An Evening with Champions

Boston fans will see a more subdued side of Johnny Weir when he takes the ice at 
tomorrow night’s “An Evening With Champions,” because the usually flamboyant figure skater has had a rough year. “I’m performing a new piece, ‘Human,’ to the song by Christina Perri,” Weir told the Track. “I’ve been going through a lot of turmoil in my personal life this past year, and it’s kind of a picture of what my life has been like.”



Weir’s annus horribilis included the very public breakdown of his short marriage to Georgetown Law grad Victor Voronov — the two are now divorced — and his retirement from competitive figure skating. “The program recognizes the fact that we’re all just 
human,” he said. “We all make mistakes. We all fall down. But ... we all have to keep moving forward. It is really inspiring to me the idea of being 
uplifted, working through your issues and finding peace.”



Because of his program’s angst­y theme, the World bronze medalist is planning to tone down his outfit when he skates onto the ice at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center. So don’t expect his usual feathers, fur, sequins or low-cut style. “I’m wearing a very unique pair of baroque leggings from this great Taiwanese designer with a very simple top,” he said. “I wanted to do something more laid-back and simple. I want the skating to speak for itself. Don’t worry, the truly outrageous costumes are still in me, but I wanted this one to be very personal, to kind of wear my heart on my sleeve.”



Weir said it’s a dream to perform at “An Evening With Champions” — his first time skating in the event since his debut there in 2001. “I was just a puppy and I was so honored to perform there. The show has a very steep history in figure skating circles,” he said. “I’m so excited they’ve asked me to perform again after such a long absence.” Since his retirement from competition — something Weir called “a huge adjustment and a huge shock” — the three-­time national champ hasn’t put his career on ice. He and former gold medalist Tara Lipinski worked for NBC doing color commentary for the skating events at the Sochi Olympics. That went so well, the network asked them to team up again and do fashion reporting from the Kentucky Derby and “Access Hollywood” invited the pair to do guest commentary at the Academy Awards.



Weir’s also recorded a pop song, designed costumes for some of the world’s top figure skaters, written an autobiography, skated all over the world and stars in a documentary about gay athletes who competed in Sochi after Russia enacted its draconian anti­gay laws. (It will premiere on Epix Oct. 29.) “I really feel like the world is my oyster,” Weir said. “I’m enjoying trying new things and I’m enjoying the ability to fail. As an Olympic athlete, very slim margins separate winning from defeat. I like the freedom not being a competitive skater has brought to my life.”