Olympics: Johnny Weir still stealing fashion headlines
The three-time US champion is working as a TV pundit for the Sochi Games has nevertheless been impressed by the level of fashion on the ice — particularly by the Russian competitors.
« Very fashionable, very sparkly, very interesting, it’s ‘the show’, » said Weir of the ice dancing extravaganza which concludes with Monday’s free dance final.
« I actually love Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov from Russia. I love to watch them skate, I find them so dramatic and entertaining, » said the self-proclaimed Russophile.
Ilinykh danced in a Charleston-style outfit as they sit third after the short dance.
Meryl Davis and Charlie White, bidding for a first Olympic ice dancing gold for the United States are leading ahead of Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the reigning Olympic champions.
« In the men’s I had a special soft spot for Yuzuru Hanyu because I was part of the team this year. I designed his costume, » he said with pride of Japan’s first men’s gold medallist.
« As for the pairs, Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov were incredible. They kept to the Russian tradition and it was very, very wonderful to see.
« For the ladies I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone has to show, » added the two-time Olympian.
The 29-year-old was in fact was more eye-catching than the ice dancers.
« My headband and my necklace are Erickson Beamon — it’s a New York jewellery company, » he explained.
« My jacket it’s vintage Valentino, then Rico Enzo boots, Chanel watch and Sandro shirt. A lot of things. »
Weir, who finished third at the 2008 world championship, last competed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where he placed sixth.
He placed fourth at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.
Weir admitted that he always skated better when he felt good in his costume.
In Vancouver in the short programme he wore a black, oil slick corset with hot pink cording and tassel, his free programme costume was inspired by a fallen angel.
« What I loved was my costume for my short programme at the 2006 Olympics, » he recalls. « I skated to « The Dying Swan » and I basically wore an entire swan. And it was wonderful. »
« For me, it was important that I felt pretty when I skated. If I wore something — no matter how ridiculous — as long as I felt beautiful, I knew I would skate better. »
Despite being openly gay Weir had been vocal in his opposition to calls to boycott the Sochi Games because of Russia’s anti-gay law, stating that it would destroy the Olympic dream of thousands of athletes.
