weir, p. 61</ref> He fell and injured his back, but the referee allowed him to continue where he stopped. He stepped out of his first triple Axel and fell again on his second, injuring his knee to the point that he had to withdraw.<ref name="associatedpress" />

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===2003–2004 season===

[[File:Tarasova cohen.jpg|thumb|[[Tatiana Tarasova]], who coached Weir, and his friend, fellow figure skater [[Sasha Cohen]]]]

The 2003–2004 season was "the turning point" for Weir;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Di Fonzo |first1=Carla |date=December 2, 2006 |title=Olympian Returns to His Roots |work=Lancaster Online |url=https://lancasteronline.com/news/olympian-returns-to-his-roots/article_68500373-18b2-5075-87a9-5dd87aa52de9.html |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> Mittan called it "an amazing comeback".<ref name="seekstoretain" /> In the summer of 2003, he trained with Russian coach [[Tatiana Tarasova]] for six weeks at the [[International Skating Center]] in [[Simsbury, Connecticut]]. Weir's friend and fellow skater [[Sasha Cohen]] helped him contact Tarasova, who waived her fees for him.<ref>Weir, p. 67</ref> Working with Tarasova gave Weir the confidence he needed to recover from the previous season.<ref name="seekstoretain" /><ref name="goodtime">{{cite news |last1=Hersh |first1=Philip |date=March 21, 2004 |title=U.S. Champ Johnny Weir Doesn't Mind If He Upsets a Few Federation Officials; the 19-Year-Old Simply Wants to Have a Good Time |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-03-21-0403210293-story.html |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>Weir, pp. 66—67</ref> He moved from his longtime rink, the more prestigious one at the [[University of Delaware]], to a nearby rink called The Pond, which was less crowded and not as well-known.<ref name="insidetheloop" />

The only Grand Prix competition U.S. Figure Skating assigned to Weir that season was "the second tier" [[2003 Finlandia Trophy|Finlandia Trophy]].<ref name="parees">{{cite news |last1=Parees |first1=Lou |date=June 21, 2004 |title=Johnny Weir: The Road to Russia |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2004/06/johnny-weir-the-road-to-russia/ |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> He was one of two skaters to skate a clean short program with a triple [[Lutz jump|Lutz]]-triple [[~~Toe loop jump|~~toe loop]] combination, a "scratchy triple Axel",<ref name="finlandia">{{cite news |date=October 12, 2003 |title=2003 Finlandia Trophy: Highlights |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2003/10/2003-finlandia-trophy-highlights/ |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> and the best spins in the field. He was first after the short program, but came in second place overall, slightly behind [[Gheorghe Chiper]] from Romania. Weir popped both his Lutz and loop jumps, but successfully performed his triple Axel-triple toe loop combination and four other triple jumps.<ref name="finlandia" /> He had to compete in the Eastern Sectionals again, coming in first place despite a fall and securing a spot in the U.S. Nationals.<ref name="seekstoretain" /><ref name="icenetworkresults" /><ref name="goodtime" /><ref>Weir, p. 76</ref>

Weir came into the [[2004 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2004 U.S. Nationals]] in Atlanta with "something to prove".<ref name="salzanca">{{cite news |last1=Zanca |first1=Sal |date=January 10, 2004 |title=Johnny Weir Collects a Perfect 6.0 and Claims Gold |work=U.S. Figure Skating Online |publisher=U.S. Figure Skating |url=http://www.usfsa.org/event_story.asp?id=21095 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214065729/http://www.usfsa.org/event_story.asp?id=21095 |archive-date=February 14, 2012}}</ref> He came in first place, the first to do so by qualifying at sectionals since [[Rudy Galindo]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 5, 2004 |title=Weir Improves His Prospects by Adding Quads |work=Spokesman Review |agency=Associated Press |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2004/dec/05/weir-improves-his-prospects-by-adding-quads/ |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> It was his first national title.<ref name="highlights" /> He was also the youngest male skater, at the age of 19, to win the U.S. Nationals since [[Todd Eldredge]] won in [[1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1991]], also at the age of 19.<ref name="salzanca" /> Weir's short program was not the most difficult, but he had "a clean and elegant skate"<ref name="highlights">{{cite news |date=January 11, 2004 |title=2004 US Figure Skating Championships: Highlights |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2004/01/2004-us-national-figure-skating-championships-highlights/ |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> with a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, a triple Axel, and a triple flip, all landed successfully. He was in first place after the short program, with marks ranging from 4.9 to 5.8.<ref name="highlights" /> He also won the free skate, even though he did not include a quadruple jump. Skating last, his program was "elegant yet loaded with solid jumps",<ref name="highlights" /> including eight triple jumps and two combination jumps: a triple Axel-triple toe and his triple Lutz-triple toe. After completing his free skate, Weir kissed his hand and pounded the ice with it as the audience gave him a standing ovation; he stated, "I was very thankful at that point, and I was thanking the ice in Atlanta for letting me do my best".<ref name="salzanca" /> His scores ranged from 5.8 to 6.0, which included seven 5.9s for technical merit and a 6.0 for presentation, the first perfect score earned by a man at U.S. Nationals since Michael Weiss earned one in [[2000 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2000]]; all but two judges placed Weir in first place.<ref name="goodtime" /><ref name="salzanca" /><ref name="highlights" /><ref>Weir, p. 79</ref><ref>Weir, p. 81</ref> Weir also stated, about his performance: "It was a cool feeling to be written off and then come back to show them what I am made of...I hope I shut up everyone who counted me out".<ref name="goodtime" />

U.S. Figure Skating named Weir to the U.S. [[2004 World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] team.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Figure Skating Names International Teams |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=21084 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111062156/http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=21084 |archive-date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Figure Skating}}</ref> He came in fifth place; teammate Michael Weiss came in sixth. Weir opened his short program with a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, followed by a triple Axel and a triple flip, earning marks ranging from 5.0 to 5.7.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sampson |first1=Pamela |date=March 24, 2004 |title=Plushenko wins World Championship gold |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2004-03-25-world-championships_x.htm |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> Neither Weir nor Weiss completed quadruple jumps in their free skating programs, whereas the top four placements all performed quads in theirs. It was the first time since [[1994 World Figure Skating Championships|1994]] that no American male won medals at the World Championships.<ref name="gohome">{{cite news |date=March 25, 2004 |title=American Men Go Home without a Medal |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=1768616 |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> Weir, however, came back from seventh place after the short program<ref name="gohome" /> by completing eight "elegant triples"<ref name="gohome" /> in his long program, like he had done at U.S. Nationals. His technical scores ranged from 5.3 to 5.7 and his presentation scores were as high as 5.8.<ref name="gohome" />

Weir skated in the final ISU-sanctioned competition of the season, the 2004 Marshall's World Figure Skating Challenge. coming in third place. He earned marks ranging from 5.4 to 5.7 in his technical scores, and 5.6 to 5.8 in his artistic scores, doubling one jump and stepping out of a triple Axel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 7, 2004 |title=2004 Marshall's World Figure Skating Challenge: Highlights |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2004/04/2004-marshalls-world-figure-skating-challenge-highlights/ |access-date=December 28, 2022}}</ref> He toured with [[Champions on Ice]] the summer of 2004, with Cohen, [[Irina Slutskaya]], [[Elena Sokolova]], and his "skating hero",<ref>Weir, p. 104</ref> [[Evgeni Plushenko]].

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Weir's short program this season was based upon an interpretation of [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]' ''[[The Dying Swan|The Swan]]'', which was traditionally danced and skated to by women. Tarasova had been pushing to create a short program for Weir with Saint-Saëns' music since the two began working together, believing that his "naturally quiet and delicate way on the ice mirrored the mellow cello piece". Although Weir was hesitant at first, he agreed to introduce the program during the 2006 Olympic season.<ref name="weir-124">Weir, p. 124</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported on the costume and music he chose for his short program, "a black-and-white costume that sparkled under the lights, and one red glove symbolizing the beak of a swan".<ref name="fitslikeglove">{{cite news |last1=Macur |first1=Juliet |date=January 13, 2006 |title=Weir's Title Fits Like Glove after Short Program |page=D-5 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/13/sports/sportsspecial1/weirs-title-fits-like-glove-after-short-program.html |access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> He debuted the program, choreographed by Tarasova, Shanetta Folle, and [[Evgeni Platov]], during a practice session at Skate Canada.<ref name="fitslikeglove" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Johnny Weir: 2005/2006 |url=http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00003583.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615012712/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00003583.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2006 |access-date=January 3, 2023 |publisher=International Skating Union}}</ref> He later reported that the initial reaction to it was laughter and that he told reporters, when they asked about the red glove, that he had named it "Camille", in honor of the piece's composer.<ref>Weir, pp. 127—128</ref> Weir was aware of the impact it would make on the public and in the figure skating world, and that it could harm his reputation with the judges;<ref>Weir, pp. 124—125</ref> he later stated, "Gender bending would take me into a whole new and very taboo area, where I would stand totally alone".<ref name="weir-124" /> He also stated that although people were initially uncomfortable with the program, it would become one of his most popular programs and would "completely change the world's perception of me".<ref>Weir, p. 128</ref> His performance and swan costume were parodied in the 2007 comedy ''[[Blades of Glory]]'', starring [[Jon Heder]] and [[Will Ferrell]].<ref name="johnnydrama" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Edgington |first=K. |title=Encyclopedia of Sports Films |date=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |others=Erskine, Thomas L., Welsh, James Michael |isbn=978-0-8108-7653-8 |location=Lanham, Maryland |pages=58 |oclc=698590313}}</ref>

In October, Weir finished in fourth place at the 2005 Campbell's Classic; he popped both of his triple Axels and earned 114.65 points.<ref name="comfortzone" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Borzi |first1=Pat |date=October 9, 2005 |title=Cohen Leaves Her Foes Little More Than Sweet Sorrow |page=8 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/sports/othersports/cohen-leaves-her-foes-little-more-than-sweet-sorrow.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 8, 2005 |title=Sasha Cohen impressive at Campbell's Classic |~~work~~publisher=ESPN~~.com~~ |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2185305 |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> At [[2005 Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] also in October, Weir was in second place after the short program, but finished in seventh place, after falling on his first jump and spraining his left ankle during the free skate. He also competed at [[2005 Cup of Russia|Cup of Russia]] a few weeks later in November, even though it was unlikely that he would make it to the [[2005–06 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix final]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 2005 |title=U.S. Skater Wins in Canada |work=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/10/31/19920077/u-s-skater-wins-in-canada |access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> Weir, "on the comeback trail",<ref name="cupofrussia">{{cite news |date=November 26, 2005 |title=Sports Briefing: Plushenko Shines in Cup of Russia |page=D-7 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/26/health/sports-briefing.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> won third place overall at Cup of Russia. He missed two triples in his free skate but placed third in the short program with 206.79 points, fourth in the free skate with 75.15 points, and earned a total of 131.64 points.<ref name="cupofrussia" /><ref>{{cite news |date=November 27, 2005 |title=Sports Briefing: Winter Sports |page=D-7 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/sports/sports-briefing.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name="icenetworkresults" /> In December, Weir competed in the made-for-TV skating competition Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge in Boston. He won the event, taking in 64 percent of the fans' votes, via in-stadium voting, telephone, and the internet.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zinser |first1=Lynn |date=December 12, 2005 |title=With Aching Hip, Kwan Still Wins Hearts |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/sports/othersports/with-aching-hip-kwan-still-wins-hearts.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 12, 2005 |title=Baltimore Wants to Keep Tejada Around: Figure skating |work=Vallejo Times-Herald |location=Vallejo, California |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2005/12/12/baltimore-wants-to-keep-tejada-around/ |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref>

