There have been 39 gay Olympic figure skaters. Here’s the list - Outsports

Contents:

• WAS JOHNNY WEIR AN ‘OUT’ GAY ATHLETE WHEN HE PETED AT THE OLYMPICS OVER A AGO?
• JOHNNY {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS OF FIGURE SKATG, JOHNNY WEIR IS A THREE-TIME U.S. CHAMPN, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND A WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG){FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1984-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JOHNNY WEIR?BORN 1984 COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, JOHNNY WEIR WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST LEARNED TO SKATE. IN 2001, HE WON THE WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. HE LATER WON THREE U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIPS TL AND PETED TWO WTER OLYMPICS. OFF-ICE, HE'S APPEARED SEVERAL FILMS AND TELEVISN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS HOSTED HIS OWN REALY TV SERI, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. STARTG 2014 FOR THE WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, WEIR TEAMED UP WH OLYMPIC ICE SKATER {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TARA LIPSKI, AND THE DUO HAS BEEN VERG OLYMPIC AND ICE SKATG EVENTS FOR NBC AND HAVE BRANCHG OUT TO LIFTYLE {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}JOHNNY WEIR OF USA SKATG DURG THE MEN’S SHORT PROGRAM OF 2012 FLANDIA TROPHY ESPOO INTERNATNAL FIGURE SKATG PETN ESPOO, ON OCTOBER 5, 2012. {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG)EARLY YEARSJOHN GARV "JOHNNY" WEIR WAS BORN ON JULY 2, 1984, COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. SHY AND UNASSUMG AS A KID, WEIR STGGLED TO F WH OTHER KIDS HIS AGE. "I WAS THE AWKWARD, SKNY, SMART, DRIVEN KID," WEIR ONCE RELLED. "I WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUNT. I SPOKE FLUENT FRENCH. I WAS A B ANTISOCIAL. I N'T SAY THAT I HAD A REALLY BOOMG SOCIAL LIFE."PATTI WEIRHIS MOTHER, PATTI MOORE WEIR, WORKED AS A HOME SPECTOR, WHILE HIS FATHER JOHN WEIR, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL LEBACKER, HARDLY WORKED AT ALL. HE WAS JURED A R ACCINT THE YEAR OF HIS SON'S BIRTH AND HURT HIS BACK, FORCG HIM TO GO ON DISABILY.HOW OLD WAS JOHNNY WEIR WHEN HE STARTED SKATG?WEIR WAS ALREADY 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST STRAPPED ON A PAIR OF SKAT AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS WAY AROUND PATCH OF ICE THE BACKYARD OF HIS HOME RAL QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. WH A WEEK HE WAS PERFORMG A SUCCSFUL AXEL JUMP. WHILE NOT FLH WH DISPOSABLE E, WEIR'S PARENTS SUPPORTED HIS SKATG AS BT THEY ULD. AND THEY WATCHED ASTONISHMENT AS THEIR SON QUICKLY MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS. WH A YEAR OF WEIR FIRST GETTG VOLVED THE SPORT, THE FAY MOVED TO NEW JERSEY SO HE ULD LIVE CLOSER TO HIS ACH AND RK.INTERNATNAL SKATG SUCCSJT FIVE YEARS AFTER FIRST TRYG ON A PAIR OF SKAT, WEIR WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2001 WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. THREE YEARS LATER, WEIR WON HIS FIRST U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIP, A TLE HE FEND SUCCSFULLY 2005 AND 2006. AT THE 2006 WTER OLYMPICS TUR, ITALY, WEIR PROVED TO BE A STAR. JOURNALISTS FLOCKED TO THE MEDIA-SAVVY WEIR, A VERABLE QUOTE MACHE WHO END UP FISHG FIFTH OVERALL. FOUR YEARS LATER, AT THE 2010 WTER GAM VANUVER, CANADA, WEIR FISHED SIXTH.JOHNNY WEIR AND TARA LIPSKISTARTG WH THE 2014 OLYMPICS SOCHI, THE ICE SKATG DUO RONATED WH DIENC AND ED SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRG NEW FANS. WEIR AND LIPSKI WERE SO WELL RECEIVED ON NBC THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO VER EVERY MAJOR FIGURE SKATG EVENT FOR THE WORK GOG FORWARD. “WE’RE VERY PROUD TO TE PEOPLE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN MAYBE THEY HAVE OVER THE LAST MANY MOONS,” WEIR SAID AN TERVIEW DECEMBER 2017. “TARA AND I DO THGS MORE NVERSATNALLY. WE’RE VERY DIRECT WH OUR DIENCE, AND ’S A HUGE DIENCE FOR TO BE RRYG FIGURE SKATG.”WEIR AND LIPSKI HAVE ALSO GRADUATED BEYOND THE ICE SKATG RK AND POSNED THEMSELV AS LIFTYLE PERSONALI. THEY WORKED THE RED RPET AS FASHN MENTATORS AT THE 86TH AMY AWARDS AND HAVE ALSO APPEARED AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY 2014, THE SUPER BOWL 2015 AND THE NATNAL DOG SHOW 2017, AMONG OTHER HIGH PROFILE EVENTS. PERSONAL LIFEWILY NSIRED FIGURE SKATG'S MOST OUTSPOKEN AND NTROVERSIAL ATHLETE, WEIR HAS GOTTEN TO VERBAL TSL WH FELLOW OLYMPIC SKATER EVAN LYSACEK. AT THE 2010 GAM HE UPSET ANTI-FUR ACTIVISTS BY STATG HIS SIRE TO RPORATE FUR TO HIS SKATG STUME. HIS LOVE OF THE LIMELIGHT, HOWEVER, HAS LED TO PLENTY OF OFF-ICE OPPORTUNI, CLUDG HIS OWN REALY TV SHOW, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. HE ALSO APPEARED AN EPISO OF TLC'S SAY Y TO THE DRS 2012, WHICH HE TRIED ON A WEDDG DRS HIMSELF WHILE ACPANYG A BRI-TO-BE.COMG OUT LATERIN 2011, AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, WEIR ADMTED HE WAS GAY. HE MA THE ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH HIS BGRAPHY, WELE TO MY WORLD. IN JANUARY 2018, ON THE HEELS OF ICE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY AMERIN MAN PARTICIPATG THE WTER OLYMPICS, WEIR EXPLAED VIA TWTER WHY HE CHOSE TO E OUT AFTER HIS SEND OLYMPICS AND NOT DURG.HE ADD:HBAND TO DIVORCéEON DECEMBER 20, 2012, WEIR MARRIED HIS BOYIEND, VICTOR VORONOV, NEW YORK CY. THE UPLE DIVORCED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• JOHNNY WEIR EXPLAS WHY HE WAED TO PUBLICLY COME OUT AS GAY
• JOHNNY WEIR OPENS UP ABOUT BEG TOLD 'YOU CAN'T BE GAY' AS A TEEN BREAKG TO FIGURE SKATG
• JOHNNY WEIR OUT: FLAMBOYANT FIGURE SKATER ADMS NEW TOBGRAPHY HE'S GAY
• THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 39 GAY OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATERS. HERE’S THE LIST
• SEVEN FABULO “OUT” GAY MEN OF FIGURE SKATG
• OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER JOHNNY WEIR TOO GAY FOR THAT SUPER-HETEROSEXUAL SPORT OF FIGURE SKATG

