Olympic figure skater Michael Weiss remembers visiting Penn State as a kid with his father Gregor “Greg” Weiss.

Greg (’62 Health & Human Development, ’67 MBA) was the 1961 NCAA all-around gymnastics champion and competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Michael competed in the Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2002.

“If I ever rooted for any college football team growing up, it was Penn State,” said Michael, a three-time U.S. champion. “When I was 8 or 9, my dad brought us to campus to see the gym he used to train in, and I remember sitting on the Nittany Lion statue.”

Greg Weiss speaks highly of his time at Penn State, and still goes back to campus for gymnastics events.

On Oct. 19, Michael will return to his father’s alma mater once again as a headliner and co-host of the Musselman’s Apple Sauce Family Skating Tribute, held at the Pegula Ice Arena for the second year in a row. He will be co-hosting with Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic champion.

The Family Skating Tribute features world-class skaters and their children, who are included in at least one of their mom or dad’s numbers. Michael will perform in the show with his wife, Lisa, and his children, Annie Mae, 16, and Christopher, 15. Lisa and Annie Mae will sing together, and Christopher will play guitar while Michael skates.

The Weiss-Penn State connection has the potential to continue in the future, as Annie Mae and Christopher have expressed interest in attending Penn State.

“Penn State is one of the schools my daughter’s considering, so it will be nice to get her up there and tour the campus again. My son would love to go to Penn State because he wants to play Division I hockey,” Michael said. “My impression of Penn State is that it’s beautiful and it’s a great school. For all of us to be able to perform in the show in the new venue is pretty awesome. When I went there last year, I got a tour of the arena, and it is as impressive as any arena I’ve been to.”

Six-time Grammy Award singer-songwriter Amy Grant will perform live during the show that includes two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, Olympic gold medalists Ekaterina Gordeeva and Ilia Kulik, and four-time world champion Kurt Browning. The show will be nationally broadcast on ABC from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 23, and 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7.

“Last year’s show definitely exceeded expectations. The national exposure and follow-up we received afterward was awesome,” said Mike Wierzbicki, marketing manager of the arena. “The national broadcast is a great opportunity to showcase the great things that we do here at Penn State.”

Wierzbicki hopes the show’s unique family format and big names will sell tickets.

“The talent level of the skaters is extraordinary, and we’re really excited and thrilled to have a name like Nancy Kerrigan,” he said.

Known throughout his amateur career for pushing technical boundaries, including being the first to attempt a quadruple Lutz jump at the U.S. Championships in 1998, Michael, 38, has a limited touring schedule these days. He resides in McLean, Virginia, with his family, and teaches private lessons to youth hockey players to improve their skating skills. He’s also active with The Michael Weiss Foundation, which provides financial support to Olympic hopeful skaters.

Michael appreciates the opportunity to continue performing in shows, such as the Family Tribute Ice show.

“You have a cast that’s appealing to all sorts. You get some great competitive skating with some great artistic skating,” Michael said. “You have a kind of passing of the torch: the generation that inspired their children and the generation that is chasing the Olympic dream that their parents have already achieved.”