At the [[2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2006 U.S. Nationals]], Weir was the first male skater to win three consecutive U.S. titles since [[Brian Boitano]] almost 20 years previously. He was in first place after the short program, again overcoming his nerves and earning a personal best score of 83.28, almost six points ahead of Weiss, who came in fourth place overall.<ref name="blanchette">{{cite news |last1=John |first1=Blanchette |date=January 13, 2006 |title=Weir Wears Image Well |work=Spokesman Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/jan/13/weir-wears-image-well/ |access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref><ref name="fitslikeglove" /> He successfully landed four triple jumps, including his opening triple Axel and a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, as well as a flying sit spin, circular step sequence, another triple flip, and his concluding spin combination; the spectators gave him a standing ovation when he finished.<ref name="blanchette" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crumpacker |first1=John |date=January 13, 2006 |title=Figure Skating: Weir on top after short program; Olympic bronze medalist Goebel sits in 5th after pair of gaffes |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/FIGURE-SKATING-Weir-on-top-after-short-program-2543927.php |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> He later told reporters, "For this one, they kind of sat back and had their cognac and their cigarettes and they were relaxing and watching", compared fellow competitor [[Ryan Bradley]]'s faster-paced choreography to "a vodka-shot-and-a-snort-of-coke kind of thing", and then said, "Uh, sorry for all those drug references".<ref name="fitslikeglove" />

Weir's free skate was "not without flaws",<ref name="crumpacker">{{cite news |last1=Crumpacker |first1=John |date=January 15, 2006 |title=U.S. Figure Skating: Three New Faces Set for Turin; Weir Wins Title, Olympic Vets Fail in Long Program |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/U-S-FIGURE-SKATING-Three-new-faces-set-for-2506623.php |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> so his short program carried his victory. He came in third place in the free skate after Lysacek and Savoie with 142.06 points and a total of 225.34 points. He stepped out of a triple Axel, did too many combination jumps and thus received no points for one jumping pass, and did not complete the third jump of his three-jump combination.<ref name="crumpacker" /><ref>Weir, p. 132</ref> After his win, Weir told reporters, "My mom is getting drunk already".<ref name="crumpacker" /> U.S. Figure Skating reprimanded both Weir and his mother Patti Weir for his drug references and other statements made during Nationals, but he, along with Lysacek and Savoie, who came in second and third place, were selected to represent the U.S. at the [[2006 Winter Olympics]], all for the first time.<ref name="icebreaker" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Whiteside |first1=Kelly |date=January 14, 2006 |title=Weir Wins Third Straight U.S. Title, Earns Olympic Berth |work=USA Today |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2006-01-14-mens-figure-skating_x.htm |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref>

For the first time in his career, Weir changed his free skating program mid-season shortly before the Olympics, from "a techno medley"<ref name="changestune">{{cite news |date=February 7, 2006 |title=Weir Changes Tune for Turin |work=The Denver Post |agency=Associated Press |location=Denver, Colorado |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/02/07/weir-changes-tune-for-turin/ |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> written by Croatian pianist [[Maksim Mrvica]] to "Otoñal" by Argentine pianist [[Raúl Di Blasio]], which Weir used the previous season. He stated that although he had performed the program well, he was bored with it and felt it lacked passion and power. Commentator and former Olympic gold medalist [[Dick Button]] agreed, stating that the newer program "was not good enough for him".<ref name="changestune" /> Weir's coach and mother admitted that Weir felt nervous about competing at the Olympics, and was uneasy about competing against Plushenko,<ref name="julietmacur">{{cite news |last1=Juliet |first1=Macur |date=February 14, 2006 |title=A Little Nervousness Shows Through Weir's Brash Exterior |page=D-2 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/sports/olympics/a-little-nervousness-shows-through-weirs-brash-exterior.html |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> but he was called "the breakthrough personality of the Games".<ref name="gwenknapp">{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Gwen |date=February 17, 2006 |title=Go Figure – the Men Left Their Olympic-Caliber Skating at Home |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/knapp/article/Go-figure-the-men-left-their-Olympic-caliber-2504078.php |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> It was the first time Weir's father John Weir, who had difficulty traveling after a disabling car accident in 1984, attended one of his son's competitions since Weir was a novice.<ref name="julietmacur" /> Weir received death threats during the Olympics and received "nasty e-mails" for several months afterwards, personal attacks that "targeted his love for things Russian and even his sexual preferences".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Santanu |date=August 2, 2006 |title=Skating Stars Hit Ice Tonight |work=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.deseret.com/2006/8/2/19966561/skating-stars-hit-ice-tonight |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> According to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Weir's habit of wearing "retro Soviet CCCP sweatshirts" instead of USA clothing during the Olympics angered many U.S. supporters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simon |first=Alissa |date=June 10, 2009 |title=Pop Star on Ice |language=en |website=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/pop-star-on-ice-1200475181/ |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref>

Weir was the only American male in medal contention after his short program in Turin,<ref name="gwenknapp" /><ref>Weir, p. 141</ref> skating "well but not brilliantly".<ref name="plushenko">{{cite news |last1=Crumpacker |first1=John |date=February 15, 2006 |title=There's Plushenko, Then Everyone Else: Weir Skates Well, But Russian Aces Short Program |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/There-s-Plushenko-then-everyone-else-Weir-2504292.php |access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> Weir began his short program with "a smooth triple Axel"<ref name="plushenko" /> followed by the highest-scoring element in his program, a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination. His next elements were a circular step sequence and a triple flip "that was lacking in crispness".<ref name="plushenko" /> His final elements were a sit spin, a straight-line step sequence, and a combination spin.<ref name="plushenko" /> He earned a personal-best score of 80.00 points, the third-highest score of the new system, and second-best behind Plushenko, who was in first place after the short program. Plushenko earned a personal-best score of 90.66, the highest short program score up to that point. Weir was ahead of the reigning world champion, [[Stéphane Lambiel]] from Switzerland, who was in third place, and the world silver medalist, [[Jeffrey Buttle]] of Canada, who was in fourth place.

Weir arrived late to the stadium for his free skate, blaming it on missing the bus from the athletes' village and not being told of a schedule change, which put him 90 minutes off his routine.<ref name="easygold" /> Reporter John Crumpacker stated that Weir was "out of sorts for his long program and skated abysmally as he went from second place to fifth".<ref name="easygold">{{cite news |last1=Crumpacker |first1=John |date=February 17, 2006 |title=Russian's Easy Gold: Plushenko Coasts; Weir Misses the Bus for Fifth Place |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Russian-s-easy-gold-Plushenko-coasts-Weir-2522527.php |access-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> He accomplished eight out of his planned 13 jumps, replaced a planned quadruple toe loop with a double Axel, and was shaky on his first triple Axel. He also downgraded another triple jump to a double, and failed to complete a three-jump combination and double-jump combination late in his program.<ref name="gwenknapp" /><ref name="easygold" /> Reporter Gwen Knapp stated, however, this his artistry was best in the field.<ref name="gwenknapp" /> He earned 136.63 points in his free skate, coming in fifth place overall, for a total of 216.63 points.<ref name="easygold" /><ref>{{cite news |date=February 17, 2006 |title=Weir Falls Short of Medal |work=Gainesville Sun |agency=Associated Press |location=Gainesville, Florida |url=https://www.gainesville.com/news/20060217/weir-falls-short-of-medal |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref>

At the [[2006 World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]], Weir "did not fare so well".<ref name="eurosport">{{cite news |date=March 23, 2006 |title=Lambiel Stripes Gold, Joubert Choses Red Pill |work=Eurosport.com |url=https://www.eurosport.com/figure-skating/world-championships/2006/lambiel-stripes-gold_sto855554/story.shtml |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> Plushenko chose not to compete after the Olympics, so Worlds was open for Weir, Lysacek, Lambiel, and Buttle to win the gold medal.<ref name="calgary2006">{{cite news |title=Worlds Rewind: Calgary 2006 |work=World Figure Skating Championships: Montreal 2020 |url=https://montreal2020.com/worlds-rewind-calgary-2006/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724043711/https://montreal2020.com/worlds-rewind-calgary-2006/ |archive-date=July 24, 2021}}</ref> Weir had been troubled with back pain all week, which was aggravated during the warm-up for the free skate. He successfully completed his triple Axel-triple Axel combination at the start of his program and attempted a quadruple toe jump, but he two-footed it and fell on his triple flip at the end of the program, taking him out of medal contention.<ref name="eurosport" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=DeWall |first1=Lindsay |date=March 23, 2006 |title=Figure Skating Updated: Evan Lysacek Wins Bronze Medal at 2006 World Figure Skating Championships |publisher=U.S. Figure Skating Association |url=http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/d25622c850c2bda387256540007b1d12/7d2db2a2d3113c998525713b00120001?OpenDocument |access-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504201846/http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/d25622c850c2bda387256540007b1d12/7d2db2a2d3113c998525713b00120001?OpenDocument |archive-date=May 4, 2009}}</ref> He came in seventh place overall; Lambiel won the gold medal, Brian Joubert came in second, and teammate Lysacek, despite a hard fall during the warm-up, won the bronze medal.<ref name="calgary2006" /> Weir toured again with Champions on Ice in-between seasons, his longest tour with them to date; he chose [[Frank Sinatra]]'s "[[My Way]]", "for its obvious symbolism", as his performance number.<ref>Weir, p. 157</ref> He also appeared in an episode, in which he called "my entertainment TV debut",<ref>Weir, p. 150</ref> of ''[[~~Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List|~~My Life on the D-List]]'' with comedian [[Kathy Griffin]], in which he taught Griffin how to skate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joanne |first=Ostrow |date=May 3, 2006 |title=She Stands and Delivers Sweet but Saucy Spiel |work=The Denver Post |location=Denver, Colorado |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/05/03/she-stands-and-delivers-sweet-but-saucy-spiel/ |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>Weir, pp. 150–151</ref>