WAS JOHNNY WEIR AN ‘OUT’ GAY ATHLETE WHEN HE PETED AT THE OLYMPICS OVER A AGO?

When we wrote 2018 that no publicly out gay man had ever peted the Wter Olympics, one name kept g back to over and over aga: Johnny Weir. To be sure, the 2018 Olympics had the first publicly out gay Wter Olympics athlet to prevly utter the words “I’m gay. Weir officially, publicly uttered the words “I’m gay” his 2011 book, “Wele to my World.

” In the book he talked about feelg prsure om var gay Web s to fally say the words, and that prsure didn’t exactly make him feel like he wanted to be part of the muny (I’m nfint those prsur did not e om Outsports). When I terviewed him for Outsports 2009 support of the documentary film, I asked him pot-blank what he thks when people ask him if he’s gay. By the 2010 Wter Olympics Vanuver, sports mentators were g homophobic slurs to attack him.

JOHNNY {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS OF FIGURE SKATG, JOHNNY WEIR IS A THREE-TIME U.S. CHAMPN, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND A WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG){FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1984-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JOHNNY WEIR?BORN 1984 COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, JOHNNY WEIR WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST LEARNED TO SKATE. IN 2001, HE WON THE WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. HE LATER WON THREE U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIPS TL AND PETED TWO WTER OLYMPICS. OFF-ICE, HE'S APPEARED SEVERAL FILMS AND TELEVISN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS HOSTED HIS OWN REALY TV SERI, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. STARTG 2014 FOR THE WTER OLYMPICS SOCHI, WEIR TEAMED UP WH OLYMPIC ICE SKATER {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TARA LIPSKI, AND THE DUO HAS BEEN VERG OLYMPIC AND ICE SKATG EVENTS FOR NBC AND HAVE BRANCHG OUT TO LIFTYLE {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}JOHNNY WEIR OF USA SKATG DURG THE MEN’S SHORT PROGRAM OF 2012 FLANDIA TROPHY ESPOO INTERNATNAL FIGURE SKATG PETN ESPOO, ON OCTOBER 5, 2012. {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}(PHOTO: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/AFP/GETTYIMAG)EARLY YEARSJOHN GARV "JOHNNY" WEIR WAS BORN ON JULY 2, 1984, COATVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. SHY AND UNASSUMG AS A KID, WEIR STGGLED TO F WH OTHER KIDS HIS AGE. "I WAS THE AWKWARD, SKNY, SMART, DRIVEN KID," WEIR ONCE RELLED. "I WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUNT. I SPOKE FLUENT FRENCH. I WAS A B ANTISOCIAL. I N'T SAY THAT I HAD A REALLY BOOMG SOCIAL LIFE."PATTI WEIRHIS MOTHER, PATTI MOORE WEIR, WORKED AS A HOME SPECTOR, WHILE HIS FATHER JOHN WEIR, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL LEBACKER, HARDLY WORKED AT ALL. HE WAS JURED A R ACCINT THE YEAR OF HIS SON'S BIRTH AND HURT HIS BACK, FORCG HIM TO GO ON DISABILY.HOW OLD WAS JOHNNY WEIR WHEN HE STARTED SKATG?WEIR WAS ALREADY 11 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST STRAPPED