Olympic Skater Avoids Gay Question

TURIN, Italy -- Former US figure skating champion Rudi Galindo sparked a media frenzy Thursday when he suggested that Johnny Weir on the US Olympic figure skating team is gay.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Galindo, who is openly gay, attacked Weir for copying his routines, and also criticized media for not confronting Weir about his sexuality.

"He's drinking tea with his pinkie finger in the air, and he's so over the top and feminine, why is everybody asking him about his `style' and not just ask him if he's gay?" Galindo told the Tribune. "It's the funniest thing to watch."

When confronted by media, Weir refused to comment on his sexuality and told a reporter that, "I think it's funny that people care." "I don't have a problem with people saying anything. People could be saying, 'Oh, let's poll about Bode Miller. Let's poll about Michelle Kwan being a lesbian, something like that.' It's not a big deal. Who I sleep with doesn't affect what I'm doing on the ice or what I'm doing in a press conference."

The Tribune asked its readers if they cared if Weir is gay. Ninety-five percent said no.