Sure, Johnny Weir is one of the top 10 figure skaters in the world (ranked 8th by the International Skating Union as of May 2009), a three-time national champion and a world bronze medalist. With an illustrious skating pedigree and a treasure chest-worthy collection of trophies to his name, Weir's also a favorite to place once again in the upcoming 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

But beyond the confines of the ice rink, the 24 year old is a social media force that rivals many Tinseltown celebrities.

There's the more than 2,500 Facebook fans, even more followers of his Twitter posts (currently standing at more than 3,800), and he even has an eight-part documentary TV series in the works called "Be Good Johnny Weir," which is set to premiere in mid-January on the Sundance Channel. The international sports star has become something of a media mogul in recent years, parlaying his success into the world of fashion design with his own clothing line, called Be Unique, and inspiring Jon Heder's character in the film "Blades of Glory."

Weir, a native of Coatesville, Penn., was inspired to start skating at the age of 12 after watching 1994 Olympic women's gold medalist Oksana Baiul. At first, he used his family's basement as a makeshift training grounds, performing jumps on roller skates before moving outside to a nearby frozen corn field. Even with a full load of competitive skating competitions during his high school years, Weir, who can also speak Russian and French, was an honor roll student.

Despite his late introduction to figure skating, it didn't take long for Weir to find success. At just 16 years old he was crowned the 2001 World Junior Champion, beating Evan Lysacek in a rivalry that continues to this day. Since then, he's gone on to become one of figure skating's most accomplished and recognizable athletes. He placed 5th at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino and at the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane captured a 3rd-place finish in the men's free skate and bronze medal in the men's short program.

While Weir's natural talent shines on the ice, his outspoken demeanor at press conferences and in interviews has earned him pop-culture stardom outside the arenas. The skater is also known for infusing his distinct personality traits into his skating performaces, such as donning the sparkly self-designed “onesie” costumes that portray both male and female characters in his “The Swan" routine.

According to Weir's Facebook profile, "he is known for his quick wit, his fashion sense, his sparkly onesie' costumes which he designs himself, and his tremendous natural talent and grace on the ice."

A press release for Weir's upcoming TV show states, "'Be Good Johnny Weir' delivers an absorbing portrait of an athlete whose personality is as big as his talent. Bright, quick-witted and extroverted, Weir is as comfortable walking in a downtown New York fashion show as he is on the ice, and he is known for giving candid, irreverent, responses at press events."

While Weir was heavily favored to place in the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, he finished a disappointing fifth. Now 24, the press release reads, "the skater has learned that talent alone does not make a champion – and he knows he must dig deep if he is to secure what may be his last chance at a place on a U.S. Olympic team."

The documentary will follow Weir as he competes all over the globe, adds the statement. It will culminate in his appearance at the U.S. Men’s Nationals in January, "the results of which determine whether or not he will vie for the gold in Vancouver. It is here that Weir will learn whether or not he will be able to fulfill his dream of Olympic glory on the world stage."

For more info on Johnny Weir, check out his Facebook profile or visit his official Web site.

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