===2006–2007 season===

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Shortly before Nationals, former figure skater and analyst [[Mark Lund]], who was openly gay, speculated about Weir's sexuality on television; Weir chalked it up to jealousy.<ref name="johnnydrama" /> Weir went into Nationals hoping to become the first American male since Boitano to win his fourth U.S. championships in a row. His rival Lysacek, who had beaten Weir the last three times they had competed internationally, was seeking his first Nationals title.<ref name="somethingspecial" /> According to Weir, both the press and U.S. Figure Skating, due to his performances during the season and at the 2006 Olympics, and despite his past successes, began to actively support Lysacek over him.<ref name="weir-170" /> As Weir said, "I couldn't outskate the negativity following me into the competition".<ref name="weir-171" />

In the short program, both Weir and Lysacek skated clean programs and were essentially tied going into the free skate,<ref name="weir-171" /><ref name="somethingspecial" /> although Weir had better footwork and Lysacek had better jumps. Weir began his short program with a successful triple Axel and a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination. He had a shaky landing on his triple flip, but his circular and straight-line footwork sequences were well-done, and he performed three level four spins.<ref name="somethingspecial">{{cite ~~news~~magazine |last=Swift |first=E.M. |date=January 29, 2007 |title=Something Special |language=en-us |~~work~~magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2007/01/29/fig-skatechamp |access-date=January 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name="2007highlights">{{cite news |date=January 30, 2007 |title=2007 US Figure Skating Championships: Men's Highlights |language=en-US |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2007/01/2007-us-national-figure-skating-championships-mens-highlights/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |ref=2007highlights}}</ref> Lysacek's score of 78.99 points was a slim lead of less than one point over Weir's 78.14 points. [[Ryan Bradley]] was in third place after the short program, with 73.58 points.<ref>{{cite news |~~date~~year=2008 |title=Skate 2007: Men's Results |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=http://spokesmanreview.com/skate/event/results/senior/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905172702/http://spokesmanreview.com/skate/event/results/senior/ |archive-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref>

Weir was not able to successfully defend his title, coming in third overall; Lysacek came in first place, and Bradley came in second place. In the free skate, Weir skated immediately after Lysacek, whose performance made the crowd leap to their feet.<ref name="somethingspecial" /> Weir came in fourth place in the free skate, with 135.06 points. His triple Axel was successful, but it was supposed to be part of a two-triple jump combination. He two-footed his quadruple toe loop, doubled a planned triple-triple combination jump, popped another triple Axel combination, and later in the program, fell on a triple loop. He also popped an Axel and turned it into a single jump, but completed three more triple jumps, high-quality circular and straight-line footwork sequences, and good spins. He later admitted that the pressure of being the defending champion bothered him, and said that it was difficult skating after Lysacek, especially after hearing that Lysacek had earned over 90 points in his element scores alone. Lysacek's total score was 169.89, which was the highest score, by almost 19.5 points, earned by a male skater at the U.S. Nationals, and over 50 points more than Bradley's final score of 219.21 points.<ref name="2006skatecanada" /><ref name="somethingspecial" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Trimmer |first=Dave |date=January 28, 2007 |title=Bradley Breaks through for Second Place |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |url=http://spokesmanreview.com/skate/stories/?ID=171582 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526053229/http://spokesmanreview.com/skate/stories/?ID=171582 |archive-date=May 26, 2011}}</ref> Weir also said, "Evan didn't just beat me...[h]e kicked my ass",<ref name="somethingspecial" /> and called his free skate "probably the most difficult performance of my career thus far".<ref name="2007highlights" /> U.S. Figure Skating named all three medalists eligible to compete at [[2007 World Figure Skating Championships|2007 Worlds]] and [[~~2007 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|~~2007 Four Continents Championships]]; Weir chose not to compete at Four Continents, so fourth-place finisher [[Jeremy Abbott]] went in his place.<ref name="2007highlights" />

At Worlds, Weir came in eighth place, his worst finish at Worlds in four years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hersh |first=Philip |date=March 23, 2007 |title=A Friendship Turned Chilly? |language=en-US |website=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-mar-23-sp-skate23-story.html |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> He was in fourth place after the short program; he admitted that he was hampered by his nerves, had trouble adjusting to competing in Tokyo, "forgot to breathe a little bit", and said, "My costume is even tired". He earned 74.26 points.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 22, 2007 |title=Americans Stumble at World Figure Skating Championships |language=en-US |website=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/americans-stumble-at-world-figure-skating-championships/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> He came in 10th place in the free skate, earning 132.71 points, and earned 206.97 points overall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2007 |title=ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2007: Men: Free Skating Result Details |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2007/SEG002.HTM |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2007 |title=ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2007: Men Result |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2007/CAT001RS.HTM |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref>

Over the summer of 2007, Weir again toured with Stars on Ice. One of his performances included a combined skating routine, "Fallen Angels", skated to [[~~George Frideric Handel|~~Handel]]'s "[[Keyboard suite in D minor (HWV 437)|Sarabande]]", with [[ice dance]] team [[Melissa Gregory]] and [[Denis Petukhov]]. (He designed the costumes they wore for their free dance that season.)<ref name="interview"/><ref name="heatsuptoday">{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Nancy |date=January 25, 2007 |title=Weir, Lysacek Rivalry Heats up Today |work=Arizona Daily Star |agency=Associated Press |location=Tucson, Arizona |url=https://tucson.com/sports/weir-lysacek-rivalry-heats-up-today/article_667c43f3-bc4a-56e7-b9c5-abc3a01efa1d.html |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> They came up with the idea for the routine, which was choreographed by Petukhov, on the plane trip back from the Worlds championships. At first, they received a great deal of resistance from U.S. Figure Skating but were allowed to debut the routine at the Marshalls Showcase, a made-for-TV exhibition. The audience and commentators praised their performance, and the following week, a YouTube clip of their performance got over 100,000 views. Weir reported that people bought tickets to Stars on Ice just to see the routine in person.<ref name="interview">{{cite news |date=July 28, 2007 |title=Interview with Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov |language=en-US |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2007/07/interview-with-melissa-gregory-and-denis-petukhov/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wenzel |first=Mary |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Benefit Ice Show to Feature Area Figure Skaters |language=en |website=MetroWest Daily News |location=Framingham, Massachusetts |url=https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/2007/09/04/benefit-ice-show-to-feature/41335639007/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>Weir, pp. 178—183</ref>

===2007–2008 season===

[[File:Johnny Weir 2008 World Championships (edited).jpg|right|thumb|upright|Weir at the [[2008 World Figure Skating Championships]]]]

Weir began the 2007–2008 season with "a clean slate" and was "all business".<ref name="brianmurphy">{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Brian |date=January 20, 2008 |title=U.S. Figure Skater Johnny Weir is Overhauled and Confident |language=en-US |work=Pioneer Press |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/01/20/u-s-figure-skater-johnny-weir-is-overhauled-and-confident/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> In between seasons, he amicably parted from his longtime coach Priscilla Hill, and replaced her with [[Galina Zmievskaya]], who had coached [[1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Olympic]] champion [[Viktor Petrenko]] and Weir's idol [[Oksana Baiul]].<ref name="firedup" /><ref name="brianmurphy" /> Weir hired Zmievskaya because he needed more than Hill's "nurturing approach" and that Zmievskaya's "drill sergeant-like demands for discipline and rigor" would help him grow and win championships again.<ref name="benton">{{cite news |last=Benton |first=Nicholas F. |date=January 23, 2008 |title=Recharged Weir Determined to Take Back Skating Title |language=en-US |work=Falls Church News-Press |location=Falls Church, Virginia |url=https://fcnp.com/2008/01/23/recharged-weir-determined-to-take-back-skating-title/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> He also changed his choreographer and training routine, and moved out of his family home in Newark, Delaware to an apartment in New Jersey ~~in order~~ to train with Zmievskaya. He told reporters that he felt homesick and nervous moving to a large city and living on his own for the first time in his life, resorting to sleeping with a kitchen knife next to his bed. He also said that the move taught him discipline and independence.<ref name="firedup">{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=January 17, 2008 |title=Weir Fired up to Win Fourth U.S. National Title |language=en-US |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2008/01/weir-fired-up-to-win-fourth-u-s-national-title/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>

He worked on including a quadruple toe loop in his programs, and on making his triple Lutz and triple flip bigger.<ref name="benton" /> He designed his own costumes and worked closely with his choreographers again. He worked with choreographers Faye Kitariev and Viktor Petukhov to compose a Russian rock opera based upon Svetlana Pikous' song, "''Yunona I Avos''."<ref name="brianmurphy" /> For his free skating program, he worked with [[Yoav Goren]] of the pop group [[Globus (music)|Globus]], who helped him create a routine to the group's song, "Love is War".<ref name="benton" /> Weir called the costume he wore for his free skating program "a sparkly onesie"; ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' described it as "another of his bifurcated black and white, rhinestone-studded costumes with plunging backline".<ref name="scoring">{{Cite ~~news~~magazine |date=January 27, 2008 |title=Fit to be Tied: Scoring Anomaly Spices up Lysacek-Weir U.S. Rivalry |~~work~~magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/em_swift/01/27/mens.skating/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131164210/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/em_swift/01/27/mens.skating/ |archive-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> According to figure skating reporter Elvin Walker, Weir demonstrated a desire to win and a new passion for skating throughout the season, skating with an intensity he lacked in previous seasons.<ref name="preview">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=March 16, 2008 |title=2008 World Figure Skating Championships Preview |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2008/03/2008-world-figure-skating-championships-preview/ |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> He was ranked seventh-best skater in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2008 |title=ISU World Standings for Figure Skating and Ice Dancing: Men |url=http://www.isufs.org/ws/wsmen.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325025302/http://www.isufs.org/ws/wsmen.htm |archive-date=March 25, 2008 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref>

