Figure skater Brian Orser first discovered success at the novice level, when he took the 1977 Canadian novice championships, a feat that he would repeat at the junior level in 1979. He took the junior title twice more, in 1981 and 1982, before moving to the senior rankings and taking six consecutive Canadian championships from 1983 through 1988. He placed 6th at the 1981 World Championships and 4th in 1982 but then, in the same vein as his national career, never failed to reach the podium in a World Championship or Olympic singles tournament. In 1983 he was 3rd at the World level, followed by four years of 2nd place that were only interrupted in 1987 when he was declared World Champion. It was at the Olympics, however, where he received the most attention. At the 1984 Winter Games, he became the first man to land the Triple Axel jump at the Olympics, although he still finished with a silver medal behind American Scott Hamilton. In 1988 the media pitted him against another American, Brian Boitano in the “Battle of the Brians”. The two had met 10 times at international events, with Orser coming out on top 7 times. Orser served as Canada’s flagbearer at during the Opening Ceremonies and had been undefeated against Boitano since coming in second at the 1986 World Championships, but he narrowly lost against Boitano at the Games. He refused to watch his performance for over a decade and turned professional the following year.
After a long career as a professional, Orser turned his attention to coaching in 2006, but continued to skate with Stars on Ice until 2007. As of 2009 he is the head skating instructor at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. In 1985 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Officer in 1988. In 1990 he won a Primetime Emmy for his televised performance of Carmen on Ice. He was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1995, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009.
Canada