What is wrong with Johnny Weir? Do you think he doesn't have the stamina?

[Tonichelle]

I think it is the Choreographer. She didn't leave proper time to setup his jumps. So he is rushing them. She doesn't jump. Totally changing his style this late in his career is crazy. We should see the old Johnny again next year but he has to get over his fear of the quad.

I agree... changing the style of his skating was a very odd choice in order to change it up... it just didn't look or feel right

 

[Dee4707]

I think it is the Choreographer. She didn't leave proper time to setup his jumps. So he is rushing them. She doesn't jump. Totally changing his style this late in his career is crazy. We should see the old Johnny again next year but he has to get over his fear of the quad.

Sk8addict, I couldn't agree with you more. Otonal and the Swan were just beautiful programs. He seemed to present them without too many problems. I would think that with the style change he has to think too much. I don't think he ever had to change his style, wonder really why he did.

Dee

 

[blue dog]

Tiny Mavy,

I agree totally with your assessment. That promise to his mother to pay for his brother's college education must be weighing quite heavily on him. If he could afford to stop skating except for the COI tour for a year and other exhibitions, perhaps that will give him the respite that he needs.

With respect to others' comments as to non-belief in hypnotists, if they happen to be board-certified psychiatrists, one helped me get past my irrational fear of accounting. I got an A+ on my intensive accounting course after hypnosis for a block caused by anxiety for my MBA (at a top 12 business school). While it may not work for all, it does work in many cases

Won't he have to be injured to take time off? I remember Ottavio Chihuahua required that everyone have a doctor's note before taking off the GP

 

[Vodka Shot]

From what I can tell there are several problems.

1) Aerobic stamina. He gets out of breath far too easily. Notice the gasping for air during his SP and that was just the SP so it's no wonder he has a hard time making it through the LP's. He can't run because it's very hard on your legs but, I think he should look into taking cycling classes or do more Pilates. He only does Pilates twice a week. That is the only off ice training he does.
2) I think he should also eat better. Although I don't agree that he's too thin. Lysacek and Buttle are also very thin. But, he should eat better and he should maybe bulk up a bit in his legs. Evan is now doing leg weight training so his body can better handle quads.
3) He needs to get over himself and see a spots psychologist. He's diluted if he doesn't think he needs one. It doesn't make you crazy to see a psychologist but, doing the same thing over and over while failing at it is the definition of crazy.
4) He needs to train more. He only actually skates a few hours 5 days a week. That is nothing compared to his competition. He also needs to do complete run throughs, he doesn't like to do them.
5) He needs to not hire his friends to choreograph his programs.

I highly doubt he will do any of these things. He's notoriously stubborn and I've noticed anytime sports psychology or perhaps training more is brought up in Q and A's he gets defensive.

 

[Tonichelle]

Sk8addict, I couldn't agree with you more. Otonal and the Swan were just beautiful programs. He seemed to present them without too many problems. I would think that with the style change he has to think too much. I don't think he ever had to change his style, wonder really why he did.

Dee

if he just skated Otonal for the rest of his career I'd be happy lol... I love that program!

 

[soogar]

I just read an article posted on FSU that says Evan L is renting a house in Hollywood for $6000/month. I don't think paying for his brother's college is what is stressing him out. Johnny has 3 National titles- I think the USFS is compensating him very well. That probably is the problem right there. He's too financially comfortable and there are a lot of distractions when you have a lot of money. Brian Boitano said that the US men probably weren't hungry because they made too much money before winning anything. I think that it is very hard to motivate yourself when you have everything you need. Obviously there are exceptions like Evan but for the most part this is true.

Johnny is already famous and gets loads of attention and he hasn't even won a world medal. Where is the incentive?

 

[hockeyfan228]

While it was mature of Weir to realize that he should pay for his brother's education since his brother's college fund went to fund his skating, he's been spending a lot of money on noticeable, expensive fashion items (clothes, Louis Vuitton luggage, over a hundred pairs of designer sunglasses). Either he can afford to do both, and money's not what's eating him, or, like many of us, he spent money on toys and now is under pressure to fulfill his obligations through his skating "job."

 

[flyingnun]

As far as I can see, it seems it is really only Johnny's upper body in question - is that right - for his lower half seems to be in pretty good condition to me. ????

Johnny's A** is HUGE!!! it drives me crazy cause his lower body is so out of proportion with his upper body. I wish he would lift some weights or something.

 

[SeaniBu]

Johnny's A** is HUGE!!! it drives me crazy cause his lower body is so out of proportion with his upper body. I wish he would lift some weights or something.

I thought that was fairly commonplace with male skaters? I even thought it was something attractive about them. ??? Is it just the disproportion that makes it not appealing? I can think of a few ladies it looks rather fetching on.

Anyhoo, that is what I would assume is an extremely muscular rock solid butt - hence I interpret that as being in good shape, butt and leg wise anyway. I wish I had a butt like Johnny's. And from what I hear Todd has a stellar rear as well.

