Post by Admin on Mar 11, 2023 0:51:34 GMT
"Figure skating, with its scandalous costumes, death-defying jumps and cut-throat atmosphere meets its match in Johnny Weir. The three-time US Champion, 2006 Olympian and 2008 World Bronze Medalist has officially become skating’s most controversial and talented personality. This documentary series follows Johnny on a rollercoaster ride as he seeks to become the 2010 Olympic Champion. It is the story of a young athlete on a mission to capture the gold while staying true to his outspoken personality and unique artistry. The stories threaded throughout the eight-episode series are anchored by Johnny’s quest for gold at the Vancouver Olympics: His contentious relationship with US Figure Skating, his love affair with Russia, his friendship with Paris, his marriage of artistry and athleticism, his internal struggle with discipline, his battle with arch-rival Evan Lysacek and his crusade to tame the elusive quad. These storylines evolve and grow deeper over the time we spend with Johnny."
Johnny Weir is an American figure skater and television commentator. He is a two-time Olympian (2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics), the 2008 World bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2001 World Junior Champion, and a three-time U.S. National champion (2004–2006). He was the youngest 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 Cup of Russia in 2007.
Weir was raised in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, winning several 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 U.S. Nationals. The 2003–2004 season was "the turning point" for Weir and trained with Tatiana Tarasova; he won his first national title at age 19.
At the 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. Nationals and replaced his long-time coach Priscilla Hill with Galina Zmievskaya for the 2007–2008 season. At the 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. 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 2009–2010 season, but ended up qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics by winning bronze at the 2010 U.S. Nationals. Weir retired from competitive figure skating in 2013. He joined NBC as a commentator beginning at the 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" and "an entertaining artisan". 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 came out in early 2011 and has been involved with LGBTQ activism.