Brian Orser (CAN) - 1988 Worlds, Men's Long Program

Budapest, HUNGARY - 1988 World Figure Skating Championships, Men's Long Program - Brian Orser of Canada settled for Silver again, but he did end his amateur career here by winning the Long Program and earning three 6.0s.

[@jja8750]

This was even BETTER than the Olympics, what with the clean Triple Flip and 2nd Triple Axel. Yes, he doubled the Loop. But he was so ON. The timing of the jump landings were right to the music. And I just thought he skated free-er than Calgary; even though that was a pretty fantastic performance there, as well.

[@bethh.9647]

I think maybe he just "went for it" here. Pretty much the last time skating this program on the world stage. He was nervous at the Olympics, skated tired toward the end of his program and, truthfully, Boitano was as mesmerizing and fantastic as it gets! The crowd agreed and was wild with excitement and applause for Boitano. It was his night and the best skater won on that night.

[@stereotypea123]

Wow. So much sharper here! It must have been crushing to be 2nd again after skating so well but he’s probably the coach he is now because of it.

[@officeaddict33]

I thought his performance at '87 Worlds was great but this performance was positively electric. One of the most exciting programs I've *ever* seen.

[@galinabyanova4884]

Можно 1000 раз смотреть,очень красиво и Орсер красавчик!!!

[@jojorofro]

Jumps timed exactly to the music like that make my spine tingle. Nathan Chen also does this beautifully. Love you, Brian Orser! The free skating champion, uncontested, for the 1980s.

[@debraenderle4737]

This is the best program he ever skated.

[@mariyasuvorova2806]

Вот это прыжки!!!! Супер!!!

[@beckyj.hollen2743]

He may not have won an Olympic Gold medal for himself but what he experienced as a young skater gave him the wisdom to coach two Olympic Gold medalists

[@user-kv7js1ps7q]

Браво, Орсер!!

[@MissFit29]

Watching this makes one realize that the competition in Calgary really shouldn't have been as close as it was in the marks. This was such a better performance.

[@trudimarrapodi6722]

It was better, but Calgary should have been just as close as it was.

[@natalikorol572]

Super!!! It"s fantastic!

[@cfjermedal1]

I think he should have kept skating and gone to Albertville. His skating was so much better than Petrenko’s. He could have won the gold in 92.

[@jja8750]

True! That Long Program would have likely won the Gold in Albertville. So there is that.

[@carolinaalcalde]

Incredible personal style

[@philipsv3772]

Блестящий спортсмен,так хочется чтобы Женя освоила под его руководством технику прыжков,удачи вам!

[@asheeasmith]

omg tht lutz at the start...lol YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP

[@Susiefx3]

Should have been double Olympic champion.

[@ejpaprocki8995]

This would have won the Olympics.

[@SG-mw1ey]

Sadly yes . The dam flip

[@user3.5513]

Grand performance

[@jjh2456]

The thing is he was 5th after compulsories and 2nd in the short so he was like 3rd or 4th going in. In order to win he needed help...He didn’t get any.

[@jja8750]

Was he normally that poor in Compulsories or did he just have a bad time of it at that championship?

[@jjh2456]

@@jja8750 he wasn’t good in the compulsories in 84 either.

[@mht4908]

@@jja8750 He placed 7th or something in compulsories in 84, but won both the short and long program. However, it still wasn't enough to overtake Scott Hamilton

[@kimwaddell4218]

I forgot about Brian Orser. I grew up in this generation

[@3Axel1996]

@maidmoira You have to remember, after Compulsory Figures (30% of the overall score where he placed 3rd or 4th), and then the Short Program (20% of the overall score) where he messed up his required combination jump and placed 5th or 6th here. Going into the Long Program, Boitano was in 1st and Orser was in 4th or 5th, so even if Orser won the Long Program and Boitano placed 2nd or 3rd, Orser still could not have won the Gold here.

[@BmcC102]

How I wish he hadn't doubled his loop!

[@user-dq5mz4wn1r]

Очень хотелось увидеть видео, где Брайн Орсер делает сальто на льду, помню это было шикарно!

[@BogdanaBDN]

Он делает сальто в комбинации с прыжком, это в другом видео, ищите, есть здесь.

[@lydiavincent573]

Why they didn't show the marks ??

[@ENIGMAPOP]

That was great! I'm not a fan of the way his arms go up and down during back crossovers though.

[@LifeBeautifulMess]

The jump that cost him the gold medal....really. The other Brian did a triple triple combo and 2 triple axels.

[@SG-mw1ey]

Brian O also did 2 Triple axels

[@flyguy179179]

Check out Boitano’s ‘87 program. Utter garbage. Sandra Bezic saved him. Cudos to her and for BB on that.

[@normano3573]

Bezic deserved a gold medal as well.

[@mircobotta6360]

I think bere he was better than Boitano!

[@조사슴]

정말로 멋있다...

[@kassywng818]

Boitano has no personality and has poor transitions into his jumps. Orser was way more exciting to watch and he had the whole package.

[@insomniajones]

No personality? lol Boitano is the better skater. Orsers programs is too girly.

[@metsdudenj]

Sorry, I still think years after seeing them both a hundred times Boitano still is a better overall skater: superior height, extension, and musical interpretation. Orser has a lot of bent legs and weird arm movements, and inferior music to Boitano. How anyone on this planet could think he (Orser) deserved to win in Calgary is beyond belief. He was great but Boitano had him beat in so many areas.

[@mattg.812]

Agreed. There is an obvious herky-jerkyness to Orser's basic skating. Unrefined. Almost as if he's "in a big hurry".

[@metsdudenj]

Matt G. Agree. I never felt his choreography was anything meaningful. And he simply didnt have the presence of Boitano; Boitano's spread eagles and death drop alone are light years ahead of Orser. Plus Orser's extension on his landing leg was always bent or low.

[@TruWatcher]

Well, many folks disagree with all of you on all those counts--that's all I can say. Orser was and is amazing, and as if his own competitive and show careers weren't glorious enough, he is now coaching a brand-new generation of skating champions, the likes of which we've never seen before.

[@metsdudenj]

TruWatcher No one said he wasnt and isnt amazing. He was talented, but that night in Calgary the judges tried to hold him up which is unfair. Anyone who thought he deserved the gold in Calgary is really sadly dilusional. Reputation isnt a fair component in an Olympic final. Boitano had him crushed technically : 2 triple axels, 2 triple flips and a triple triple combination. Orser had none of those and had a visible error. Artistically Boitano was incredible, lots of drama, and great extension and interpretation along with the facial expressions.

[@TruWatcher]

I don't see how you can say that. There was no trying to hold Orser up based on reputation and no "crushing." Keep in mind that the standard for skating at that time was not to do 2 triple axels in a program and Orser was the only one ever to do it prior TO Boitano. Orser was not everything he could have been in Calgary but it was not holding him up to make it close. I have never found Boitano artistic other than that Bezic gave him a persona and a role to play (which he needed badly) and he learned to play it well. But even at that his skating was mostly triple jumps interspersed with spreadeagles, a few spins (including the big death drop) and lots of crossovers between. Unlike, say, Jason Brown, no one would ever call him the "Transition King." His biggest strength was being able to land triple jumps consistently, and power across the ice like a freight train. Orser had the "in-betweens," even when he was less consistent on the triples. And even at that he accrued an amazing competitive record. All that experience goes into the skaters he trains today. They are fine skaters, but they also don't win by accident.

[@fox570808]

Horrible music - wonderful performance.

[@insomniajones]

He looks like he's prancing. Awful choreography.

[@rowbom]

Does that change the fact that he technically speaking had a terrific program.