US figure skating champion Johnny Weir has hit back over “homophobic” jibes by Channel Nine commentators Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy, with his agent saying the three-time US champion is more focused on winning gold.

Weir’s agent Tara Modlin, speaking from Vancouver in the lead up to tonight’s free skating event, told Crikey that Weir had dismissed the furor and was concentrating on securing a podium finish instead.

“Johnny doesn’t appreciate comments like that. He will be going for gold tonight and doesn’t really care what two gentlemen from Australia think.”

Modlin agreed to speak to Crikey just before Weir was set to hit the ice. “He’s focusing right now on his free skating and his triple axels.”

Modlin was unsure what had prompted McGuire and Molloy’s attack, which has generated international attention and left Nine executives red faced. However she hinted that the duo may have found Weir’s flashy outfit alluring.

“They clearly have some sort of affection towards his outfit. Johnny’s very knowledgeable about fashion, his costume shows his personality, and that’s what the costumes are meant to do out on the ice.”

Modlin said Weir was sick of the constant media speculation over his s-xuality: “…people don’t ask Christian Aguilera, if she’s gay or straight so why are they talking about Johnny?”

On Nine’s Wednesday night broadcast, Molloy and McGuire ramped up the s-xual innuendo in an apparent attempt to recreate the off-hand jocularity of Roy and HG.

“They don’t leave anything in the locker room these blokes, do they?”, Molloy said, to sniggers from McGuire. “They don’t leave anything in the closet either, do they?”, McGuire replied. Another skater’s cowboy-clad routine was likened to “a bit of Brokeback”, a reference to the gay-themed Western starring the late Heath Ledger.

Molloy later issued an insincere on-air “apology”, prompting more studio chuckles.

The incident triggered a storm of outrage on Twitter and Facebook. And Crikey‘s item yesterday on the fracas sent the international media into overdrive, with the story making the top-selling UK tabloid The Sun and NBC Philadelphia.

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Modlin also hinted that Weir may yet extend an olive branch to McGuire and Molloy, saying the duo had a chance to redeem themselves during tonight’s broadcast.

“Johnny is a lover of all kinds of people, whether they’re gay or straight, Hindu or Muslim.”

Despite the furor, Modlin said Weir retained an affection for Australia and Australians, saying that the champion skater was flying back from a competition Down Under when jetliners hit the World Trade Centre on September 11 2001.

“It was a very patriotic moment and he’s had good perceptions of the country ever since.”

Weir is currently sixth in the ice skating competition and is believed to have an outside chance at securing a medal tonight.