Brian Orser

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Brian Orser OC (born on December 18, 1961 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian figure skater and one of the most accomplished skaters in his country's history, with eight national titles, two Olympic medals, and a world title to his credit.

Orser won silver medals at the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics. He won the 1987 World Championships, beating American silver medalist Brian Boitano. At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary the battle for gold was waged between Orser and Boitano, with Orser losing the gold by the narrowest margin in history. The rivalry between them became known as the "Battle of the Brians" and their skating in Calgary is often referred to as the greatest night of skating in Olympic men's history. Orser was especially known for his incredible footwork and artistry, while Boitano for being the more cosistent jumper. Ironically, Orser used to be considered the stronger technical skater when he competed against Scott Hamilton at the 1984 Olympics. During the first part of his skating career Orser was known as "Mr. Triple Axel," having been the first man to consistently land the jump and the first one to land it at the Olympics in 1984.

In November 1998, an ex-boyfriend sued Orser for palimony, outing Orser against his will. According to Orser, "Other skaters, both Canadian and American, guard their gayness closely because of the likely impact of public disclosure on their careers."

Orser's many accolades include an Emmy Award for his performance in Carmen on Ice. In 1985 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Officer in 1988.

External links

• [Brian Orser: Canadian Excellence] - Official website
• [ESPN's brief history of gay athletes]

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