Brian Boitano (USA) - 1988 Calgary, Figure Skating, Men's Short Program (US ABC)

[@AT-jm4dl]

Sandra Bezic was brilliant in crafting two programs for BB that perfectly displayed his best qualities.

[@Positivekitten]

If I’m remembering correctly, it seems like before she started choreographing his routines, he was trying to do more of the quick light moves like Scott Hamilton, but that just didn’t suit him since he was much taller and heavier. Sandra’s choreography focused on giving him the long lines and flow that suited his body so much better.

[@jondavwal13]

@@rolandgreen7484 For me her best ever was Malagueña for Kristi. There was a video showing them putting it together years ago. Kristi needed almost no preparation going into any jump except for the Lutz. Artistically it might be my favorite choreography ever. Blue Danube short the same year was also amazing. Midori still my favorite ever though. Her art was in her reckless athleticism.

[@ddjr6673]

Sandra Bezic is a genius - she really knows how to bring the best out of the individual ❤❤

[@maritzaramirez6040]

Even after all these years, this is STILL my favorite program skated by a man, short or long. It’s simply perfect. ❤️

[@stevebbuk]

He built on John Curry 1976.

[@carolinek3337]

💯 I think Brian is the GOAT.

[@alizah8042]

You know what really really gets me in this program? Something I have NEVER EVER seen before: a skater CHANGING HOW THEY EXECUTE THEIR JUMPS TO FIT THE THEME AND FEELING OF THEIR PROGRAM!!!! That double axel with folded arms is just so audacious and fits the theme of a boastful skater just perfectly. (Also the step sequence right down the center of the ice, that was also just amazing.)

[@sottosopravoce]

Yes!! It's just so masterful. Instead of a choreography with jumps put in, every element maintains the character throughout. It's just a brilliant, thrilling SP.

[@smoothALOE]

That’s the kind of artistry that’s severely lacking now.

[@georgebeierberkeley]

Brian Orser also a great skater but Boitano had so much better choreography. None of that silly arm flailing. Just smooth, powerful, artistic skating.

[@cypher31]

One of the most consistent male figure skaters of his generation. Everything just solid, on point, and CLUTCH!!

[@brendashearon4815]

Boitano is wonderful to watch. Best male ice skater in the world.

[@matthough3590]

Superb 3A/2L with great outward flow, a death drop with huge height, a double axel with folded arms and landing with them like that on a dime: incredibly difficult. Technical mark deserved to be 6.0's!

[@sottosopravoce]

And each of those elements was SO musical!

[@jayneyp8683]

He's always been my favourite male skater. He always looked so grand and elegant!

[@yankeegirl3380]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯 The grace and elegance along with technical skill he displayed were unmatched. Which is why Brian won all the titles he won. He was amazing and still is. GOD bless. 🙏❤🙏

[@Danny-wy8kz]

He’s gonna be my idol forever!

[@franceswitham8214]

Was watching the Battle of the Brians with great interest in 1988. Loved Boitano. He was a wonderful skater. Glad he won the gold.

[@valmacclinchy]

Great memories with my Mom. Watching on Mother's Day. Remembering...

[@nancymcgowan5418]

Most beautiful male skater! I can't get enough if watching him! Straight, perfect lines!!

[@rosemorris7912]

Ah, yes, the 'tano and that death drop--superb!!!

[@jondavwal13]

Two skaters always stun me with how fast they go into their triple axels when I watch the archives: Boitano and Midori Ito. In this and her 1990 long program you see the speed they are taking into the jump and think "they can't be serious".

[@Person-mh6xq]

Brilliant choreography and performance!

[@sandih29687]

I had a problem-my husband had invited our friends over to play on the night of the finale in Calgary. I videotaped (remember them) and they had just left in time for me to turn on the TV and watch Boitano get his gold medal. Got to watch it over and over again.

[@snobbypolitics7792]

Boitano is a ROCKSTAR!!! ❤️🤍💙

[@ilovebeinagirl]

I don't know what those judges wanted. I would've given him a 5.9 for technical merit and 6.0 for artistic. That program was well thought out, well executed and clever overall.

[@AetheriusLamia]

I know nothing but it seemed a lot of it was him only skating in a line backwards, and then 3-4 amazing bits now and then.

