Background
Brian Orser won the silver medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics. Brian Boitano placed fifth. Orser placed second at the 1985 World Figure Skating Championships, with Boitano one step below him. Boitano won the next year. When Orser won the 1987 Worlds, held in Cincinnati, Boitano knew he would have to make a change in his skating if he were to beat Orser at the Calgary Olympics on Orser's home turf. He turned to choreographer Sandra Bezic, who helped effect a major change in his skating style. Orser and Boitano were well-matched in many ways. Both were excellent skaters who had a jump as their signature move; Orser was well known for his triple axel and Boitano had invented the 'Tano triple lutz, a triple lutz with one arm raised above the head. Going into the Olympics, both were their country's nationals champions and favorites for the gold.
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