At [[2007 Cup of China|Cup of China]], Weir came in second place, after Lysacek, in the short program, with 79.80 points. He did not include a quadruple jump but completed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination and had higher-scoring spins than Lysacek.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 9, 2007 |title=Lysacek Edges Weir in Men's Short Program at Cup of China |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/figureskating/id/3101826 |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2007 |title=Cup of China: Men – Short Program Result Details |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpchn07/SEG001.HTM |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> He came in first place in the free skate, with 151.98 points and "a nearly perfect"<ref name="cupofchina">{{cite news |date=November 10, 2007 |title=Weir, Belbin and Agosto Winners at Cup of China |language=en |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/figureskating/news/story?id=3103562 |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> performance. He earned 231.78 points overall,<ref name="cupofchina" /> and "significantly beat"<ref name="weir-203">Weir, p. 203</ref> his personal best scores. Lysacek came in second place, and two-time world champion, [[Stéphane Lambiel]] from Switzerland, came in third.<ref name="weir-203" /> Weir also won the gold medal at [[~~Rostelecom Cup|~~Cup of Russia]], beating Lambiel by over 11 points. He came in first place in the free skate, which was described as "somewhat business-like and more suited for the strong technicians rather than the artistic skater Weir is known to be".<ref name="kondakova">{{Cite news |last=Kondakova |first=Anna |date=November 24, 2007 |title=Weir Edges Out Lambiel for Gold |language=en-US |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2007/11/weir-edges-out-lambiel-for-gold/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> He opened his program with a strong triple Axel-triple toe loop combination and underrotated his triple Axel, but successfully completed five more clean triple jumps. He also completed three level-four spins and good footwork. His two Grand Prix wins made him eligible to compete at the [[2007–08 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix Final]] in Turin, Italy, where he came in fourth place.<ref name="kondakova" /><ref name="brianmurphy" />

Despite severe back pain, Weir felt better trained going into the [[2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Nationals]] than ever before.<ref name="firedup" /><ref name="benton" /><ref>Weir, p. 208</ref> [[NBC]] reported that Weir was "more about business in both his short and long programs", skating with "usual elegance, but not his fire".<ref name="evanwinsgold">{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2008 |title=Lysacek, Weir Tie in Free Skate; Evan Wins Gold |work=NBC |agency=Associated Press |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22869171/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223000458/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22869171/ |archive-date=February 23, 2010}}</ref> Weir won the short program, with 83.40 points, 1.35 points separating he and Lysacek.<ref name="earlyround" /> Weir was one of the few skaters who completed a triple Axel during his short program, his triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination was "done with ease and control".<ref name="earlyround">{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2008 |title=Weir Takes an Early Round |work=Los Angeles Daily News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2008/01/26/weir-takes-an-early-round/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> His footwork was "light and a perfect match for the music".<ref name="earlyround" /> In the free skate, even though Weir had not skated a full program in practice for almost two weeks due to his back pain,<ref>Weir, p. 209</ref> Weir and Lysacek were evenly matched in their jumps. Both two-footed their quadruple jump (Weir attempted a quadruple toe), both had similar entrances into their jumps, and both completed seven triples.<ref name="evanwinsgold" /><ref name="tiebreaker">{{Cite news |last=Mihoces |first=Gary |date=January 27, 2008 |title=Tiebreaker Brings Lysacek National Title over Rival Weir |work=USA Today |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-27-skating-men-lysacek_N.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418012852/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-27-skating-men-lysacek_N.htm |archive-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref> Weir followed up his quadruple toe with a triple Axel-triple toe combination, a triple Lutz, and a triple Axel. Weir also two-footed the landing on his triple flip, which was supposed to be part of a combination jump but was not because he eliminated a double-toe loop. He received low marks for an upright spin because he did not clearly change skating edges.<ref name="patborzi">{{Cite news |last=Borzi |first=Pat |date=January 28, 2008 |title=Tie Breaker Allows Lysacek to Defend Title |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/sports/othersports/28skate.html |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref>

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Lysacek won his second straight gold at Nationals. He and Weir tied for first place, both with a combined score of 244.77 points, but Lysacek was named the U.S. champion because following ISU regulations, he won the free skate (162.72 points to Weir's 161.37 points). It was the first tie at U.S. Nationals since the establishment of the new scoring system.<ref name="tiebreaker" /> Despite protests from Weir's fans and the media, including charges of homophobia, the results stood.<ref>Weir, p. 210</ref> [[Stephen Carriere]], the [[2007 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|2007 World Junior champion]], came in third place with 228.06 points. U.S. Figure Skating named Lysacek, Weir, and Carriere eligible to compete at the [[2008 World Figure Skating Championships|Worlds Championships]].<ref name="patborzi" /><ref name="tiebreaker" /><ref name="scoring" />

Weir chose not to compete at the [[2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|Four Continents Championships]] due to fatigue; he was replaced by [[Jeremy Abbott]], who came in fourth place at U.S. Nationals.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Figure Skating: Johnny Weir Won't be Going to Four Continents |work=SFSan Francisco ~~Gate~~Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Sampras-to-play-in-San-Jose-3230004.php |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> Lysacek withdrew from Worlds due to injury; Abbott replaced him as well.<ref name="preview" /> At Worlds, Weir was in second place after the short program.<ref name="goodenough">{{Cite news |last=Hersh |first=Philip |date=March 23, 2008 |title=Weir Not Great but Good Enough |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-03-23-0803220324-story.html |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> His triple Lutz-triple toe combination was "sky high", and he performed high-quality footwork and spins.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Colleen |date=March 22, 2008 |title=No Medal for U.S. Duo in World Ice Dance Final |work=SFSan Francisco ~~Gate~~Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/No-medal-for-U-S-duo-in-world-ice-dance-final-3290086.php |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' said his free skate "wasn't memorable", and called it "conservative but relatively error-free".<ref name="goodenough" /> He did not include a triple-triple combination, and his quadruple jump was downgraded to a double.<ref name="goodenough" /> Weir won his first worlds medal, a bronze, with a total score of 221.84 points, and secured three slots for the American men in the [[2009 World Figure Skating Championships|2009 Worlds championship]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2008 |title=Buttle's World Gold Comes without Quad; Weir takes Bronze |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/news/story?id=3306598 |access-date=January 9, 2023}}</ref>

===2008–2009 season===

[[File:Johnny Weir NHK Trophy 2008.jpg|thumb|Weir performing his short program at the [[2008 NHK Trophy]].]]

Weir started off the 2008–2009 season, when he was ranked seventh-best in the world, struggling with skate boot problems; his blades were not aligned properly on the new skates he purchased over the summer and did not have the time to break in replacements.<ref name="weir-220">Weir, p. 220</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2009 |title=ISU World Standings for Figure Skating and Ice Dance: Men |url=http://www.isufs.org/ws/wsmen.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331092625/http://www.isufs.org/ws/wsmen.htm |archive-date=March 31, 2009 |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> For the first time in his career, Weir competed at [[2008 Skate America|Skate America]], the first Grand Prix event of the season. He came in second place in the short program by less than one point behind Lysacek, and came in second place overall, with 225.20 points. Japanese skater [[Takahiko Kozuka]] won the gold medal at the event; Lysacek came in third place overall.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Jack |date=October 22, 2008 |title=Skate America kicks off GP season |work=The Japan Times |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2008/10/22/figure-skating/skate-america-kicks-off-gp-season/~~#.XqtZCqhKhPY~~ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2008 |title=ISU GP Skate America – Men: Results |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpusa08/CAT001RS.HTM |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref><ref name="lysacekleads">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=October 25, 2008 |title=Lysacek Leads at Skate America; Weir Second |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2008/10/lysacek-leads-at-skate-america-weir-second/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> Both Weir and Lysacek made minor errors in their short programs, but Weir did well, even though it was early in the season. Weir began his short program with three successful jumping passes. Lysacek and Weir both scored the same on their triple Lutz-triple toe loop combinations, 11.60 points, although Weir lost points on a two-footed landing on his triple flip. Weir later told reporters that he was disappointed in his spins, but his footwork sequences were "spectacular", and he scored 80.55 points.<ref name="lysacekleads" />

Despite battling a cold, Weir came in second place at the [[2008 NHK Trophy|NHK Trophy]], earning a total of 236.18 points. In the short program, despite a fall,<ref name="weir-220" /> he placed second, with 78.15 points. He later said that he felt his performance in the short program was "a big improvement"<ref name="maodazzles">{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Jack |date=November 29, 2008 |title=Mao Dazzles at NHK |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2008/11/29/figure-skating/mao-dazzles-at-nhk/~~#.Xqu7nahKhPY~~ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> over his performance at Skate America. In the free skate, he successfully accomplished all his jumps at the beginning of the program, but performed a double Lutz instead of a triple, and his triple flip turned into a single. He qualified to compete at the [[2008–09 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix final]], where he won the bronze medal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 1, 2008 |title=Japan's Oda Wins at NHK Trophy |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/sports/01iht-figure1.18297864.html |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="maodazzles" /><ref name="icenetworkresults" /> Four days later, he was the only American to perform in a charity skating show in Seoul, performing with South Korean champion [[Yuna Kim]]; while there, he was hospitalized with the flu and lost eight pounds in one day.<ref>Weir, p. 219</ref><ref>Weir, pp. 222—223</ref><ref name="aspenite" />

Weir and Lysacek had dominated U.S. Nationals for the previous five years, but in [[2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2009]], [[Jeremy Abbott]], who had won at the Grand Prix final in December, broke that dominance and won the gold medal. Weir was unprepared for Nationals because he was "compromised"<ref name="nodoubt">{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2009 |title=No Doubt about It, Abbott Claims First US Title |work=Augusta Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=Augusta, Georgia |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/article/20090126/SPORTS/301269981 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421070422/https://www.augustachronicle.com/article/20090126/SPORTS/301269981 |archive-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref> by his illness.<ref name="company">{{Cite news |last=Macur |first=Juliet |date=January 23, 2009 |title=Weir and Lysacek Find Company at the Top |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/sports/othersports/24skate.html |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="aspenite">{{Cite news |last=Macur |first=Juliet |date=January 26, 2009 |title=Former Aspenite Jeremy Abbott Claims Figure Skating National Title |work=Aspen Times |location=Aspen, Colorado |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/former-aspenite-jeremy-abbott-claims-figure-skating-national-title/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> In the short program, Abbott finished in first place with 86.40 points, Lysacek was second with 83.59 points, and Weir came in seventh place with 70.76 points. Abbott's overall score was a personal best—237.72 points, four points more than both Weir and Lysacek's personal best scores.<ref name="company" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2009 |title=Lysacek and Weir Find Challenger on the Ice |work=Mercury News |agency=Associated Press |location=San Jose, California |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/01/23/lysacek-and-weir-find-challenger-on-the-ice/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="aspenite" /> It was Weir's lowest result in the short program as a senior skater at a Nationals in his career.<ref>Weir, p. 225</ref>

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===2009–2010 season===

In June 2009, Weir's documentary ''Pop Star on Ice'' premiered during the [[Frameline Film Festival]] in San Francisco and aired at film festivals around the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wiegand |first=David |date=June 21, 2009 |title=Frameline Film Fest's Best Bets |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Frameline-film-fest-s-best-bets-3294502.php#photo-2441999 |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="weir-232">Weir, p. 232</ref> In January 2010, it premiered in Manhattan and aired on the [[Sundance Channel (Canadian TV channel)|Sundance Channel]], which funded its filming and production. Sundance also commissioned and aired, beginning in January 2010, an eight-episode documentary series, ''Be Good Johnny Weir'', which depicted the "recent ups and downs of his career".<ref name="pirouette">{{Cite news |last=Macur |first=Juliet |date=January 14, 2010 |title=After Almost Quitting, Weir Executes a Career Pirouette |page=B13 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/sports/olympics/15skate.html |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> Its promotional commercial aired during the U.S. Nationals; Weir later expressed his opinion that U.S. Figure Skating sent him to the Olympics because of the documentary and series' popularity rather than on the strength of his skating performances.<ref name="weir-232" /> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called ''Pop Star on Ice'', which was directed by David Barba and James Pellerito and made over the course of two years on three continents, "a fascinating portrait"<ref name="popstaronice">{{Cite news |last=Simon |first=Alissa |date=June 10, 2009 |title=Pop Star on Ice |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/pop-star-on-ice-1200475181/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> of Weir. ''Be Good Johnny Weir'' continued where ''Pop Star on Ice'' ended, following Weir as he attempted to earn a place on the 2010 U.S. Olympic team.<ref name="popstaronice" />

[[File:Johnny Weir @ Olympic Athletes Village - Vancouver British Columbia (4390886361).jpg|thumb|Weir's press conference during the [[2010 Winter Olympics|Vancouver Olympics.]]]]