ON A PAIR OF SKAT AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS WAY AROUND PATCH OF ICE THE BACKYARD OF HIS HOME RAL QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. WH A WEEK HE WAS PERFORMG A SUCCSFUL AXEL JUMP. WHILE NOT FLH WH DISPOSABLE E, WEIR'S PARENTS SUPPORTED HIS SKATG AS BT THEY ULD. AND THEY WATCHED ASTONISHMENT AS THEIR SON QUICKLY MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS. WH A YEAR OF WEIR FIRST GETTG VOLVED THE SPORT, THE FAY MOVED TO NEW JERSEY SO HE ULD LIVE CLOSER TO HIS ACH AND RK.INTERNATNAL SKATG SUCCSJT FIVE YEARS AFTER FIRST TRYG ON A PAIR OF SKAT, WEIR WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2001 WORLD JUNR CHAMPNSHIPS. THREE YEARS LATER, WEIR WON HIS FIRST U.S. FIGURE SKATG CHAMPNSHIP, A TLE HE FEND SUCCSFULLY 2005 AND 2006. AT THE 2006 WTER OLYMPICS TUR, ITALY, WEIR PROVED TO BE A STAR. JOURNALISTS FLOCKED TO THE MEDIA-SAVVY WEIR, A VERABLE QUOTE MACHE WHO END UP FISHG FIFTH OVERALL. FOUR YEARS LATER, AT THE 2010 WTER GAM VANUVER, CANADA, WEIR FISHED SIXTH.JOHNNY WEIR AND TARA LIPSKISTARTG WH THE 2014 OLYMPICS SOCHI, THE ICE SKATG DUO RONATED WH DIENC AND ED SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRG NEW FANS. WEIR AND LIPSKI WERE SO WELL RECEIVED ON NBC THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO VER EVERY MAJOR FIGURE SKATG EVENT FOR THE WORK GOG FORWARD. “WE’RE VERY PROUD TO TE PEOPLE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN MAYBE THEY HAVE OVER THE LAST MANY MOONS,” WEIR SAID AN TERVIEW DECEMBER 2017. “TARA AND I DO THGS MORE NVERSATNALLY. WE’RE VERY DIRECT WH OUR DIENCE, AND ’S A HUGE DIENCE FOR TO BE RRYG FIGURE SKATG.”WEIR AND LIPSKI HAVE ALSO GRADUATED BEYOND THE ICE SKATG RK AND POSNED THEMSELV AS LIFTYLE PERSONALI. THEY WORKED THE RED RPET AS FASHN MENTATORS AT THE 86TH AMY AWARDS AND HAVE ALSO APPEARED AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY 2014, THE SUPER BOWL 2015 AND THE NATNAL DOG SHOW 2017, AMONG OTHER HIGH PROFILE EVENTS. PERSONAL LIFEWILY NSIRED FIGURE SKATG'S MOST OUTSPOKEN AND NTROVERSIAL ATHLETE, WEIR HAS GOTTEN TO VERBAL TSL WH FELLOW OLYMPIC SKATER EVAN LYSACEK. AT THE 2010 GAM HE UPSET ANTI-FUR ACTIVISTS BY STATG HIS SIRE TO RPORATE FUR TO HIS SKATG STUME. HIS LOVE OF THE LIMELIGHT, HOWEVER, HAS LED TO PLENTY OF OFF-ICE OPPORTUNI, CLUDG HIS OWN REALY TV SHOW, BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR. HE ALSO APPEARED AN EPISO OF TLC'S SAY Y TO THE DRS 2012, WHICH HE TRIED ON A WEDDG DRS HIMSELF WHILE ACPANYG A BRI-TO-BE.COMG OUT LATERIN 2011, AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, WEIR ADMTED HE WAS GAY. HE MA THE ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH HIS BGRAPHY, WELE TO MY WORLD. IN JANUARY 2018, ON THE HEELS OF ICE SKATER ADAM RIPPON BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY AMERIN MAN PARTICIPATG THE WTER OLYMPICS, WEIR EXPLAED VIA TWTER WHY HE CHOSE TO E OUT AFTER HIS SEND OLYMPICS AND NOT DURG.HE ADD:HBAND TO DIVORCéEON DECEMBER 20, 2012, WEIR MARRIED HIS BOYIEND, VICTOR VORONOV, NEW YORK CY. THE UPLE DIVORCED {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

