#ISUSkatingAwards #FigureSkating
The ISU Skating Awards 2023 show, taking place in Zurich (SUI) on February 5th in collaboration with Art on Ice, will be presented by the star-studded duo Johnny Weir and Elma Smit. The two hosts will combine their expertise in the sports and entertainment industries to deliver an exceptional Awards ceremony: behind-the-scenes interviews of world-famous Figure Skaters, breathtaking performances on the ice and live musical acts by international superstars are all on the program.
Two-time U.S. Olympian, three-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion (2004-2006), 2008 World bronze medalist, two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and 2001 World Junior Figure Skating Champion, the American Figure Skater Johnny Weir needs no introduction. After skating for almost 20 years and retiring in 2013, Johnny has become NBC’s leading Figure Skating commentator covering a range of major sports events from the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl to the 2020 Olympic Summer Games closing ceremony in Tokyo.
Figure Skater Commentator and Presenter Johnny Weir. @Johnny Weir
His outspoken and unique style also led him to host the legendary Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 for the U.S. live-streaming platform Peacock. Along with his broadcasting experience, Johnny is also known for his television appearances on the Today Show, Hollywood Game Night and the Late Night with Seth Meyers among others, and for his roles in the 2014 documentary film “To Russia with Love” or in the 2020 Netflix drama series “Spinning Out”.
To co-host the ISU 2023 Skating Awards, Johnny Weir will be joined by the talented South African sports journalist and TV presenter Elma Smit. She is the first woman to have ever reported on a Rugby World Cup for African broadcaster SuperSport in 2011 and stepped onto the global stage in 2019 to cover both the Cricket and Rugby World Cups in England and in Japan respectively.
Sports Reporter, Presenter and Producer Elma Smit. @Elma Smit
Over the years, Elma earned her stripes across sports, current affairs and lifestyle content projects for radio and TV channels as well as podcast and digital platforms. To name only a few, she produced and hosted a digital series for the iconic golf tournament “the Nedbank Golf Challenge” (“Africa’s Major”). In 2020 and 2021, remote-produced content took precedence and Elma partnered with the ISU on the award-winning #UpAgain campaign, conducting a series of interviews with the world’s greatest ice skating stars on their remarkable journeys to overcome challenges on and off the ice. This was followed by the creation and hosting of various virtual shows for the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2023 Draw shows, and culminated in leading UK Whisper’s production team in the Springbok bubble, during the 2021 British and Irish Lions Tour in South Africa. These days, Elma manages a varied catalog of presenter and broadcaster roles, including for the BBC, while hosting a podcast called The Good The Scaz and The Rugby.
Bringing together their wealth of experience and unique personalities, Johnny Weir and Elma Smit will bring the audience into a thrilling 2023 ISU Skating Awards show delivering exclusive insights about some of the world’s best Figure Skaters (see list full list of 2023 Candidates here).
Stay tuned for further announcements on the 2023 ISU Skating Awards through the following channels:
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Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter
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Visit the ISU Skating Awards webpage