[[File:2009 GPF Seniors Men - Johnny WEIR - 7687a.jpg|thumb|Weir performing his free skate at the [[2009–10 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|2009 Grand Prix final]]]]

After the previous season, Weir became depressed and was ready to quit figure skating before the [[2009–10 figure skating season|2009–2010 season]], but his mother talked him into continuing to compete and try to make the U.S. team for the [[~~2010 Winter Olympics|~~2010 Olympics]] in Vancouver.<ref name="pirouette" /> He began the season with "something to prove";<ref name="grandprixfinal2009">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=November 28, 2009 |title=2009–10 ISU Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating Preview |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2009/11/2009-10-isu-grand-prix-final-of-figure-skating/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> despite his previous season's difficulties, he was ranked eighth in the world.<ref name="stevekelley">{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Steve |date=January 16, 2010 |title=Figure Skating's Flamboyant Johnny Weir Must be Taken Seriously |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/figure-skatings-flamboyant-johnny-weir-must-be-taken-seriously/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> At the [[2009 Rostelecom Cup|Rostelecom Cup]] (previously Cup of Russia), he came in fourth place overall, after placing third place in the short program and sixth place in his "error-filled"<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2009 |title='06 Olympic Champ Plushenko Wins Gold in Moscow |work=The Denver Post |location=Denver, Colorado |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/10/24/06-olympic-champ-plushenko-wins-gold-in-moscow/ |access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> free skate, with a cumulative score of 198.55 points.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 14, 2009 |title=Dube, Davison 3rd at NHK Trophy |work=Sportsnet.ca |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/more/nhk-trophy-canada/ |access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2009 – Men: Result |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/gprus09/CAT001RS.HTM |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> He later said that his Russian fans gave him the encouragement to continue and perform better at the [[2009 NHK Trophy|NHK Trophy]], his next Grand Prix slot.<ref name="grandprixfinal2009" />

Despite a cold he caught on the flight to Nagano, Weir came in second place in Japan.<ref name="nhktrophy">{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Jim |date=November 6, 2009 |title=Wagner Leads after Short Program at NHK Trophy |~~work~~publisher=Fox News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2009Nov06/0,4675,FIGNHKTrophy,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202225518/https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2009Nov06/0,4675,FIGNHKTrophy,00.html |archive-date=February 2, 2011}}</ref><ref name="joubertando">{{Cite news |date=November 7, 2009 |title=Joubert, Ando Win NHK Trophy Titles |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.in/olympics/figureskating/news/story?id=4631909 |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He skated a clean short program and gave his best performance up to that point in the season, with 78.35 points.<ref name="nhktrophy" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2009 |title=ISU GP NHK Trophy 2009: Men Short Program Judges Details Per Skater |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn09/gpjpn09_Men_SP_Scores.pdf |access-date=January 9, 2023 |website=International Skating Union |page=1}}</ref> He successfully accomplished all his triple Axels in both programs.<ref name="grandprixfinal2009" /> In his free skate, he "started off strong"<ref name="joubertando" /> with a triple flip jump and a triple Axel-triple toe loop combination, but lost stamina. His planned triple toe loop became a double jump, and he left off a double toe loop on his next two combination jumps. He earned 217.70 points overall; the gold medalist, [[Brian Joubert]] from France, earned 15 points more than Weir.<ref name="joubertando" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2009 |title=Ando, Joubert Claim Gold at NHK Trophy |publisher=Australian Olympic Committee |url=https://www.olympics.com.au/news/ando-joubert-claim-gold-at-nhk-trophy/ |access-date=January 9, 2023}}</ref>

At the Grand Prix final, all six qualifiers, including Weir, had skated in at least one previous final; Golden Skate called it "one of the most equally matched fields in several years".<ref name="grandprixfinal2009" /> Weir came in third place, with a total of 237.35 points. He was in fourth place in both his short program and free skate. In his free skate, he earned 152.75 points, a new personal best score.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 5, 2009 |title=ISU Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Day 3 |publisher=International Skating Union |url=http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128610-19728-18886-303760-3572-4771-layout160-129918-news-item,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312042107/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128610-19728-18886-303760-3572-4771-layout160-129918-news-item,00.html |archive-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2009 |title=ISU Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix Final: Men Result |url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpf0910/CAT005RS.HTM |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=International Skating Union}}</ref>

Weir placed third overall at the [[2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2010 U.S. Nationals]], with 232.09 points.<ref name="abbott" /> Sports reporter Jeré Longman of ''[[The New York Times]],'' who said that Weir's costume overwhelmed his skating, thought that he "seemed cautious during his jumps before relaxing with a head-bopping playfulness".<ref name="glitter">{{Cite news |last=Longman |first=Jeré |date=January 18, 2010 |title=The Difference Between Glitter and Gold for Johnny Weir |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/sports/olympics/19longman.html |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> Longman also called Weir's free skate "oddly passive and stumbling".<ref name="glitter" /> Weir accomplished three clean triple jumps, but he popped his planned second triple Axel and struggled completing the final jump of his triple-triple combination jump. He came in fifth place in the free skate, but his short program, which was the third-best with 83.51 points, kept him in medal position.<ref name="abbott">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=January 17, 2010 |title=Abbott Destroys Competition, Heads to Vancouver |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2010/01/abbott-destroys-competition-heads-to-vancouver/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2010 |title=2010 US Figure Skating Championships |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2010/64740/results.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221062341/http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2010/64740/results.html |archive-date=December 21, 2010 |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=Ice Network}}</ref> Weir, along with first-place finisher [[Jeremy Abbott]] and Lysacek, who came in second place, were sent to the [[2010 Winter Olympics]]; they were considered the strongest U.S. Olympic men's team since the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2010 |title=Men's Figure Skaters Seem Strong for U.S. |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Men-s-figure-skaters-seem-strong-for-U-S-3202430.php |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

Weir came into the Olympics "a legitimate medal threat",<ref name="stevekelley" /> although he did not anticipate winning a medal and suspected that it would mark the end of his competitive career.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Winter Olympics: Evan Lysacek Second, Johnny Weir Sixth after Men's Short Program |work=The Oregonian |agency=Associated Press |location=Portland, Oregon |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/olympics/2010/02/winter_olympics_evan_lysacek_s.html |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>Weir, p. 243</ref> He stayed at the Olympic Village in Vancouver, despite wanting to stay at a hotel, for security reasons. He had received "very serious threats"<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2010 |title=2010 Winter Olympics: 'Threats' keep Weir in Olympic Village |work=Deseret News |agency=Associated Press |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/2/14/20096290/2010-winter-olympics-threats-keep-weir-in-olympic-village |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> from anti-fur activists for wearing fox fur trim on the left shoulder of his free skate costume during U.S. Nationals. He changed to faux fur for his costume at the Olympics, denying that it was in response to the threats, although he wore fur at a news conference for the U.S. men's team. His roommate was his "longtime friend",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilner |first=Barry |date=February 13, 2010 |title=Odd Couple Tanith Belbin, Johnny Weir Share Suite at Olympics |work=The Plain Dealer ~~|publisher=Cleveland.com~~ |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cleveland.com/olympics/2010/02/odd_couple_tanith_belbin_johnn.html |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> American ice dancer [[~~Tanith Belbin White|~~Tanith Belbin]].<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Pritha |date=February 13, 2010 |title='Crazy Fur People' Force Weir's Hand |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/businesspropicks-us-olympics-figure-skat/crazy-fur-people-force-weirs-hand-idUSTRE61C25P20100213 |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He also held a press conference to respond to "offensive" remarks made by two Canadian sports commentators about him. A Quebec gay rights group considered filing a complaint; the commentators later apologized on-air.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bierly |first=Mandi |date=February 25, 2010 |title=Johnny Weir Responds to Commentators Who Questioned His Gender, Example He Sets |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/02/25/johnny-weir-olympics-gender-example/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

Weir was in sixth place and earned 82.10 points after the short program;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=David |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Line on Ice Drawn |work=SFSan ~~Gate~~Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Line-on-ice-drawn-3272987.php |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> sportswriter Nicholas Benton called it a "flawless program" and reported that the audience "booed lustily" when his scores were announced.<ref name="prevailed">{{Cite news |last=Benton |first=Nicholas F. |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Johnny Weir Has Prevailed |work=Falls Church News-Press |location=Falls Church, Virginia |url=https://fcnp.com/2010/02/17/johnny-weir-has-prevailed/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He came in sixth place in the free skate, which he later admitted was technically less difficult. His technical score, 79.67 points, was over six points higher than the bronze medalist, [[Daisuke Takahashi]] from Japan, but his program component score, 77.10 points, was 7.4 points lower than Takahashi's.<ref name="sappenfeld">{{Cite news |last=Mark |first=Sappenfield |date=February 19, 2010 |title=How Evan Lysacek Won and Why Judges Don't Like Johnny Weir |work=The Christian Science Monitor |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/Olympics-blog/2010/0219/How-Evan-Lysacek-won-and-why-judges-don-t-like-Johnny-Weir |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Judges Details Per Skater|url=http://www.isuresults.com/results/owg2010/owg10_Men_FS_Scores.pdf|date=February 18, 2010|website=International Skating Union|page=3|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> Golden Skate called Weir's free skate a "hauntingly beautiful routine",<ref name="goldsilver">{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2010 |title=Lysacek Takes Gold; Plushenko Gets Silver |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2010/02/lysacek-takes-gold-plushenko-gets-silver/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> and reporter David Barron called it "emotional" and stated that his performance "won the crowd to his side".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=David |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Lysacek Brings Gold Back to U.S. Men's Figure Skating |work=SFSan Francisco ~~Gate~~Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lysacek-brings-gold-back-to-U-S-men-s-figure-888675.php |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> The program included seven solid triple jumps, including two triple Axels, and good footwork and spins. Weir earned a personal best score of 156.77 points and 238.87 points overall.<ref name="goldsilver" /> The [[The Christian Science Monitor|''Christian Science Monitor'']] reported that the audience was confused over Weir's scores in the free skate and disagreed with them. Weir finished in sixth place overall.<ref name="sappenfeld" />