[@Gradguy1]

There were politics back in ‘88 (and other years too) - they were setting Orser up to win the gold at home … both skated great but Orser had the reputation of being more artistic.

[@debraenderle4737]

Boitano's triple axel is still the best ever.

[@AshesOfRoses]

So glad you are posting again. Love watching all skating, especially the "older" skaters! Brings back memories! Thanks. ❤

[@sandranorman5469]

This never gets old in our house. Boitano death drop is magnificent.

[@AshesOfRoses]

@@sandranorman5469 I can appreciate quads, but they don't make up for the beauty of great choreography which seems to be a lost art. No fun, just jumps. I agree with you. ⛸👍🌸💜

[@lilbatz]

Seriously a clean vid of this made my day. Bravo!

[@deathray2536]

I liked this because that's what Brian boitano would do

[@kyrvhy]

Thanks for sharing this again. Fond Memories.

[@minoyd]

Glad to see your channel appears to be back up :') thank you for your service

[@ОльгаИльина-е1б]

Фигуры на коньках, это просто потрясающе, невозможно оторвать глаз!Фигурное катание в чистом виде!👍👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🌹

[@happycommuter3523]

Pure magic!

[@kerrynovick2413]

Masterful!!

[@Maddogg2001]

He saved the world manny times. Lll

[@BobTheBob647]

This must be right before he beat the evil robot king.

[@sophiabianca7602]

And saved the human race again :)

[@mlml8018]

Nah he doesn't get to fight the robot king, which is a Tesla bot gone rogue, until the year 3000

[@c0mf0rta61ynum6]

But was it before or after he was in the Alps fighting grizzly bears?

[@Sumschmuck]

Yeah, this was after he built the pyramids and beat up kublai kahn

[@ardeladimwit]

wow, that flying sit spin combo is really something else.... Jason Brown should dd that to repertoire

[@jondavwal13]

That's a death drop.

[@darrenbrown9126]

I used to hate Boitano because of his style of skating. Then when he did this program at Nationals, he had me. Been a big fan of his ever since.

[@rosemarykelty8142]

I’ve never seen this program until now. I was a baby when these Olympics took place. Anyhoo, watching this now I’m like why the hell didn’t Boitano get all 5.9s and maybe a 6.0 for technical and artistry? This is an incredible short program. I always loved Boitano’s professional skating when I was growing up, but he was clearly a fierce and talented competitor who earned that Olympic gold!!

[@rosemaryharris6485]

All time fave male skating performance!

[@jondavwal13]

He outskated Orser completely that night. The judging was so ridiculous. Boitano was the better skater in the short and long so luckily Orser had a few fumbles the night of the long or the wrong Brian would have won.

[@AlanaLee-xv2qy]

That was gorgeous

[@mediterraneane4406]

5.7????it,s only 5.9!!!Bravo!!!

[@PepperBuddyRosie12]

Awesome skater!!

[@diggitok]

I don't want to take anything away from Orser, but I just can't see how he was competitive against Boitano, especially in terms of artistry. I was only 1 when this Olympics happened, so I don't remember them at all, but the narrative I get from the time is that Orser was head and shoulders above Boitano in presentation. HOW?! I've seen both SP and LP from both 88 games, and I can't see how it was even that close. Artistry aside, the Boitano had the technical edge but also the program as a whole. They were complete, flowed naturally, while Orser's were choppy and messy. His skating reminds me of Irina Slutskaya's choppiness.

[@npe1]

@diggitok - I totally agree with you. I have never quite understood why the result was so close in Calgary. To me Boitano was head and shoulders better than Orser in all 3 sections: figures, short and free. Boitano's short programme here was stunning - technically perfect and his artistry was actually reminiscent of the great John Curry who is probably the most artistic men's skater in the history of our sport. I just love the little touches Boitano has in this SP - double flip with one arm over his head, double axel off a spread eagle and with with his arms folded forward in the actual jump and landing (very difficult), his straight line step sequence was brilliant and difficult and I just love his flying jump sit spin - so high. Also his spin positions were perfect - look at the extension on his camel spin positions and how he gets right down to do a proper sit spin not one of those crappy sit spins you sometimes see which is just a spin with the knees bent and the free leg pointed out - like Orser's. By the way, I'm neither American nor Canadian (I'm British) and so I have no national axe to grind, I'm just someone who has been skating since 1974 and who appreciates good skating.

