Johnny Weir Announces His Return to Competitive Figure Skating

Update:  Please read Misfit Mimes' blog 'Unstoppable'!  Wonderful in it's simplicity and the beautiful photo of Johnny and Vitya!

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Ever since Johnny Weir announced in late 2010 he was taking a year off from competitive figure skating his fans have been wondering if he would return to competition.  The 2014 Olympics are set to take place in Sochi; a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, on the coast of the Black Sea.  Any fan of Johnny's knows how much he loves the Russian culture and the Russian people, and the feeling is mutual.  These factors would seem to influence his decision on whether to try and make the 2014 Olympic team or not.
There is also a sense of unfinished business where Johnny Weir and the Olympics are concerned. 

Weir, though he did not perform badly at Torino in 2006, faltered and failed to win the Olympic medal he so desired.  The next four years were up and down for Weir competitively, and he fell out of favor with the United States Figure Skating Association.  There was no love lost between the organization and Weir; however, he performed well enough at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Washington to qualify for the United States Olympic Team and competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Washington. 

Any fan of Weir's knows what happened next.  After performing a near perfect short program titled 'I Love You, I Hate You', Weir performed a stunningly beautiful long program he had named 'Fallen Angel'.  He had placed sixth after the short program, and he remained in sixth place after his Fallen Angel free skate.  While some believe the placings were fair, many figure skating fans were shocked at Johnny Weir placing sixth in Vancouver.  Without going too heavily into the politics of figure skating, the hurtful comments made about Weir and any other issues involved; Weir's sixth place finish was extremely difficult to understand for many figure skating fans. 

Since the Vancouver Olympics, Johnny Weir has absolutely thrived.  He has skated in numerous figure skating shows, appeared on talks shows and at events, written an autobiography and embarked on a book tour, designed a line of ladies dresses, released a single titled 'Dirty Love', been interviewed and photographed numerous times including for the JW Art Project, appeared at fashion shows and walked runways at New York Fashion Week, become the face of 'Glitter and Ice' for Mac Cosmetics, and filmed season two of his reality show 'Be Good Johnny Weir'.  And that list is only part of what he has been up to in the last two years!      

Oh yeah...  There was that little thing about getting married on New Year's Eve to the wonderful Victor Voronov!

But back to the unfinished business...

As a long time fan of Johnny Weir there are few things I would like more for him than for him to have the Olympic medal I feel he so richly deserves.  I'd love to see him compete and make the team in Sochi and just show everyone for the umpteenth time just how good he really is.  I do have concerns, however. He's never been a favorite of the figure skating establishment, and that is unlikely to change any time soon.  The current scoring system does not favor a skater with the artistic brilliance he possesses, though he can certainly hold his own technically.  And of course, he IS a three time United States champion.

He'll be twenty nine years old in Sochi; not old in human terms, but certainly not young in competitive figure skating terms. However, I'm a fan and I will support him in whatever he decides to do...  And as a friend of mine on Facebook said, figure skating desperately needs Johnny Weir.  At a time when the sport is in a slump, at least partly due to the convoluted judging system and the near robotic state skaters, especially male skaters, are forced into to score enough points to win; as I stated above, Weir is thriving.  He is enormously popular, possibly the single most popular skater around the world; and yes, competitive figure skating DOES need him.  However, as another friend stated, HE doesn't need IT.

Now that I've said those words...  Oh Wednesday,  January 18th, Johnny tweeted his fans these words:

"Coming to you guys tomorrow with some BIG news! Life is funny & it can change in a second. Cherish it all. The good & the bad."

This tweet caused an enormous amount of buzz amongst Johnny's fans, some of whom speculated for hours on Twitter and other sites about what Johnny could possibly mean by that.  Obviously it was something good, right?  But the tone of the rest of the tweet...the good the bad?  What on earth did THAT mean?

Well, we found out Thursday, January 19th 2012 when Johnny Weir announced his return to competitive figure skating! 

After releasing an official statement about his comeback, Johnny appeared at a press conference at which he announced his plans to return to competitive skating with an eye toward making the 2014 Olympic team and competing in Sochi.  He will retire for certain after the next Olympics.

Almost immediately skating fans, especially Johnny's fans, were abuzz with talk of his competitive return.  Within a very short period of time a number of articles had already been written, many of them from major journalistic entities such as Sports Illustrated, USA Today, ESPN and the New York Times.  More are certain to follow.

