Brian Boitano : This Soldier's No Toy

Brian Boitano brought home America's first gold and with an extra edge of technique defeated his rival, Canada's Brian Orser. But the winning margin was a narrow one. In the pairs event, two young Sov

Three days. Two Brians. One gold medal. So the tense scene was set as America's Brian Boitano and Canada's Brian Orser faced off Saturday evening in the Olympic Saddledome. The compulsory figures and short program had decided nothing. The final verdict would, after all, come down to 4 1/2 lonely minutes on the ice. True to form, the much touted similarities between the two friends and rivals continued to the very last. Apparently they knew there was a war on, because each was dressed military-style, Boitano in blue, Orser in crimson, both their costumes brightened by gold braid. Each skated everything...

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