I got into figure skating for the art of it, as well as the sport, and how much I love it. And, you know, I do everything that I want. I march to my own drummer. Sometimes people have an issue with that, and I can’t control it.

I feel like at the Olympics I gave the best performance of my life and I wasn’t rewarded for that as an athlete. Yes, my fans and my mom were happy about it, but I didn’t win that gold medal.

I’ve always wanted to make a music video with skating and different imagery, something very artistic.

That makes me think of spandex-covered football players. It’s not me. I’m in rhinestones and velvet, not spandex.

I’m a huge fur fan; it’s no secret to anyone anymore.

I am an American man, and in America, we still think of figure skaters as little girls in pretty, sparkly dresses – I worked very hard to change the perception and image of figure skating, and I think I’ve done a great job on my end, but in figure skating, taste needs to evolve.

In spite of all the skills that I do have, to relate to the normal world I have no applicable skills. I can speak Russian, I can speak French. I know about Chanel. Especially vintage Chanel. I know what Halston is. All of these things, but they can’t really be applied to a nine-to-five.

I’m not commercial, I’m not for Special K cereal and I’m not a Wheaties boy; I’m a little bit more avant-garde, a little bit more out there.

Anytime you get men in glitter, it’s a flamboyant occasion!

It’s of very little importance to me that I was born gay. It doesn’t make me a better athlete, it doesn’t make me a stronger person, it doesn’t really do anything to enhance my life. It’s just something I was born with, the same as green eyes.