All I can say at this point is, GO JOHNNY GO!

VIDEO of his twenty minute press conference may be found here and here!  (I can't figure out how to embed it, so leave me alone about it, okay?)

I have also posted sixteen photographs from his press conference. He looks great, doesn't he?  Beautiful smile and I love the hair!

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 19: Figure skater Johnny Weir announces his competitive figure skating comeback at a press conference at West Bank Cafe on January 19, 2012 in New York City. (Photos by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)   

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Read my friend Misfit Mimes blog 'The Official Johnny Weir Blog'!  She rocks!

Johnny Weir on Twitter

Johnny Weir's Official Website

Read my friend Nancy Knisley's blog 'The Quotable Johnny Weir'

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@JohnnyGWeir tweet:

The moment I tweeted you all from my press conference about my comeback as captured by @andrewwerner http://yfrog.com/ob15469868j

11 hours ago

The Tweet in question:

And one more Tweet for the road:

Along with my response:

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From Johnny Weir, A Note To His Fans

Update June 15th:

Read my friend MisfitMimes Blog Freedom

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Early on June 14th Johnny Weir posted this note to his fans on his official website:

Johnny Weir: A Note to My Fans

To my fans,


I want to formally announce that I will not compete in the upcoming season. I have dreamt of returning to competition for the upcoming season, but due to many obligations in my professional life, I will not be able to devote enough time to my training and my representation of the United States in international competition.

I realize that a huge percentage of my fan base is awaiting my return to the competitive ice and I beg your pardon for not fulfilling your wishes this year. I do not want any of my fans to lose hope as I am still on the ice, still training hard whenever my schedule permits. I still have a very competitive attitude, and after one more year off the competitive ice, I hope to return, and my team and I are already taking a very rigid approach to my schedule in 2012 so that I will have proper time to train for the figure skating high season.

I have had many big successes in my professional life since my performance at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and I continue to strive for perfection in every aspect of my public life. I wake up every day and go to sleep every night hoping that I’ve made my fans around the world proud with whatever I am doing, whether it’s a skating show, a public appearance, or a new episode of my TV show. I would be nothing without my thousands of fans around the world, and I hope I can continue to make you proud. I will be back on the ice, competing for you, very soon.

In the meantime, my fans can look forward to my collaborations with MAC cosmetics and eDressMe.com; “Spectacular,” an ice concert I am creating for this fall; a new season of my hit reality show, Be Good Johnny Weir, on Logo; and of course skating around the world in exhibition performances.

I’d like to thank my many fans across the globe for your continued support and faith in me. No matter what, my eyes are still firmly fixed on Sochi and the 2014 Olympic Games.

Thank you.

Johnny G. Weir

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I am looking forward to all the things Johnny has mentioned! It must have been a difficult, even agonizing decision for him to make to take another year off from competition. But he has to do what is best for him, and right now he has to take the opportunities that are coming his way. He may never have another chance to do so! I support him in whatever he chooses to do; it is his life!

Go Johnny go!

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RiaNovosti Interview with Viktor Petrenko Re Sochi 2014

Just added:  Below this translation I have added an English translation from Google Translate provided by my friend Li.

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English translation via Babylon of RiaNovosti interview with 1992 Men's Olympic Figure Skating Champion Viktor Petrenko re figure skating in Sochi, Russia in 2014. 

I have the translation software on my computer, but I had to put the translation here due to some difficulty with the link to the actual translation.  Even though it is a bit difficult to understand in places, I left the translation exactly as I got it from Babylon, except for a clarification of a few of the names.   

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Sport.Tourismфигуристам-veterans in Sochi would be difficult to champion Olympiad Petrenko


14:1817 /11/2010

Moskva, 17 Nov-RIA News. фигуристам previous generations, contemplating speak during the Olympics 2014 at Sochi, be a difficult struggle with very talented young people, considers SOVETSKIY and Ukrainian фигурист Viktor Petrenko, Olympic champion 1992 and Bronze winner Olympiad-1988.

Recently 28-year-old Russian Eugene плющенко (Plushenko), Olympic champion 2006, said, that is going to participate in the games-2014. Its example, as reported in the week foreign media, will follow 26-year-old àìåðèêàíåö Johnny вейр (Weir), which him Petrenko. does not exclude participation in Sochi Olympiad ровесник la ex-World Champion French Brian жубер (Joubert).

