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  Weir wins U.S. title, earns Olympic berth   (AP)  Updated: 2006-01-15 09:54  
 ST. LOUIS - Even when Johnny Weir isn't as majestic as usual, he's good 
enough to beat the American men and earn a spot in the Olympics. 
 
 
 
   Two-time U.S. 
 figure skating champion Johnny Weir, from Newark, Del., performs his 
 routine during mens free skate event at the U.S. Figure Skating 
 Championships in St. Louis, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. Weir finished first 
 in the competition and earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team going to 
 Turin. [AP] | 
  |   Weir won 
his third straight U.S. Figure Skating Championships crown Saturday night 
despite finishing third in the free skate. The national champion automatically 
gets a berth for the Turin Games, where Weir will need to amp up the showmanship 
that is his trademark if he hopes to win a medal.
"Being the third-time national champion is really an awesome feat," Weir 
said. "I wasn't quite sure how I would achieve that after the year I've had so 
far. 
 "The program today definitely wasn't up to par with my previous two wins. A 
lot I could have done better." 
 Evan Lysacek, the reigning world bronze medalist, won the free skate with 
150.44 points and finished second overall at 224.47 to Weir's 225.34. They were 
followed by surprising Matt Savoie, whose clutch performance reversed a long 
downward career spiral. 
 Lysacek and Savoie will join Weir in Turin after they were selected by an 
international committee from U.S. Figure Skating. 
 Three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss was fourth and walked out of the rink 
even as his marks were being displayed on the scoreboard. 
 "Well, that's it," Weiss told his coach, Don Laws. 
 The women's final was scheduled for Saturday night, after which the committee 
was to discuss placing Michelle Kwan on the Olympic squad. She dropped out of 
nationals with a groin injury and petitioned for a spot on the Turin team. 
 Weir, 21, battled injuries and the need to redesign his programs this season, 
and his best finish was a third at Cup of Russia. His short program at nationals 
displayed the same flamboyance and technical skill that should make him a threat 
at the Olympics. 
 But the free skate, although pleasant to watch, lacked fizz and earned him 
142.06 points, well behind Lysacek and Savoie (149.86). Weir didn't use all the 
ice, instead doing his elements — jumps, footwork, spins — in a circular manner. 
He wasn't penalized much for it, but it took away from the overall aura of the 
routine. 
 Lysacek, 20, who switched long programs from "Grease" to "Carmen" this year, 
didn't bring much fire to his routine until the end. His elements weren't 
especially sharp, although he did space out his jumps well. 
 But the judges liked it a lot, boosting him to second overall. 
 "I'm so honored and the Olympics has been a lifelong dream of mine," he said. 
"I know I have tons of work ahead of me.' 
 Savoie had, by far, his best skate at nationals in five years, a fluid 
routine marked by seven solid triple jumps and intriguing, old-school footwork 
that could be traced back to the days of compulsory figures. At times, it was 
mesmerizing. 
 But he fell on a triple lutz, and that probably cost him second place. 
 "Obviously I made a mistake and there were some unorganized parts of my 
program," Savoie said. "But it's the best performance I've had all season. And 
better than some of my practices. 
 "I guess it was waiting for me." 
 A third Olympic spot was not awaiting Weiss, the final skater of the day. His 
program was filled with errors, and he shook his head in acknowledgment of his 
falling short even before everyone else knew. 
 "What can you say?" Weiss said. "Fresh off the ice, so I'm still in shock a 
little bit, certainly disappointed." 
 Tim Goebel won the 2002 Olympic bronze and was expected to be a dominant 
American. 
 Instead, injuries, coaching changes and some downright ugly performances 
plagued Goebel. He skated pretty well at the 2005 nationals, but was 10th at 
last year's world championships, beginning another slump that ran through this 
event. 
 The Quad King even struggled with the four-revolution jump that has been his 
province alone among Americans. And he popped both triple-axel attempts, totally 
offsetting his improved presentation. 
 When he left the ice on the verge of tears, he didn't even acknowledge the 
crowd, a sad ending for the 2001 national champ. 
 "I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me," he said. "I wasted four 
years of my life. I don't know what I'm going to do now."  
  
  
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