His iend said publicly 2010 that he ma the Olympics “gay. Virtually everyone knew Weir was gay 2010.

” The ia that Weir was still hidg beg gay durg the 2010 Wter Gam seems to be crazy talk. Gog back even further, 1976 John Curry was the Johnny Weir of his time, assumed to be gay and petg at the Olympics (he won gold 1976). To be sure, he was not the first male Wter Olympian to say the words “I’m gay” before petg.

Now 2022, eight gay figure skaters, and one nonbary athlete — Timothy LeDuc — have opened the nversatn like never before. Yet as time mov on and Weir talks more about whether or not he was “out, ” I creasgly fd myself intifyg him as the first out gay Wter Olympian.

JOHNNY WEIR EXPLAS WHY HE WAED TO PUBLICLY COME OUT AS GAY

Still, given people’s dividual fears and the reali of some LGBTQ people, particularly certa untri, n be hard to ll an ele athlete “gay.

JOHNNY WEIR OPENS UP ABOUT BEG TOLD 'YOU CAN'T BE GAY' AS A TEEN BREAKG TO FIGURE SKATG

He also appeared an episo of TLC's Say Y to the Drs 2012, which he tried on a weddg drs himself while acpanyg a Out LaterIn 2011, after years of speculatn about his sexualy, Weir admted he was gay. In January 2018, on the heels of ice skater Adam Rippon beg the first openly gay Amerin man participatg the Wter Olympics, Weir explaed via Twter why he chose to e out after his send Olympics and not add:Hband to DivorcéeOn December 20, 2012, Weir married his boyiend, Victor Voronov, New York Cy.

Gay NBC figure skatg mentator Johnny Weir has been the target of some cricism durg the Olympics.

The heat directed at the out gay figure skatg champn hasn't e om anti-gay Rsians, but om gay Amerins here at home. We mt do everythg we n to stand up to those homophob! Yet here we have a well-known gay Amerin - Johnny Weir - dog that very thg, standg up to the Rsians and refg to back away om who he is, and LGBT people are slightg and attackg him for .

JOHNNY WEIR OUT: FLAMBOYANT FIGURE SKATER ADMS NEW TOBGRAPHY HE'S GAY

The out gay journalist appeared as a gut on another CNN show over the weekend to lob anti-feme jabs at Johnny. "No one lik a gay mstrel show, " Lemon said, "so let's jt put that out there.

About some of his flamboyant and over the top and all those, seems those are the people who get the attentn, but they don't reprent all of gay Ameri.

THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 39 GAY OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATERS. HERE’S THE LIST

You don't have to be a whe, middle-aged gay sports fan om Massachetts to reprent me. But cryg Johnny for beg a "gay mstrel show" and plag that he's gettg too much attentn for sends Lemon's very clear msage.

Too often we get ught up worryg about stereotypil portrayals of gay men.

SEVEN FABULO “OUT” GAY MEN OF FIGURE SKATG

Yet when to more "feme, " "flamboyant" men who f the age-old stereotyp of gay men, some feel the need to lash out. Here we have an out and out-there gay man hired by Olympic broadst work NBC to provi mentary on his sport and to do his job.

They have embraced Johnny all his overtly flamboyant gayns. Johnny's very public profile do not dimish the liv and experienc of other gay men who prefer blue jeans and football to a pk jacket and an afternoon at the ice rk. For many people, "flamboyance" is the fg characteristic of gay men.

In a untry where gay "propaganda" is outlawed some s, and gay men are beg dragged off the streets by gangs, Johnny is makg a powerful statement simply by beg there and "beg Johnny.

OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER JOHNNY WEIR TOO GAY FOR THAT SUPER-HETEROSEXUAL SPORT OF FIGURE SKATG

" When he shows up on a fishg excursn wearg a fur at and signer sunglass, giv the Rsians around him pse for jt a moment - The gay people they hear about on TV aren't so far away, even if for jt the afternoon. I'm proud of the gay men who are stereotypilly "flamboyant.