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Johnny WeirContinued: America's Olympic Strong Shot Puts Things Into Perspective- Continued from P. 2 - Kathleen: Sounds like the lyrics from that song by the 'Police' – 'Every Step You Take, Every Move You Make…I'll Be Watching You.' Johnny: That's exactly what it's like. There's also a lot of silly coaching and choreography changes this year with far too many people barely resembling the performers they were in past seasons. I think that especially during an Olympic season it is vital to have your own authentic look, and that's gone. What do we have, like fifty skaters going to Nikolai (Morozov) and another fifty going to that Canadian guy? Miki Ando looks nothing like herself this season. Stephane Lambiel is doing things differently this year, but he's not injured and big props to him for doing the Grand Prix circuit. His spins look great, he's always had intricate programs, and now he has the jumps to go with it. (Laughing) I can't think of a negative thing to say about him! Sandhu up until the Grand Prix Final was great, and he's just too good for those mistakes. I think (laughing) that's all I have to bitch about. Kathleen: Let's talk about Johnny Weir and Russia. There seems to be a real mutual admiration thing going on between you and Russian audiences. To what do we owe this love affair? Johnny: I've been crazy about all things Russian even since childhood, but to now get to spend time and compete there has been incredible. I actually had a police escort when I left the arena in St. Petersburg! The love from the fans was amazing – it was like a mosh pit outside after the free skate. It's undeniable to me that Russia is the undisputed Mecca of skating, regardless of who is winning. Russia is figure skating. I've tried hard to show their audiences my immense respect, and my thanks for their hospitality. In return, they have really embraced me. There were signs for me in the arena, people waiting at my hotel – it was like being a little star (laughing) in the giant universe of 'Plushenko-land'. Now the Russian skaters all say 'privet' to me instead of hello. I feel very accepted by the Russians, and even though I wasn't skating at 100% at Cup of Russia, it was my best so far this season. Part of that was the audience response. You could hear a pin drop during my Swan (short) program and then it erupted. People brought me the most wonderful gifts, someone even brought me the official Russian Olympic team warm-up uniform. All of it makes me want to keep showing them my appreciation. Russia is wonderfully mysterious and I'm like the cat who always wants to see what's hidden inside the bag. I root for them, and I tend to hang out more with them at events and shows than with, for example, the Americans. My team leader in Russia was Sasha Zhulin. My mom says he always watches when I skate, and he looks out for me in general. When I did a Russian show number at the exhibition, people told me the television commentators were joking saying that "Maybe Johnny Weir is Russia's next big hope (laughs)". What's interesting is that I don't have huge results on the world level to garner this, but I really appreciate it. Kathleen: This Russia thing must be working, because like their top men, you're also very popular in Japan. Johnny: My Japanese fans are fantastic. They have just been so nice to this kid from Pennsylvania! I've gotten at least six enormous Christmas packages with presents even for my dog. The fans make me what I am, and I owe so much to them. I'm no Michelle Kwan, and again, I don't really have the results to warrant this popularity. Kathleen: The reality of Nationals, which you've called your most pressure-filled event, is almost here. Johnny: I can talk about my training all I want, but if I don't show it, nobody will believe me. Right now things are great. I've got new boots, and even if it was the 'American Idol' of figure skating events (laughs), winning at Marshall's lit a fire in me. I'll say this – it was great to win again. It was hilarious to me that they lost the broadcast signal right before I fell during my first program, because the people voting at home didn't see that mistake. I still think friends in the Russian mafia (laughs) must have had something to do with this. Even though Marshall's was a nice boost for my ego, I'm working my rear end off to be ready for Nationals. I don't want to be the sub-par whiny skater I've been all season. Hopefully I have an excellent chance to do well. We've rearranged my programs to maximize comfort as well as points. The order of the elements before was a little much, and I have a weird level of difficulty on certain things. I think a triple loop is harder than a triple