Although Weir was eligible to compete at the [[2010 World Figure Skating Championships|2010 Worlds Championships]], he withdrew due to a lack of training.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Elvin |date=March 20, 2010 |title=2010 World Figure Skating Championships: Men's Preview |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2010/03/2010-world-figure-skating-championships-mens-preview/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> In March 2010, [[CNN]] reported that Stars on Ice denied charges that they did not hire Weir for the year's tour because Weir was not "family friendly enough".<ref name="alanduke">{{Cite news |last=Duke |first=Alan |date=March 13, 2010 |title=Ice Tour Denies Snubbing Johnny Weir over Sexual Orientation |~~work~~publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/03/12/weir.tour.snub/index.html |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> The [[GLAAD|Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD)]] launched a protest against the tour, claiming that it was "a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation",<ref name="alanduke" /> but [[~~The J.M. Smucker Company|~~Smucker's]], the tour's biggest sponsor, said that GLAAD's information was inaccurate, and that Stars on Ice did not have enough room for Weir.<ref name="alanduke" />

===2010–2013===

Weir took the next two seasons off from competitive skating, focusing on his personal life, figure skating shows, a singing career, and celebrity events.<ref name="dogandponyshow">{{Cite news |last=Flade |first=Tatjana |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Weir Rearing to get back into 'Dog and Pony' Show |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2012/10/weir-rearing-to-get-back-into-dog-and-pony-show/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He announced his withdrawal from the [[2010–2011 figure skating season|2010–2011 season]] in July 2010, stating that he wanted to take a year "to explore and reinvent myself as an athlete and artist",<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 2010 |title=Figure Skater Weir Won't Compete in 2010–11 |~~work~~publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/figure-skater-weir-won-t-compete-in-2010-11-1.975227 |access-date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> although he left open the possibility to return in time for the [[~~2014 Winter Olympics|~~2014 Sochi Olympics]]. Weir served as a judge, along with Olympic gold medalist [[Dick Button]] and Canadian figure skating choreographer [[Laurieann Gibson]], on ''[[Skating with the Stars]]'' in 2010, which lasted only one season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berman |first=Craig |date=November 21, 2010 |title=Why 'Skating With the Stars' is Doomed |publisher=Today.com |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/why-skating-stars-doomed-wbna40238060 |access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Skating with the Stars (ABC) |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/skating-with-the-stars/ |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=TheFutonCritic.com}}</ref>

In early 2011, with the publication of his autobiography, ''Welcome to My World'', he officially [[~~Coming out|~~came out]].<ref name="caparell">{{Cite news |last=Caparell |first=Adam |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Johnny Weir Comes Out: Flamboyant Figure Skater Admits in New Autobiography He's Gay |work=Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/johnny-weir-flamboyant-figure-skater-admits-new-autobiography-gay-article-1.148500 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> In June 2011, he participated in a gay pride parade for the first time, the [[Los Angeles Pride|Los Angeles Pride Parade]]; he also served as its grand marshal.<ref name="prideparade">{{Cite news |last=Allin |first=Olivia |date=June 11, 2011 |title=Johnny Weir on Being Honored in Sunday's Pride Parade |work=On the Red Carpet.com |url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Johnny-Weir-talks-about-the-honor-of-grand-marshal-in-Sundays-pride-parade/8184843 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614080930/http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Johnny-Weir-talks-about-the-honor-of-grand-marshal-in-Sundays-pride-parade/8184843 |archive-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref> Weir announced his withdrawal from the [[2011–12 figure skating season|2011–2012 season]] in June 2011, explaining that he was unable to adequately train for competition because of his "many obligations",<ref name="sitout">{{Cite news |date=June 14, 2011 |title=US Champion Johnny Weir to Sit out 2011–12 season |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-us-champion-johnny-weir-to-sit-out-2011-12-season-2011jun14-story.html |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> but expressed his intention to compete in Sochi.<ref name="sitout" /> In 2013, Weir began writing a weekly column in the ''[[Falls Church News-Press|Falls-Church News Press]]'', a newspaper published in the Washington, D.C. area.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Benton|first=Nick|title=Extraordinary Hearts: Reclaiming Gay Sensibility's Central Role in the Progress of Civilization|publisher=Lethe Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1-59021-392-6|location=Maple Shade, New Jersey|pages=30}}</ref>

[[File:2012 Rostelecom Cup 01d 537 Johnny WEIR.JPG|thumb|Weir performing during the [[2012 Rostelecom Cup]]]]

In the fall of 2011, Weir began to quietly train for a possible return to competitive skating. In January 2012, he announced his return, in the hopes of competing at the Sochi Olympics; he insisted that it was not a publicity stunt, and expressed his intent to retire after the Olympics. Part of the reason for his return was his popularity in Russia. He went back to working with his previous coach, [[Galina Zmievskaya]], and retained the same off-ice trainers, designers, and costume seamstresses as before. He used music from [[Poker Face (Lady Gaga song)|"Poker Face"]] by [[Lady Gaga]], someone he admired, for his short program; she provided him with versions of the song without lyrics. Her choreographers worked with him, but most of the choreography was developed by Weir and Zmievskaya.<ref name="weir-233">Weir, p. 233</ref>

Weir competed at small competitions and qualifying events ~~in order~~ to be eligible to compete at the [[2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2013 U.S. Nationals]]. He competed at the [[2012 Finlandia Trophy]], attempting a quadruple jump in both his short program and free skate for the first time, and coming in fourth place overall.<ref name="dogandponyshow" /><ref name="announcesreturn" /> In his short program, he stumbled on his opening quadruple toe jump, which was downgraded, but successfully completed his triple Axel and triple lutz-double toe combination, and earned level-four scores for his flying camel spin. He was in fourth place after the short program, earning 69.03 points.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flade |first=Tatjana |date=October 8, 2012 |title=2012 Finlandia Trophy |work=Golden Skate |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/2012/10/2012-finlandia-trophy/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He later told reporters that he was nervous, that his legs felt stiff, and that the competition was the hardest thing he had done in his career. He also had boot problems to overcome, but felt that he had done well.<ref name="dogandponyshow" /><ref name="announcesreturn">{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Johnny Weir Announces Return |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/7480771/johnny-weir-announces-return-eyes-sochi-olympics |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> He came in sixth place in the free skate, earning 132.39 points; he earned 201.42 points overall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2012 |title=Finlandia Trophy 2012: Men – Free Skating |url=http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1213/FT2012/SEG002.HTM |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=Finnish Figure Skating Association}}</ref>

Weir's two Grand Prix slots were the [[2012 Rostelecom Cup|Rostelecom Cup]] and [[2012 Trophée Éric Bompard|Trophée Bompard]] in Paris.<ref name="dogandponyshow" /> At Rostelecom, he withdrew after the short program after re-aggravating his [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]], which he had injured a month earlier in practice during a fall. He made several mistakes, finished in 10th place, and decided that he was not in good enough physical condition to participate in the free skate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 2012 |title=Injury Forces Weir to Withdraw from Rostelecom |work=Ice Network |url=http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121110&content_id=40233236&vkey=ice_news |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125155919/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121110&content_id=40233236&vkey=ice_news |archive-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> A few days later, he announced that he would withdraw from Trophée Bompard due to a hip injury, putting his comeback attempt on hold.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2012 |title=Ailing Hip Forces Weir out of Trophee Bompard |work=Ice Network |url=http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121113&content_id=40264596&vkey=ice_news |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025073044/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121113&content_id=40264596&vkey=ice_news |archive-date=October 25, 2013}}</ref> He also did not compete at the 2013 U.S. Nationals, but still hoped to make the U.S. Olympic team in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Golden |first=Erin |date=January 20, 2013 |title=Omaha Won't be a Stop on Weir's Return |work=Omaha World-Herald |location=Omaha, Nebraska |url=https://www.omaha.com/sports/omaha-won-t-be-a-stop-on-weir-s-return/article_696cf52a-6056-5a9e-8fd4-5f1751466a77.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110221955/https://omaha.com/sports/omaha-won-t-be-a-stop-on-weir-s-return/article_696cf52a-6056-5a9e-8fd4-5f1751466a77.html |archive-date=January 10, 2023 }}</ref>

Weir did not register for a qualifying event that would have made him eligible for the [[2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2014 U.S. Nationals]], ending his bid to compete in Sochi. He was not eligible for a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] into Nationals because he did not place in the top five at the 2013 Nationals or medaled at the 2010 Olympics or [[2013 World Figure Skating Championships|2013 World Championships]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zaccardi |first=Nick |date=September 17, 2013 |title=Johnny Weir Will Not Compete at Sochi Olympics |work=NBC Sports |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2013/09/17/johnny-weir-figure-skating-sochi-olympics/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> The Associated Press conjectured that it likely marked the end of Weir's amateur figure skating career.<ref name="outofsochi">{{Cite news |date=September 17, 2013 |title=Skater Johnny Weir out of Sochi |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/9685611/johnny-weir-sochi-not-registering-season |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> In October 2013, he retired from competition and joined [[NBC]] as a figure skating analyst at the Sochi Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weir |first=Johnny |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Johnny's World: The Ice |work=Falls Church News-Press |location=Falls Church, Pennsylvania |url=https://fcnp.com/2013/10/23/johnnys-world-the-ice/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="weirretires">{{Cite news |last=Stump |first=Scott |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Johnny Weir Retires, Joins NBC Olympics as Figure Skating Analyst |work=Today.com |url=https://www.today.com/news/johnny-weir-retires-joins-nbc-olympics-figure-skating-analyst-8C11446723 |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

== Skating technique and influence ==

Line 200:

Weir had two coaches in his competitive figure skating career, [[Priscilla Hill]], who was, unlike many figure skating coaches, "nurturing and gentle"<ref name="weir-176">Weir, p. 176</ref> and Russian [[Galina Zmievskaya]], who had a different approach to coaching than Hill. Hill trained Weir in [[pair skating]] to strengthen his skating and to focus on skills other than [[Figure skating jumps|jumps]]. Zmievskaya had a more Russian approach and focused on "drill sergeant-like demands for discipline and rigor".<ref name="benton2">{{cite news |last=Benton |first=Nicholas F. |date=January 23, 2008 |title=Recharged Weir Determined to Take Back Skating Title |language=en-US |work=Falls Church News-Press |location=Falls Church, Virginia |url=https://fcnp.com/2008/01/23/recharged-weir-determined-to-take-back-skating-title/ |access-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>

Weir considered his style of figure skating artistic and classical and was known for his lyricism. He believed that his style was "a hybrid of Russian and American skating",<ref name="weir-782">Weir, p. 78</ref> which was brought out by hiring coaches from those countries and often caused conflicts with [[U.S. Figure Skating]], as did many of his costume choices. He was instructed by Yuri Sergeev, a dancer for the [[St Petersburg Ballet Theatre|St. Petersburg Ballet]], taught himself the Russian language, conversing with Zmievskaya in Russian, and compared himself to Russian skater [[Evgeni Plushenko]]. In 2014, Weir designed Olympic gold medalist [[Yuzuru Hanyu]]'s costume for his free skating program, worn during the [[~~2014 Winter Olympics|~~Sochi Olympics]].

