Weir Retires Figure Skating
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2006 file photo, Johnny Weir shows off his gold medal after winning the mens free skate event at the U.S. Figure Skating Champ...
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2006 file photo, Johnny Weir shows off his gold medal after winning the mens free skate event at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis. Weir has retired and will join NBC for its coverage of the Sochi Games. Known as much for his outlandish costumes and statements as for his strong skating, Weir spent 16 years in the sport, going to two Olympics. He will begin his broadcasting career on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, during the network's coverage of Skate Canada. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
Weir Retires Figure Skating
FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2010, file photo, USA's Johnny Weir smiles following his free program during the men's figure skating competition at the Vanc...
FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2010, file photo, USA's Johnny Weir smiles following his free program during the men's figure skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Weir has retired and will join NBC for its coverage of the Sochi Games. Known as much for his outlandish costumes and statements as for his strong skating, Weir spent 16 years in the sport, going to two Olympics. He will begin his broadcasting career on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, during the network's coverage of Skate Canada. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip,File)
Weir Retires Figure Skating
FILE - In this May 1, 2010 file photo, figure skater Johnny Weir arrives for the 136th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky....
FILE - In this May 1, 2010 file photo, figure skater Johnny Weir arrives for the 136th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Weir has retired and will join NBC for its coverage of the Sochi Games. Known as much for his outlandish costumes and statements as for his strong skating, Weir spent 16 years in the sport, going to two Olympics. He will begin his broadcasting career on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, during the network's coverage of Skate Canada.(AP Photo/Gail Kamenish, File)
Weir Retires Figure Skating
FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2010 file photo, Johnny Weir performs during an exhibition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash. Weir ha...
FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2010 file photo, Johnny Weir performs during an exhibition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash. Weir has retired and will join NBC for its coverage of the Sochi Games. Known as much for his outlandish costumes and statements as for his strong skating, Weir spent 16 years in the sport, going to two Olympics. He will begin his broadcasting career on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, during the network's coverage of Skate Canada. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Known as much for his outrageous costumes and comments as his intriguing skating, three-time U.S. figure skating champion Johnny Weir retired from competition Wednesday.
Weir, who competed for 16 years, won the 2004, '05 and '06 U.S. titles and finished fifth at the 2006 Olympics and sixth in 2010.
Weir said he was inspired to become a figure skater by watching the great Russians perform. He was coached to much of his competitive success by Soviet-trained Galina Zmievskaya. He is married to a Russian, Victor Voronov.
"I am outlandish and flamboyant and all those things," Weir said. "There was a focus on all that in my career, which I am fine with, but there also was a little attention paid to how hard I actually worked and how much went into it and how I came back so many times."