"Old Kony slots, of course, do not detract, but had not make, and philosophically observed Petrenko in conversation with RIA News. -is difficult to anticipate that the плющенко, La and жубера in Sochi could happen, but it seems to me that the current youth exclusively is strong. In the fight against the "old" would not be easy. Everything will depend on the extent to which experienced athletes psychologically will cope with attack young. But did not torture ".

"desire of my ward Johnny speak in Sochi, of course, it was commendable, and with laughter added Petrenko. -but only for the trainings in this year I it is not yet seen it. For example, went on several occasions go before any show. But it does n't work seriously. Well, probably, it has continued period of rest. And that, since many, to Olympiad four more years. "

Olympic champion believes that the adopted before the season changes in rules, aimed at, to encourage athletes more frequently try perform четверные скачкi, go figure skating to benefit.

"I have already see trend to more attempts execution has four traffic, said Petrenko. -at the stage Grand Prix in Canada local фигурист (Kevin Reynolds) sang two different leap-frog in an arbitrary programme ".

"It is fitting that courage is encouraged, and added specialist. -It now if прыжок недокрученным by a quarter traffic is produced, sportsman still receives 70 per cent of its value. We have long sought technical committee ISU introduce such changes in the Rules. "

In the same time Petrenko considers an important skill фигуриста own technology Catania. "Canadian Patrick Chan, of course, can fall three times in one programme, but I understand, for which he is given a high second evaluation, and stressed companion RIA News. -And you will understand when or how many перебежек he makes in dispersing. I will: tracked the Chan only four return for the short program. "

On the Olympic champion, this fact "clearly said of the highest level ownership коньком." "The Fall Chan punished, low points he has received, and noted specialist. -But skill Catania and the other components of the excellent level ".

Here's a google translate attempt, it's a litte easier to understand I think:

SPORTS

Veteran skaters in Sochi will be difficult - Olympic champion Petrenko
...17/11/2010 14:18

MOSCOW, November 17 - RIA Novosti. Previous generation of skaters who are going to perform at the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi will be a difficult fight against a very talented young people, said the Soviet and Ukrainian figure skater Viktor Petrenko, the Olympic champion in 1992 and bronze medalist, 1988.

Recently, 28-year old Russian Evgeny Plushenko, the Olympic champion in 2006, said he would take part in the Games in 2014. His example, as reported this week, foreign media, is going to follow the 26-year-old American Johnny Weir, who coached Petrenko. Does not exclude participation in the Sochi Olympics contemporary Weir former champion Frenchman Brian Joubert.

"Old horses furrows, of course, do not spoil, but deep down do not plow - Petrenko said philosophically in a conversation with RIA Novosti. - It is difficult to predict that Plushenko, Weir and Joubert in Sochi can get, but I think that today's youth is exceptionally strong . In the fight with her "old" will not be easy. It will all depend on how experienced athletes psychologically cope with the attack of the young. But no harm in trying. "

"The desire of my ward Johnny speak in Sochi, of course, commendable - with a laugh added Petrenko. - But only here in training this year, I have not seen it yet. So, come a few times to ride before some shows. But seriously, he does not works. Well, apparently, he still continues a period of rest. But what a lot of time, before the Olympics for another four years. "

The Olympic champion believes that adoption of pre-season rule changes aimed at to encourage athletes often try to perform a quadruple jump, go skating advantage.

"I can already see the trend to more attempts at execution jumps four times - said Petrenko. - During the Grand Prix in Canada, a local skater (Kevin Reynolds) played two different quads in the long program."

"It is true that liberty is encouraged - added the expert. - Now if the jump turns Underturned a quarter turn, the athlete will still receive 70 percent of its value. We have been asked to ISU technical committee to introduce such changes in the rules."

At the same time Petrenko considers important skill to master skater skating technique. "Canadian Patrick Chan, of course, can fall three times in one program, but I understand why he gets such a high second assessment - the source stressed RIA Novosti. - And you will understand if I consider how many desertions it makes under acceleration. I help: counted for Chan just four rushes for all the short program. "

According to the Olympic champion, this fact is "clearly illustrates the highest level of proficiency in skates." "In the fall of Chan punished, the minuses he got, - stated the expert. - But the skill of riding and the other components in his excellent level."