Weir's outspokenness caused conflict between him and U.S. Figure Skating. Weir was praised for being one of the few figure skaters who spoke his mind, even when he knew it would get him in trouble with federation officials and judges. The press, especially in the U.S., made much out of the rivalry between Weir and his fellow competitor and rival, [[Evan Lysacek]].

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==Broadcasting career==

In October 2013, Weir retired from competition and joined [[NBC]] as a figure skating analyst at the Sochi Olympics.<ref name="weirretires" /> He was teamed up with sports commentator [[Terry Gannon]] and fellow figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, and good friend [[Tara Lipinski]]; their instant comedic chemistry and harmony was a success and they have worked together ever since.<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite news |last1=Hersh |first1=Philip |date=September 19, 2014 |title=Lipinski, Weir Promoted to No. 1 NBC Skating Broadcast Team |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-lipinski-weir-now-no-1-nbc-skating-broadcast-team-20140918-story.html |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="GQclayskipper">{{cite news |last1=Skipper |first1=Clay |date=February 12, 2018 |title=How Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski Became the Most Iconic Duo in Figure Skating |work=GQ Magazine |url=https://www.gq.com/story/name-a-more-iconic-duo-johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-interview |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> They hosted the [[Olympic Games ceremony|closing ceremonies]] in [[~~Pyeongchang County|~~Pyeongchang]], as well as for the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] ~~and~~closing ~~for~~ceremony|2020 Summer Olympics]], the [[2022 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|2022 Winter Olympics]], and the [[2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="tikroot2">{{cite news |last1=Root |first1=Tik |date=February 22, 2018 |title=The Internet Still Can't Make up Its Mind about Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/02/22/the-internet-still-cant-make-up-its-mind-about-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir/ |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2022 |title=How to Watch the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday |work=9News.com |location=Denver, Colorado |url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/olympics/how-to-watch-winter-olympics-closing-ceremony/73-92bd249d-e1a8-4c75-bf54-9b45a9d82790 |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> They also commentated for the [[2018 Winter Olympics]], as well as for the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cuevas |first=Jailene |date=February 19, 2022 |title=Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir Cover Winter Olympics in Stamford |work=Stamford Advocate |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/entertainment/article/Tara-Lipinski-and-Johnny-Weir-Olympics-Stamford-16931915.php |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> Weir's commentating style was met with mixed responses from figure skating fans and skaters.<ref name="tikroot2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tolentino |first=Daysia |date=11 August 2024 |title=Olympics Closing Ceremony 2024: Everything You Need to Know, How to Watch, Start Time |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-watch-start-time-rcna165958 |access-date=16 August 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Weir named fellow figure skater and commentator [[Dick Button]] as an influence on his commentating style.<ref name="tomweir">{{Cite news |last=Weir |first=Tom |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir Are Ready to Rule the Winter Olympics Again ~~|work=Bleacher Report~~ |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758431-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-are-ready-to-rule-the-winter-olympics-again |access-date=January 12, 2023 |work=Bleacher Report}}</ref~~> Weir named fellow figure skater and commentator [[Dick Button]] as an influence on his commentating style.<ref name="tomweir" /~~>

Weir and Lipinski were fashion analysts and correspondents for the [[86th Academy Awards|Oscars]], dog shows, the [[Kentucky Derby]], the [[Super Bowl]], and the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaufman |first1=Amy |date=February 25, 2014 |title=How Billy Bush Got Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir an Oscars Gig |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscars-tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-access-hollywood-20140224-story.html~~#axzz2uU4LrLwz~~ |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendricks |first1=Maggie |date=April 10, 2017 |title=Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski are Doing Red Carpet for a Dog Show Because 'We Love Dogs!' |work=USA Today |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/johnny-weir-and-tara-lipinski-are-doing-red-carpet-for-a-dog-show-because-we-love-dogs |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="kentuckyderby">{{cite news |last1=Wilder |first1=Charlotte |date=May 3, 2016 |title=Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski are Bringing 7 Suitcases to the Kentucky Derby |work=USA Today |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/05/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-kentucky-derby-seven-suitcases |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Kirby |date=May 3, 2018 |title=Here's What Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir Wore to Kentucky Derby 2018 |work=Courier Journal |location=Louisville, Kentucky |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/fashion/2018/05/03/what-johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-wear-coverage-kentucky-derby/573631002/ |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="pressbox">{{Cite web |title=Johnny Weir: Figure Skating Analyst |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/johnny-weir-3 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=NBC Sports Pressbox |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |date=January 22, 2015 |title=Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir Join NBC's Super Bowl Team |work=NBC Sports |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2015/01/22/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-super-bowl-nbc-broadcast/ |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> Weir and Lipinski appeared on reality shows together and separately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Johnny Weir is a Eurovision Superfan and It's Paying Off |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/10/entertainment/johnny-weir-eurovision/index.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |~~website~~publisher=CNN}}</ref> He also appeared as a contestant on [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|''Dancing with the Stars'']] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=September 14, 2020 |title='Dancing With the Stars': Carole Baskin Claws out a Paso Doble in First Dance, Earns Lowly 3 Score |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/09/14/dancing-stars-recap-carole-baskin-claws-out-paso-doble/5799827002/ |access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=~~2020-11-~~November 17, 2020 |title=Johnny Weir finishes Dancing with the Stars run in semifinals |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/johnny-weir-dancing-with-the-stars |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=March |first=Ebony |date=~~2020-09-~~September 19, 2020 |title=Dancing With The Stars 2020: Everything To Know About Johnny Weir |url=https://screenrant.com/dancing-with-the-stars-figure-skater-johnny-weir/ |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

In January 2012, Weir married his partner Victor Voronov, a graduate of [[Georgetown University Law Center]] and whose family was from Russia, in a civil ceremony in New York City, five months after the state legalized same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2012 |title=Olympic Skater Johnny Weir Marries Boyfriend in New York |work=Reuters.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-skating-weir/olympic-skater-johnny-weir-marries-boyfriend-in-new-york-idUSTRE8021PV20120103 |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Martin |date=April 6, 2017 |title=Johnny Weir Brings Perspective to Skating, Russia |work=The News Journal |location=Wilmington, Delaware |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/olympics/2017/04/06/weir-brings-historical-perspective-skating-russia/100040598/ |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> A temporary restraining order was filed and dismissed in January 2014. Weir filed for divorce in February 2014. The couple appeared in court in March 2014 to dismiss allegations of domestic violence against Weir.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Baker|first1=KC|last2=Cosgrove Baylis|first2=Sheila|date=March 21, 2014|title=Victor Voronov 'Devastated' by Johnny Weir's Divorce Decision|url=https://people.com/celebrity/johnny-weir-divorce-victor-voronov-devastated-by-husbands-decision/|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref> Later that month, Weir made accusations that Voronov had raped him; Voronov filed a defamation lawsuit against Weir in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2018/02/johnny-weir-ex-husband-victor-voronov/|title=Victor Voronov, Johnny Weir's Ex-Husband: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Barbuti|first=Angela|date=November 29, 2022|website=[[Heavy (website)|Heavy]]|access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>

He served as fellow figure skater [[Tara Lipinski]]'s "bridesman" at her 2017 wedding to sports producer Todd Kapostasy.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Calfas |first=Jennifer |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Inside Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir's Rise From Olympic Figure Skaters to Beloved Commentators |url=https://time.com/5171890/tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-olympics/ |magazine=Time |access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> As of 2021, Weir lives in [[Greenville, Delaware]] in a home that was featured on ''[[MTV Cribs]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cormier |first1=Ryan |date=September 8, 2021 |title=MTV 'Cribs' Featuring Greenville Home of Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Airs Wednesday Night |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2021/09/08/greenville-delaware-home-get-worldwide-audience/5760571001/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Delaware Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Candace |date=~~2021-08-~~August 17, 2021 |title=MTV Cribs Makes Its Instagram-Era Comeback |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mtv-cribs-makes-its-instagram-era-comeback-11629227144 |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Prior to the purchase, he cited privacy, seclusion, and his need for rest from his busy life, as factors guiding his decision to settle in a more rural area.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gunther |first1=Erik |date=March 21, 2018 |title=Johnny Weir Tells Us What He Wants in a Dream Home, and It's So Not What We Expected |url=https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/johnny-weir-home-search/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Realtor.com}}</ref>

In May 2023, Weir announced that he would retire from performance skating, which was postponed due to [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]]; he skated his final performances in May and June. He also announced that in September 2023, he would create a skating academy in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], for the purpose of training skaters for national and world competitions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Mary Ellen |date=May 2, 2023 |title=Johnny Weir to Host U.S. Coverage of Eurovision Song Contest; Americans Can Vote This Year |url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/johnny-weir-to-host-u-s-coverage-of-eurovision-song-contest-americans-can-vote-this/article_6dd71486-e83e-11ed-ad78-c3d88f3eb716.html |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=Lancaster Online |language=en}}</ref>

== Records and achievements ==

* Youngest U.S. National Champion since 1991 (2004).<ref name="salzanca" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Parul |date=~~2022-10-~~October 22, 2022 |title=Who is Johnny Weir? Meet the Olympian from Criss Angel's Magic With the Stars Season 1 |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/who-johnny-weir-meet-olympian-criss-angel-s-magic-with-stars-season-1 |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |website=~~www.~~sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

* First skater to win U.S. Nationals three times in a row since Brian Boitano in the late 1980s (2006).<ref name="blanchette" /><ref name="peterson" />

