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Community Corner

Wild For Weir

Fans line up to see Olympian at the Book Revue.

Skating champion Johnny Weir came to the Book Revue Monday night to sign copies of his book, “Welcome To My World,” and his fans could not get enough of the two-time Olympian.

“We are really big fans of his,” said Huntington High School senior Lauren Corcoran, who came to the event with her friend and fellow senior, Anne Scott. “We are really obsessed with the Olympics so it was great to meet him. We got to talk to him, too. It was awesome.”

June Meade, of Northport, was practically glowing after she met him. “I am absolutely star struck,” she said. “I love him. He is the best. His book is called 'Welcome To My World,'  well, I love his world.”

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In addition to greeting his fans and signing their books, Weir also posed for pictures and gave out hugs to those who asked for them. Weir was originally supposed to be at the Book Revue on Jan. 12, but his appearance was rescheduled due to a snow storm. Not only is he a champion skater, but Weir is now considered a pop icon as well. January saw the release of his book and his first music single, “Dirty Love.” In 2009 Weir was also the star of his own movie (“Pop Star on Ice”), and last year he starred in his own reality show, “Be Good Johnny Weir” on the Sundance Channel.

The show has moved to the LOGO Network for the second season, which is slated to begin this summer. The channel will start showing episodes from season one beginning today to give Weir's fans a chance to catch up and gear up for the second season. With all that going on, Weir found some peace in writing his book.

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“It was very cathartic,” he said. “It's amazing how the human brain works. You remember all those little things and get to retrace your steps and get all those memories back. And I got to tell my story in my own voice and in my own words without the press or the paparazzi changing around what I said. The book was completely something I wanted to say and that was very rewarding.”

Weir was born in Pennsylvania in 1984 and began skating when he was 12 years old. He won his first national championship in 2004 and defended his title for the next two years. In 2006 he made the U.S. Olympic Team and finished fifth overall. In 2008 he won a bronze medal in the World Championships and in 2010, he made the Olympic team again.

Moriko Betz and her son, Jared, came from Great Neck to see the Olympic star.  “We are here because we love Johnny Weir,” she said. “He is a great role model to all. What's not to love about him?”

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