Johnny Weir skates a “clean” short program

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The flamboyant and often flippant Johnny Weir acknowledged feeling a little nervous leading up to Tuesday night’s short program in men’s figure skating.

The night before, the American skater went on a cleaning binge in the living quarters he shares with ice dancer Tanith Belbin.

‘I Pledge’d everything,’ he said, referring to the furniture polish. ‘You know, some people eat, some people drink, some people smoke ... I Pledge.’

Apparently, the star of a TV documentary series called ‘Be Good Johnny Weir’ on the Sundance Channel has an arrangement with Belbin that allows them to prepare for the ice.

‘She stayed out all day today so I could run around naked and watch ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ and enjoy myself and just relax before the competition,’ he said. ‘And I’m going to do the same for her.’

However odd, the routine seemed to work as Weir skated himself into sixth place heading into the long program later this week.

-- David Wharton