Michael Weiss (figure skater)

Michael Weiss

Michael Weiss in 2010
Personal information
Country represented United States
Born (1976-08-02) August 2, 1976
Washington, DC
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Coach Don Laws, Audrey Weisiger
Choreographer Lisa Thornton-Weiss, Peter Tchernyshev
Skating club Washington, FSC
Former training locations Fairfax, Virginia
Laurel, Maryland
Began skating 1985
Retired 2006
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 206.94
2003 Skate America
Short program 73.85
2003 Skate America
Free skate 133.09
2003 Skate America
Medal record
Figure skating: Men's singles
Representing United States
World Championships
2000 Nice Men's singles
1999 Helsinki Men's singles
Four Continents Championships
2001 Salt Lake City Men's singles
Grand Prix Final
2003–04 Colorado Springs Men's singles
World Junior Championships
1994 Colorado Springs Men's singles
1993 Seoul Men's singles

Michael Weiss (born August 2, 1976) is an American former competitive and currently professional figure skater. He is a three-time national champion (1999, 2000, 2003) a two-time World bronze medalist (1999, 2000), and a two-time Olympic team member.

Personal life

Michael Weiss was born August 2, 1976 in Washington, DC.[1] His father, Greg, was a gymnast on the 1964 Olympic team, and his mother, Margie, was also a gymnast and national champion.[2] His sister Geremi was a figure skater and junior national silver medalist;[3] his other sister, Genna, was junior world diving champion.[2]

Weiss graduated from Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia.[4] He holds an associate degree in business marketing from Prince George's Community College. Weiss was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In September 1997, he married his jazz dance teacher, Lisa Thornton.[1] Their daughter, Annie-Mae, was born in September 1998 and their son, Christopher Michael, in October 1999.[1][5]

Career

Weiss began skating in 1986.[1] Audrey Weisiger coached him from the age of nine.[6] Weiss took the silver medal at the 1993 World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea and won gold at the 1994 World Junior Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

At the 1997 U.S. Championships, Weiss attempted to become the first American to land the quad toe loop. It was initially believed to have been successful but three hours after the competition, U.S. Figure Skating ruled that the jump had been two-footed and decided not to ratify it.[7][8] He pulled up from fifth after the short program to take the silver medal behind Todd Eldredge and was sent to Lausanne, Switzerland to compete at his first World Championships, where he finished seventh.

In February 1999, Weiss won his first senior national title at the U.S. Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following month, he was awarded the bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. After recovering from a stress fracture in his left ankle, Weiss defended his national title at the 2000 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio and won bronze at the 2000 World Championships in Nice, France.[9]

Weiss missed part of the 2000–01 season due to a stress fracture in his foot.[10] At the start of the 2002–03 season, Don Laws filled in for Weisiger at the Campbell's Classic.[11] On October 29, 2002, Weiss decided to leave Weisiger to train full-time with Laws.[9][6]

Weiss competed 19 consecutive years at the U.S. Championships. He was the first American to land a quadruple toe loop in competition. He invented the "Tornado", a backflip with a full twist, and debuted it at the Hallmark Skaters Championship in December 2002.[11] Though not allowed in competition, it is a crowd favorite in exhibitions.

Weiss turned professional in 2006. He toured with Stars On Ice and competed in Ice Wars. Around 2012, he began teaching skating skills to hockey players.[4]

Michael Weiss Foundation

While still an eligible skater, Weiss started the Michael Weiss Foundation, which gives scholarships to up-and-coming figure skaters. Skaters who have received scholarships include Mirai Nagasu, Madison and Keiffer Hubbell, Daisuke Murakami, and Christine Zukowski.[12]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2005–2006
[1]
  • Symphony No 6
    by Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Moonlight Sonata
    by Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Symphony No 9, Ode of Joy
    by Ludwig van Beethoven
2004–2005
[9]
2003–2004
[9]
  • Henry V
    by Patrick Doyle
  • Patriotic medley
2002–2003
[13]
  • Selections
    by van Halen and Metallica
2001–2002
[14]
  • Malagueña
    by Ernesto Lecuona
  • Che Gelida Manina
    by Giacomo Puccini
  • La Tregenda
    by Giacomo Puccini
    performed by the Czechoslovak Orchestra
  • Nessun dorma
    by Giacomo Puccini
    performed by the National Opera Orchestra
2000–2001
[10]

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix (1995–97: Champions Series)

International
Event 92–93 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06
Olympics 7th 7th
Worlds 7th 6th 3rd 3rd 6th 5th 6th
Four Continents 3rd 9th
GP Final 4th 3rd
GP Cup of Russia 3rd 4th 6th 4th
GP NC / Bofrost 10th 5th 8th 4th
GP Lalique/Bompard 3rd 2nd 5th 1st 3rd 6th
GP NHK Trophy 4th
GP Skate America 2nd 2nd 4th 4th 5th 1st 3rd
GP Skate Canada 6th
Goodwill Games 6th 4th 2nd
Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd 1st
St. Gervais 2nd
Universiade 1st
International: Junior
Junior Worlds 2nd 1st
National[9]
U.S. Champ. 1st J. 8th 6th 5th 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 4th 3rd 1st 2nd 5th 4th
U.S. Olympic Fest. 6th
J. = Junior level
Event 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
U.S. Championships 6th N. 2nd N. 5th N. 3rd N. 5th J.
U.S. Championships (figures) 1st 2nd
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Michael WEISS: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Mittan, J. Barry (1995). "Strong Family Makes Weiss a Contender". Archived from the original on May 12, 2012.
  3. ↑ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (September 20, 2011). "The Inside Edge: The new quad king". Icenetwork. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Meldrum Denholm, Kristine (March 20, 2015). "Pro figure skaters like Olympian Michael Weiss teaching skating for hockey players". USA Today.
  5. ↑ "Michael Weiss Juggles Skating and Fatherhood". Celebrity Baby Blog. March 29, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Healthy Weiss happy with recent change". Associated Press. ESPN. January 13, 2003.
  7. ↑ Penner, Mike (February 16, 1997). "All Quarrel, No Quad in Nashville". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  8. ↑ Longman, Jere (February 16, 1997). "Kwan's Slips Open Door For a Younger Champion". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Michael Weiss". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on July 21, 2006.
  10. 1 2 "Michael WEISS: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 15, 2001.
  11. 1 2 "The 2002-03 Season: Michael Weiss". U.S. Figure Skating. 2003.
  12. ↑ "Michael Weiss Foundation Show To Raise Money for Rising Stars". U.S. Figure Skating. September 5, 2006.
  13. ↑ "Michael WEISS: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 4, 2003.
  14. ↑ "Michael WEISS: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 11, 2002.
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