---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been a figure skater for so long…"
description: "\"I have been a figure skater for so long that when I stopped that competitive day-to-day grind, I didn't know what to do with myself. I don't know how t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg"
---

#  I have been a figure skater for so long that when I…

![“I have been a figure skater for so long that when I stopped that competitive day-to-day grind, I didn't know what to do with myself. I don't know how the world works outside of being barked at by a Ukrainian woman and watching my weight.” quote by Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg)

> “I have been a figure skater for so long that when I stopped that competitive day-to-day grind, I didn't know what to do with myself. I don't know how the world works outside of being barked at by a Ukrainian woman and watching my weight.”

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

After leaving figure skating, he feels lost without the sport’s structure and struggles to understand life beyond it.

**In simple terms:** He feels directionless after retiring.

Key Takeaway

Seek new purpose beyond sport.

Themes

identity transition purpose

Mood

introspective hopeful

Type

motivational personal

When to use this quote

- coaching
- public speaking
- education
- volunteering

Key Concepts

career change mental health athlete retirement

Questions to Reflect On

- What new passions can you explore?
- How can you rebuild daily structure?

A Different Perspective

Finding a new routine can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Day to day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-to-day/) [Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) [Figure Skater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure-skater-362523/) [Grind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grind/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside/) [Skater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skater/) [Skater Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skater-long-3264012/) [Stopped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped/) [Stopped Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-competitive-3264011/) [Ukrainian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukrainian/) [Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I still have so much passion to perform... That's who Johnny Weir is: I'm a figure skater, I'm an athlete. I want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-still-have-so-much-passion-to-perform-that-s-who-johnny-weir-is-i-m/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [Despite the usual idea of a figure skater, I have no rhythm when it comes to even walking off the ice. I fall off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/despite-the-usual-idea-of-a-figure-skater-i-have-no-rhythm-when-it/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [My father used to say, The only limit to your success is your own imagination. I believed that, like, Im still coming to terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-father-used-to-say-the-only-limit-to-your-success-is-your-own/)

[Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/)

> [I didn't want to be the sissy figure skater, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-sissy-figure-skater-you-know/)

[Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/)

> [Before I even wanted to be an actor, I wanted to be a figure skater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/before-i-even-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-wanted-to-be-a-figure-skater/)

[Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/)

> [I like to picture Jesus as a figure skater. He wears a white outfit, and he does interpretive dances of my life's journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-to-picture-jesus-as-a-figure-skater-he-wears-a-white-outfit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have never been the stereotypical figure skater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-harding/i-have-never-been-the-stereotypical-figure-skater/)

[Tonya Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-harding/)

> [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/)

[Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/)

> [I've always been a figure skater and ballet dancer. I love physical comedy, and any chance that I get to do that... that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-ve-always-been-a-figure-skater-and-ballet-dancer-i-love-physical/)

[Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/)

> [I was always active as a kid. I was a professional figure skater for many years and I was a dancer, so it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-was-always-active-as-a-kid-i-was-a-professional-figure-skater-for/)

[Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/)

> [Richard got married to a figure skater, and he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/richard-got-married-to-a-figure-skater-and-he-bought-her-a-dishwasher/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [My father used to say to me, 'The only limit to your success is your own imagination.' I actually believed that - like, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-father-used-to-say-to-me-the-only-limit-to-your-success-is-your/)

[Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/)

> [A figure skater is not just a figure skater who does great jumps. He is an artist on ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-yagudin/a-figure-skater-is-not-just-a-figure-skater-who-does-great-jumps-he/)

[Alexei Yagudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-yagudin/)

> [I am a figure skater, which helps me appreciate Newton's theory of mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-am-a-figure-skater-which-helps-me-appreciate-newton-s-theory-of/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [I am a competitive figure skater. I've been doing that for the same amount of time I've been doing acting. Ever since I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-boyd/i-am-a-competitive-figure-skater-i-ve-been-doing-that-for-the-same/)

[Jenna Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-boyd/)

## More by Johnny Weir

> [Some people eat, some people drink, some people smoke. I Pledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/some-people-eat-some-people-drink-some-people-smoke-i-pledge/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I think being in the public eye can only help me launch into the world of fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-think-being-in-the-public-eye-can-only-help-me-launch-into-the/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [Figure skating is theatrical, and a part of it is wearing costumes. My costumes were very over-the-top and outrageous for figure skating. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/figure-skating-is-theatrical-and-a-part-of-it-is-wearing-costumes-my/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [My family, the support of my friends, the amount of people that have written and come up to me on the street and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/my-family-the-support-of-my-friends-the-amount-of-people-that-have/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I hate summer, to be honest. I hate dressing. I hate the heat. I hate sweaty people getting aggressively close to you when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-hate-summer-to-be-honest-i-hate-dressing-i-hate-the-heat-i-hate/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [In spite of all the skills that I do have, to relate to the normal world I have no applicable skills. I can speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/in-spite-of-all-the-skills-that-i-do-have-to-relate-to-the-normal/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I’m good when I’m alone. I’m comfortable when I’m alone. I can sit and do lots of things all by myself. Sex included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-m-good-when-i-m-alone-i-m-comfortable-when-i-m-alone-i-can-sit-and/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I hope that more children have the same opportunities as me, with the same parents as me, that let me be an individual, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-hope-that-more-children-have-the-same-opportunities-as-me-with-the/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I am an American man, and in America, we still think of figure skaters as little girls in pretty, sparkly dresses - I worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-am-an-american-man-and-in-america-we-still-think-of-figure-skaters/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I love the Olympic Games. The Olympics are an event that few can fathom but all can enjoy, and that's why athletes work our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-love-the-olympic-games-the-olympics-are-an-event-that-few-can/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I'm going to be a happy housewife. I'm going to be washing boxers and cooking and doing all those sorts of housewife duties. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-m-going-to-be-a-happy-housewife-i-m-going-to-be-washing-boxers-and/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [Whether I moved people to throw punches or cry, I did that through my art and what I do. I would never take that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/whether-i-moved-people-to-throw-punches-or-cry-i-did-that-through-my/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [Now the fact that people are saying, 'Oh my God, he's finally come out' - I was never in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/now-the-fact-that-people-are-saying-oh-my-god-he-s-finally-come-out-i/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [I don't eat as much as an athlete should. I just don't like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-don-t-eat-as-much-as-an-athlete-should-i-just-don-t-like-it/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

> [No mother wants to hear her son say he's gay. Those two words rip the picture of a daughter-in-law and grandchildren into pieces. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/no-mother-wants-to-hear-her-son-say-he-s-gay-those-two-words-rip-the/)

[Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

[Explore all 106 Johnny Weir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/)

## More Been quotes

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/)

[Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/)

[Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/)

[Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/)

[Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/)

[Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have been a figure skater for so long that when I stopped that competitive day-to-day grind, I didn't know what to do with myself. I don't know how the world works outside of being barked at by a Ukrainian woman and watching my weight.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Johnny Weir"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long-that-when-i-stopped-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Been"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long-that-when-i-stopped-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/johnny-weir-4775_been_i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long_1152394.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have been a figure skater for so long that when I stopped that competitive day-to-day grind, I didn't know…” — Johnny Weir",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Johnny Weir",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have been a figure skater...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long-that-when-i-stopped-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-have-been-a-figure-skater-for-so-long-that-when-i-stopped-that/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