[@joaned8664]

Di

[@joaned8664]

Diggitok you and the other guy give your head a shake were we watching the same video🤔

[@smoothALOE]

I agree, too. I think Orser’s LP was more difficult in terms of the total number of jumps, but he made more mistakes and his artistry was simply not on the same level as Boitano’s. The judging was closer than it actually should’ve been because they wanted to push the story, which I thought was pretty interesting. Here, you had the battle of the Brians and for the women, you had the battle of the Carmens.

[@mysticalmargaret6105]

@@npe1 Agree on all fronts, except that the 'flying jump spin' is actually called a Death Drop. Brian, imo, had the best, most breathtaking one ever! 😍

[@synseer8484]

Goat.

[@heikebohne8864]

Beautiful.🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@mediterraneane4406]

Bravo!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@AMLCOrey]

We got to think here: Now, what would Brian Boitano do?

[@sophiabianca7602]

I’m sure he’d kick an ass or two that’s what Brian boitano’d do

[@mr.monotone1908]

I think he would make a plan and follow through!

[@AmusedChild]

Brian's edges are so confident. The ice is an extension of him.

[@Teoman9]

Kyle Stan and Cartman : HOURA FOR BOITANO

[@pickford7812]

The man can certainly skate, but holy fuck, have you ever seen him eat spicy chicken wings? It's like feeding seals to a wood chipper

[@UMBREONxSNIPING]

What’s this before or after traveling threw time to the year 3010?

[@ENTENDRE-kr6df]

Before. but after he built the pyramids

[@valmacclinchy]

2:00 insane!! 💖

[@PthaloGreen2]

looking at it some 35 years later, the perfect execution of that death drop still sends chills down my spine. that is possibly the best men’s olympic figure skating performance of all time, IMHO. He stuck it!

[@ThePSmoke]

I never seen a man eat so many chicken wings.

[@TheBervi]

Hi, do you also collect videos from other winter sports? Thank you!

[@whiteknights8812]

So thats what brian boitano do

[@miriamgreen3973]

At 2:51 he apparently thanked his higher power

[@susanbernstein8337]

This was drama. I loved it!!! ❤

[@smoothALOE]

That ‘tano Lutz. Still love it. I’m kinda sick of seeing all these skaters do it for every jump now. It’s lost its cache.

[@florinivan6907]

Was this before or after he built the pyramides?🤔

[@chuchichaschtli894]

Such a bs compares to Orser short.... Fraudulent judges, give the gold medal back to Orser someone please!!!

[@joaned8664]

You must be all Americans can't see anybody but your own. We won"t even get into ice dancing

[@markhernandez8361]

Brian Botanio, Italian American.

[@joaned8664]

Bb skating too stiff in the upper body ,does not have the fluent moves that Bo has, and not the footwork either

[@olgakridner9760]

Гениально 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SoCoolScience]

What would Brian Boitano do? I'd bet he kick an arse or two, that's what Brian Boitano 'd do.

[@sottosopravoce]

Fuck yeah, Brian!

[@sandih29687]

I had a problem-my husband had invited our friends over to play on the night of the finale in Calgary. I videotaped (remember them) and they had just left in time for me to turn on the TV and watch Boitano get his gold medal. Got to watch it over and over again.

[@ThatClassic70sGirl]

Ohhhh, if that were *Me* I would've insisted they take their football/poker game/whatever to another venue!! =D They can do that kind of stuff ANYtime! -but Brian Boitano's gold medal performance in Calgary is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement never to be missed!! =) P.S. Speaking of remembering videotapes, back in the day, I used to (VHS) videotape nearly EVERY competition and bit of televised figure skating that I could! =) Skate America, the Nationals, Olympics and Worlds; plus the Nutrasweet-sponsored shindig (out of somewhere in MD). Nowadays, skating just doesn't seem to have the same 'inspiration' and unique creativity behind it. But does anyone remember the 1989 men's singles National championships out of Baltimore? Near the very end of the broadcast, the camera zoomed in on a large white banner displaying a 3D representation of a gold medal on a red, white and blue ribbon; with the name "PAUL" (Wylie) in large letters. Anyway, that was ours! Even though Paul didn't win that competition, I wish I still had the pics! =)