Axel, for instance, or my legs might get really tired after a step sequence so that's not the best place to put the toughest spins. Kathleen: Things didn't go great for you the first part of this season. Was it a case of too much pressure to have to stay at the top, and do so under the added scrutiny of an Olympic season? Johnny: I didn't feel any pressures, at least not from outside sources. It's more that all sorts of things were combusting inside of me. I had these great programs from Tatiana (Tarasova) that I had to change because they weren't working under Code of Points. Then the season kicked off with the two cheesefests I had to do with a trip to Japan and then back to the US event in the same week. All of a sudden it's time for Skate Canada and I felt unprepared. The last time I had felt truly unprepared was the disaster at 2003 Dallas Nationals, and it freaked me out. I don't like to feel unprepared. I like to go and rock the house and put on a good show. I wasn't healthy enough, the programs were always being re-worked and even with the constant tinkering they weren't good enough. People started ragging on me, and it got to me. For the past year everybody was telling me how great I was, and now it's all crap. I was hearing so much doom and gloom that Priscilla (Hill) and I went into panic mode. We called Tarasova and she was disappointed and that hurt too because I love her so much and wanted to be able to keep her beautiful programs as she designed them. It's the Olympics this season, and I wanted these to be her programs. Now it's a melting pot of ideas, but I still stand by Tatiana and hopefully I won't skate badly enough to shame her into saying "I didn't create those." It's been a tough season, and there's no time left to change things – we're too far in. Kathleen: Unless Plushenko falls ill or gets injured, he is going to be very, very hard to beat. Would there be any 'shame in silver'? Johnny: I completely agree. If Plushenko brings his A-game and gets the gold, then there is no shame in silver. I still believe in myself, but I have to get over not having everything go as well for me this season as it has the previous two. Kathleen: But isn't that really the root strength as to why the Russian men have been able to dominate the Americans at one Olympic Games after the other? That nobody is as tough – especially mentally – as they are? Johnny: That's what I'm trying to do. No matter how bad I'm hurting, no matter what's wrong, no matter if I've had even less than one hour of sleep I'm still making it to the practices. Now I leave my feelings outside of the rink. Earlier this season I let my problems get too big and I couldn't really contain them. I also starting becoming more maternal and worrying about others, and I screwed myself in that way because the distractions worked against me. I let my guard down. Even when I trained with Tatiana (Tarasova) during the summer, there were days I'd come to the rink and I wasn't there mentally, my eyes were dead. She'd take one look at me and say, "Come back when you feel good." Kathleen: Somehow I don't think she built Alexei Yagudin into an Olympic Champion by sending him home on the days he didn't feel like training. Johnny: (Laughing) I know. I really needed Tatiana at certain points in my life, and I'm grateful that she was there. But I've also made a concerted effort to be tougher and stronger. A new mantra hangs above my bed on a poster. It says, "You only get one tear – so make it a good one." Kathleen: What else is bugging you this season?
Kathleen: Last question: What's the best thing about being Johnny? Johnny: The best thing is that I really get to live in a sort of 'Johnny-Land.' This morning I went to Starbucks wearing rabbit fur moccasins, a blanket made out of Mongolian lamb, a jacket that said Russia, a scarf around my head, and huge sunglasses. The people behind the counter just glanced at me and said, ""Hey Johnny – do you want the regular?" I don't compromise who I am, or my feelings or thoughts, and that even includes my skating. If I'm sad, I'll wear black. If I'm happy I'll sport Elton John rhinestone sunglasses (laughs), because I'm pretentious, I get stubborn, and probably I won't want to do things your way. |
Johnny: All the negative chatter about costumes. They are costumes folks, not outfits! We're not going to be wearing them down the street or even to a party. They exist to play a character. Some ice dancers are wearing two Band-Aids and a cork this season, and so what? Latin rhythms are supposed to be sexy. I don't see anything wrong with that. Skaters are generally very fit attractive people. Why not see girls wearing next to nothing? Our country especially is too conservative about that.