Johnny Weir Ditches Skating To Focus On Music, Television

Johnny Weir Ditches Skating To Focus On Music, Television.Professional skater Johnny Weir announced Thursday that he’ll be taking a year off from competitive skating in order to focus on other projects, including his hit reality show , a book, and even music. The 26-year-old made the announcement in a statement and audio recording posted on YouTube. “I would like to officially announce that I am withdrawing my name from from the 2010-2011 competitive season. My decision comes months after weighing the pros and cons of competing this season,” Weir said. “I have decided that I need a year to explore and reinvent myself as an athlete and artist.” Weir says that he’ll instead be focusing on his new single, “Dirty Love,” his fashion line Be Unique, and a “quarter-century” memoir which will be published by Gallery Books. He’s also returning for a second season of his reality series, “Be Good Johnny Weir.” He also hopes to stay on the ice during his year off, including participating in skating shows and producing his own skating spectacular. “The main reason for my decision is to have more time to reinvent my skating,” Weir continued. “I want to create a new skating image for myself so that when I return to competitive skating, I can perform in a way that is both unique and inspiring. I say all of this in hopes that I will return as a competitor for the 2011-2012 season.” Weir, who’s been skating competitively for ten years, hopes to be back in time to compete for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. “It would be a dream for me to compete in an Olympic Games in Russia, and I think one thing my fans know about me is that I don’t give up on a dream easily,” he says.So while he won’t be skating competitively in the upcoming season, fans of all other things Johnny Weir will have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming year.

Johnny Weir withdraws from World Championships

hree-time United States figure skating champion and 2008 world bronze medal winner Johnny Weir announced his withdraw from the 2010 World Championships Tuesday. Weir, who finished sixth at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, plans to take time to train over the next few months. “After my sixth-place finish in Vancouver, I believe I must take time to reassess my strategies and goals,” Weir said. “I can assure everyone that I will be re-energized after I’ve had time to rework my technique.” Weir finished fourth at the 2009 Rostelecom Cup, won a silver medal at the 2009 NHK Trophy and took home bronze medals at both the 2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and 2010 U.S. Championships.

Canada’s Joannie Rochette Gets Bronze Medal In Ladies’ Figure Skating

Canada's Joannie Rochette Gets Bronze Medal In Ladies' Figure Skating

Canada’s Joannie Rochette won the bronze medal in ladies’ figure skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. The 24-year old athlete battled tears as she received the medal, barely a week after her mother died. Rochette’s victory brought Canada’s total medal tally to 17, securing the host-nation’s hold to the fourth place. Rochette’s mother, Therese, died after a heart attack on Sunday upon arrival in Vancouver. She was Joannie’s biggest supporter. Despite her mother’s death, Joannie battled personal grief and continued her practice, until she got the bronze medal. Rochette got 131.28 points for her free skate to Samson and Delilah. Her overall scor was 202.64. South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na took the gold with 150.06 points for her free skate to Gershwin’s Concerto in F, which gave her an overall score of 228.56. On second place was Japan’s Mao Asada, who got 131.72 points for her free skate, for an overall score of 205.50. Joannie’s father, Normand, watched from the stands if the packed Pacific Coliseum. The crowd did not hide their admiration for the brave athlete with their thunderous applause and cheers. Despite Canada’s fourth place overall medal ranking, the country is tied with first place U.S. and second placer Germany in its gold harvest with identical gold medal counts of 8 each.