Michael Weiss - the official site

Michael Weiss, encouraged by a remarkable season, has announced that, "I'm staying in."

Michael finished a disappointing fifth in the World Championship in his hometown of Washington, D.C., after a stunning start, winning his qualifying round. "It was just one of those night," Michael said.

Michael, the U.S. National champion, looked forward to the event for years and said he had a successful week despite not medaling.

"This one didn't end the way I wanted it to, but I got a lot accomplished," said Michael. "I'll keep swinging, and I'll get it right."

"It was tough out there tonight," Weiss said. "I felt so good after the qualifying event and even after the short where I was confident coming into the free skate.

"But sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not. I had a great year and I accomplished a lot."

Michael has been in the position of having to fight for a medal twice this year and both times he delivered to win competitions.

Michael reacts after skating his short program at the World Championships in Washington Tuesday night.

In a very unusual mistake Tuesday, Michael missed his triple Lutz near the end of his short program and is in fourth place. "I never second guess my triple Lutz. I do quad Lutzes all the time at practice," Michael said.

The free skate for the World Championships is scheduled today at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

"I really do feel good and wish I had it back (the mistake) but now I am concentrating on putting together two of three good programs," Michael said Wednesday before practice.

"I was so stunned and shocked because everything was falling in place for me," Michael said. "It’s now out of mind. I feel great the way I am skating. I am just going to practice the way I’ve been and look forward to skating a great free skate."

Michael said his qualifying skate that earned him a win was excellent and all but the error in the short was also a good skate. "Thursday I will have the same mindset that I have had all week. I’m going in to win."

Michael, skating in his hometown, has gotten plenty of support from his family, friends and fans. "I hear them when I am skating," Michael said. "I felt great (Tuesday night) and if I would have hit that triple Lutz everybody would have been standing."

Michael Weiss, the winner of his qualifying group on Tuesday, had a fall on his triple Lutz Tuesday night at the World Championshipa at Washington, D.C., and is in fourth place after the short program.

Michael performed a terrific program to Rock and Roll music, including a quad toe in combination with a triple, and is in position to challenge for another World Championship medal. Michael already owns two bronze World medals. He is competing in his hometown and had solid fan support including his daughter Annie Mae cheering him on by yelling "Go Daddy!"

The fall on the Lutz surprised Michael. "The best way to describe that is I was shocked," Michael said. "It was such a dumb, silly mistake. I hit the quad-triple on one foot, I hit the triple Axel. All the hard stuff was there. The triple Lutz is very easy for me. I attempt quad Lutzes in practice, but that’s the way it is. I was working on getting the crowd into it at the end. I just stood up when I fell and I was in complete shock. That’s the best way to describe it."

Michael’s program received high marks, 5.6-5.8, for artistic presentation. He is noted as one of the most entertaining skaters on the amateur circuit.

He included his revolutionary "Freedom Blades" which has rounded edges on the rear in several segments of his footwork. The crowd even responded with the trademark moves.

Being behind the leaders is nothing new to Michael. Twice this year Michael has been out of the top three after the short program and gained two victories. He was fifth at Trophee Lalique and ended up winning the championship.

Michael, who usually plays to the crowd, was trying to end with a solid finish when he missed the Lutz. "The crowd usually brings me along and I was hoping to give them a great finish," Michael said. "Shocking is the only word I can think of to describe what happened."

Michael is one of the most positive skaters competing. After a brief conference with the media Michael quickly turned his thoughts to the free skate Thursday. "I’m pumped for the free skate."

Backed by a hometown crowd, U.S. National men’s champion Michael Weiss won the qualifying group B at the World Figure Skating Championships in Washington, D.C., Monday.

Michael skated to "Malaguena", his free skate program, and executed six triples, one in combination with one of his quad toe loops. Michael just missed on the landings of both quad attempts but the difficulty of the program and near-perfect skate earned him the top position in his group. His technical scores ranged from 5.3-5.8 and his presentation marks were 5.5.5.8.

Another outstanding performance there will keep Michael in the hunt for the gold medal. He has won two bronze medals in previous World Championships.

"It’s always different to skate in your hometown. For me there’s more focus, more excitement and more adrenaline. It was a good way to start the week."

Michael sprained some ligaments in his tendons right before Nationals and they have been tender practicing for Worlds. "I wasn’t able to do a triple Lutz and I won’t be trying the quad Lutz here but I have two quad toe loops."

Michael’s strength is his overall package, but his artistic presentation has helped him come from behind twice this season for two gold medals. "I need to go out and skate three clean programs. I need to control what I can do," he said. "If I do that, it is a gold medal for me, whether the judges think so or not."

2003 U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss will be right at home at the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships March 24-30.

Mike is excited to be competing in the World Championships so near his home.

Weiss, a two-time World Bronze medalist, is a veteran of five World championships and enters the event with recent successes at the U.S. Championships and his first-ever win in the Grand Prix Series when he claimed the gold medal at Trophee Lalique.

The event is being held in Washington, D.C., this year, almost in his back yard.

"I am pretty excited about Worlds coming to my hometown. I think the hardest thing I've had to do is to try to find tickets for my family and friends," Michael said as he laughed. "But Lisa's handling all of that."

Michael's two wins this season have both come when he had to fight from behind in the free skate. "I am the type of skater that just never gives up. You fight until it's over and then see what happens," Michael said.

Michael said his practices have been going well leading into the week before the competition begins. "I feel pretty good. Don (coach Don Laws) tell me it;s all there I just need to tap it again. Physically I know how to do all this stuff. Sometimes I just think too much.

"Basically what I need to do is go on autopilot and put on the music and feel good about it all."

The 2003 championships mark the first-time ever this event has been hosted by the U.S. Capital City.

It is also the first time the International Skating Union's premier event has been held on the East Coast of the United States since Hartford in 1981.

The competition will draw more than 200 Olympic-eligible skaters from over 40 countries as they compete for four World titles: Ladies, Men, Pairs and Dance.

Officials anticipate the event will attract more than 200,000 spectators.