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* Reader's Choice Award ([[Michelle Kwan]] Trophy), 2008, 2010<ref name="NBCpressbox">{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski & Tanith Belbin to Join NBC Olympics in Sochi |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/10/23/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-tanith-belbin-to-join-nbc-olympics-in-sochi/ |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=NBC Sports Pressbox |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Philadelphia QFest]] Viewer's Choice Award, 2009<ref name="NBCpressbox"/>

* [[~~NewNowNext Awards|~~NewNowNext Award]] Most Addictive Reality Star, 2010<ref name="pressbox" />

* [[Human Rights Campaign]] "Visibility Award", 2010<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robb |first=Adam |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Johnny Weir on Rachel Zoe and Reality TV, His Music, Memoir and Yesterday's All That Skate Show |work=~~NJ.com~~The Star-Ledger |url=https://www.nj.com/fashiontoday/2010/10/johnny_weir_on_rachel_zoe_and.html |access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

* [[~~Asteroid belt|~~Main-belt asteroid]], discovered in 1995 by T. V. Kryachko at the [[Zelenchukskaya Station]] named after Weir, at the suggestion of his Russian fans, 2010<ref>{{cite web |date=April 5, 2010 |title=12413 Johnnyweir (1995 SQ29) |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=12413 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory |location=Pasadena, California}}</ref>

* Grand Marshall [[Los Angeles Pride|Los Angeles Pride Parade]], 2011<ref name="prideparade"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=~~2011-05-~~May 25, 2011 |title=Johnny Weir Named L.A. Gay Pride Grand Marshal (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/johnny-weir-named-la-gay-191207/ |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

* [[Delaware Valley Legacy Fund]] National Hero Award, 2013<ref>{{cite web |title=Heroes Winners |url=https://www.dvlf.org/copy-of-heroes |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=Delaware Valley Legacy Fund |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref>

* National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame Inductee, 2013<ref>{{cite web |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Chicago Cubs Celebrate Induction into Inaugural Class of National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame Tonight |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-celebrate-induction-into-inaugural-class-of-nglshof-tonight/c-55626088 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |~~website~~publisher=Major League Baseball}}</ref>

* [[~~United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame|~~U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame]], 2021<ref name="halloffame">{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2020 |title=Johnny Weir, Sandy Schwomeyer Lamb, Gale Tanger make U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame |~~work~~publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/30607848/johnny-weir-sandy-schwomeyer-lamb-gale-tanger-make-us-figure-skating-hall-fame |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=~~2020-12-~~December 27, 2020 |title=Johnny Weir leads U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Class of 2021 {{!}} U.S. Figure Skating |url=https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/press-release/johnny-weir-leads-us-figure-skating-hall-fame-class-2021 |access-date=~~2023-09-~~September 15, 2023 |website=USFS |language=en}}</ref>

== Programs ==

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* [[Ave Maria]] by [[Josh Groban]] choreo. by Nina Petrenko

----

* All Inin Love Is Fair

* Painful Longing by [[Stevie Wonder]] choreo. by Johnny Weir

----

Line 308 ⟶ 310:

* [[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]] by [[John Lennon]] choreo. by [[Priscilla Hill]], Johnny Weir

----

* All Inin Love Is Fair

* Painful Longing by [[Stevie Wonder]] choreo. by Johnny Weir

----

Line 334 ⟶ 336:

* [[~~Introduction and Rondo capriccioso (Saint-Saëns)|~~Rondo Capriccioso]] by [[Camille Saint-Saëns]] choreo. by [[Tatiana Tarasova]], [[Evgeni Platov]]

* Otoñal by [[Raúl Di Blasio]] choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova, Evgeni Platov

Line 347 ⟶ 349:

* [[~~Valse triste (Sibelius)|~~Valse Triste]] by [[Jean Sibelius]] choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova, [[Maya Usova]], and Evgeni Platov

| rowspan="2" |

* [[Doctor Zhivago (film)|Doctor Zhivago]] by [[Maurice Jarre]] choreo. by Giuseppe Arena, [[Anjelika Krylova]]

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! scope="row" | 2001–2002 <ref>{{cite web |date=March 14, 2002 |title=Johnny Weir: 2001/2002 |url=http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003583.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020414180141/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003583.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2002 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |publisher=International Skating Union}}</ref><ref name="bioin">{{cite web |title=Johnny Weir |url=http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=100084 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507011920/http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=100084 |archive-date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |publisher=Ice Network}}</ref>

| rowspan="2" |

* [[Les Parapluies de Cherbourg]] by [[Michel Legrand]] performed by [[Itzhak Perlman]] choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

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* [[Cinema Paradiso]] by [[Josh Groban]] choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

! scope="row" | 2000–2001 <ref name="bioin" /><ref>{{cite web |date=April 15, 2001 |title=Johnny Weir: 2000/2001 |url=http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003583.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010624222248/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00003583.htm |archive-date=June 24, 2001 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |publisher=International Skating Union}}</ref>

* The Heart of Budapest by [[Mantovani]] choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

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* [[This I Promise You]] by [[NSync]] choreo. by Priscilla Hill, Johnny Weir

! scope="row" | 1999–2000 <ref name="bioin" />

* [[Espana Cani]] by Pascual Marquina Narro performed by [[Erich Kunzel]] choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

Line 388 ⟶ 390:

* [[She's All I Ever Had]] by [[Ricky Martin]] choreo. by Priscilla Hill, Johnny Weir

! scope="row" | 1998–1999 <ref name="bioin" />

* [[Sabre Dance]] performed by [[Vanessa-Mae]] choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

Line 395 ⟶ 397:

! scope="row" | 1997–1998 <ref name="bioin" />

* Russian folk music by Svetit Mesiatz choreo. by Yuri Sergeyev

! scope="row" | 1996–1997 <ref name="bioin" />

Line 413 ⟶ 415:

[[File:2009-2010 GPF Men's Podium.jpg|thumb|right|The men's podium at the [[2009–10 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final]]. From left: [[Nobunari Oda]] (2nd), [[Evan Lysacek]] (1st), Johnny Weir (3rd)]]

{{smalldiv|

* GP – Event of the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|ISU Grand Prix Series]]

* JGP – Event of the [[ISU Junior Grand Prix|ISU Junior Grand Prix Series]]

* WD – Withdrew from event

}}

{{Figure skating competitive highlights

|level=senior|ref=<ref name=ISU-JWCR>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00003583.htm|title=Competition Results: Johnny Weir|work=[[International Skating Union]]|location=[[Lausanne]]|date=July 24, 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213101/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00003583.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

|{{FS placements|10|[[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]]|p5=5th|p9=6th}}

|{{FS placements|10|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]|p3=5th|p4=4th|p5=7th|p6=8th|p7=3rd}}

|{{FS placements|10|[[Four Continents ~~Figure Skating~~ Championships~~|Four Continents~~]]|p1=4th}}

|{{FS placements|10|~~{{small|GP}}~~ [[Grand Prix ~~of Figure Skating Final|~~Final]]|p4=WD|p6=WD|p7=4th|p8=3rd|p9=3rd}}

|{{FS placements|10|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=5th|p2=WD|p3=1st|p4=1st|p5=1st|p6=3rd|p7=2nd|p8=5th|p9=3rd}}▼

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[Cup of China]]|p7=1st}}

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[Cup of Russia]]|p2=WD|p4=2nd|p5=3rd|p6=2nd|p7=1st|p9=4th|p10=WD}}

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[Trophée Eric Bompard|France]]|p1=4th|p4=1st|p10=WD}}▼

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[NHK Trophy]]|p4=1st|p8=2nd|p9=2nd}}

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[Skate America]]|p8=2nd}}

|{{FS placements|10|{{small|GP}} [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]]|p1=7th|p5=7th|p6=3rd}}

▲|{{FS placements|10|{{nowrap|{{small|GP}} [[Trophée Eric Bompard~~|France~~]]}}|p1=4th|p4=1st|p10=WD}}

|{{FS placements|10|[[Finlandia Trophy]]|p3=2nd|p10=4th}}

|{{FS placements|10|[[Figure skating at the Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]|p1=10th}}

▲|{{FS placements|10|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=5th|p2=WD|p3=1st|p4=1st|p5=1st|p6=3rd|p7=2nd|p8=5th|p9=3rd}}

}}

{{Figure skating competitive highlights

Line 439 ⟶ 441:

|season1=1998–99|season2=1999–2000|season3=2000–01

|{{FS placements|3|{{nowrap|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]]}}|p3=1st}}

|{{FS placements|3|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=4th|pewter1=yes|p2=5th|p4=6th}}▼

|{{FS placements|3|{{small|JGP}} [[ISU Junior Grand Prix in China|China]]|p3=2nd}}

|{{FS placements|3|{{small|JGP}} [[ISU Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]|p2=7th}}

Line 445 ⟶ 448:

|{{FS placements|3|{{small|JGP}} [[ISU Junior Grand Prix in Slovakia|Slovakia]]|p1=1st}}

|{{FS placements|3|[[Gardena Spring Trophy]]|p1=6th}}

▲|{{FS placements|3|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=4th|pewter1=yes|p2=5th|p4=6th}}

}}

Line 455 ⟶ 457:

{{Figure skating personal bests|historical=yes

|ref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00003583.htm|title=Personal Bests Johnny Weir|work=[[International Skating Union]]|location=[[Lausanne]]|date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205060226/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00003583.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

|238.87|[[Figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's singles|2010 Winter Olympics]]

|84.60|[[2009–10 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|2009–10 Grand Prix Final]]

Line 573 ⟶ 575:

|Jan 6–13, 2002|{{flagicon|USA}} [[2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2002 U.S. Championships]]|4|–|5|–|5|–

|source4=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129232107/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=content/events/200102/uschamps/srmen-free.htm

|Jan 21–27, 2002|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[~~2002 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|~~2002 Four Continents Championships]]|3|–|4|–|4|–

|source5=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606192533/http://www.icecalc.com/events/fc2002/results/CAT013RS.HTM

}}

Line 602 ⟶ 604:

* [http://johnnygweir.com/ Johnny Weir Official Website]

* {{IMDb name|2096077}}

* [https://johnnyweirskatingacademy.com/ Johnny Weir Skating Academy]

{{Navboxes|title=Championships – Men's singles|list=

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[[Category:Figure skating commentators]]

[[Category:Gay memoirists]]

[[Category:~~LGBT~~LGBTQ figure skaters]]

[[Category:~~LGBT~~LGBTQ people from Delaware]]

[[Category:~~LGBT~~LGBTQ people from Pennsylvania]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Newark High School (Delaware) alumni]]

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[[Category:World Figure Skating Championships medalists]]

[[Category:World Junior Figure Skating Championships medalists]]

[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]