 

[Vodka Shot]

Oh please, it's no bigger than any of the other guys. Skaters got great butts.

Johnny's butt <<<

 

[decker]

I thought that was fairly commonplace with male skaters?

I know from personal experience that dancing gives you huge glutes and hamstrings, whether you want them or not :frown2: It's just a leggy kind of discipline. Seems to me the same would be true of skating.

As to the original question ... I don't have a crystal ball. So I don't have a clue what goes on in Johnny's head or in his bank account. I do know I've seen him deliver stellar performances before, and it stands to reason he's capable of doing so again. But he and people who actually know and love him are the ones who would know exactly, in detail what he needs to do to get his groove back.

Since Johnny has discussed the subject publicly, I am willing to agree with a previous poster about protein and aerobic exercise. Proper nutrition and conditioning are necessary to do just about anything more strenuous than rolling out of bed.

Susan

 

[isk82]

Whatever his issues, he is a beautiful artist and athlete, incredibly gifted with natural talent, and I hope he can overcome his obstacles and realize his potential. He is one of those rare skaters to come along who has it all. I could watch him all day even without jumping. Let's all hope he is able to come back - if not, what a loss for US skating and for us, the audience. I have always envisioned his skating and artistry improving with age.

 

[1cmarie]

Whatever his issues, he is a beautiful artist and athlete, incredibly gifted with natural talent, and I hope he can overcome his obstacles and realize his potential. He is one of those rare skaters to come along who has it all. I could watch him all day even without jumping. Let's all hope he is able to come back - if not, what a loss for US skating and for us, the audience. I have always envisioned his skating and artistry improving with age.

 

[flyingnun]

I thought that was fairly commonplace with male skaters? I even thought it was something attractive about them. ??? Is it just the disproportion that makes it not appealing? I can think of a few ladies it looks rather fetching on.

Anyhoo, that is what I would assume is an extremely muscular rock solid butt - hence I interpret that as being in good shape, butt and leg wise anyway. I wish I had a butt like Johnny's. And from what I hear Todd has a stellar rear as well.

He has a great butt don't get me wrong, it's just so out of proportion with his upper body that it makes it look three times bigger than any of the other guys. lol

 

[momjudi]

My opinion:

1. mistake creating two new programs after a long Olympic season and touring all summer with COI, plus being ill with mono most of the spring. Should have just created one new program or just updated two old programs to meet current CoP standards.

2. not eating enough to keep an ant alive and healthy

3. needs to realize that his natural talent carried him this far but now needs the extra training to continue to be competitive.

4. needs to stick with choreographers who have experience with singles skaters and know how to plan jump sequences so they actually work

 

[clairecloutier]

I think Johnny is burned out, depressed, and struggling with programs that do not suit his style. Also, I think he's focusing too much on winning, and not enough on just skating his best. He's putting too much pressure on himself.

I think what he needs is a vacation, a break from fashion shows and clubbing, and new programs--preferably choreographed by Tarasova. In fact, it might be good for him to start his training next season by spending a couple months in Russia with Tarasova. For one thing, he'd get away from some of the unspecified personal problems that seem to be bothering him. And also, I think Tarasova really understands Johnny and his style. She knows how to present him and show off his strengths.

 

[SeaniBu]

Something that keeps coming to mind is the comments he made about "the old guard" in FS. I wonder how this might be effecting him. Manly because it is not that clear where he is directing his comment. The new scoring run by the old guard???
I don't think he likes the new sys as I can tell (I am no Johnny expert) but he implied the old way of doing things is not that great either. ???? Is sounds like the motivation is lacking and causing a lot of other issues to occur. Like eating - if that really is an issue - spending cash / shopping. Hey I LOVE to shop when I am down or have something weighing on my mind.

But all and all it sounds like mild depression and the symptoms. I don't know, but it is just the feeling I get from the past to events and comments hear. ESPECIALLY if there is something to the "slight eating disorder" comments.

The one reason I don't feel all that concerned about his weight is that I have seen plenty of light weight class "prize" fighters that have a similar upper body build. I DON"T KNOW, but it doesn't stand out as being an issue just by looks alone. But the other comments I am hearing are making me wonder. I just hope the guy is going to be OK with himself more than anything.

I just saw Rocky - I put off a lot of those types of movies for DVD, sometimes just for the special features you can watch right after - and there was a good old quote.
".......You'll find the only respect that matters. Self respect."

 

[clairecloutier]

People keep mentioning Johnny having an eating disorder. Is this a rumor, or did Johnny say something to suggest this?

I personally have not noticed him being thinner than normal. To me, he looks about the same. He's certainly nowhere near as skinny as Evan Lysacek.

 

[Dee4707]

if he just skated Otonal for the rest of his career I'd be happy lol... I love that program!

Toni, wouldn't that be great. That program gives me goosebumps. Love it, love it!!!

Dee

 

[Tonichelle]

It's the only program of his that I like from start to finish so it would be amazing