You probably remember the song. "What would Brian Boitano do?" It was a silly, catchy earworm from the South Park movie that turned a world-class athlete into a cartoon superhero. But if you actually look at the career of Brian Boitano, the figure skater who dominated the late 80s, the reality is way more interesting than the meme.
Honestly, it’s rare for an athlete to stay this relevant decades after their last Olympic jump. We are sitting here in 2026, and Boitano is still a fixture in the skating world, recently popping up to comment on Alysa Liu’s wild comeback for the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. He called it the "biggest comeback in sports history." He would know. Boitano is the king of the pivot.
The Battle of the Brians: A Rivalry That Defined an Era
If you weren't around in 1988, it's hard to explain how big the Calgary Olympics were. It was basically a heavyweight title fight, but with sequins and triple Axels. The media called it the "Battle of the Brians." On one side, you had the American, Brian Boitano—the technical powerhouse. On the other, the home-crowd favorite, Canada's Brian Orser—the artistic soul of the sport.
They were tied going into the free skate. It was high drama. Boitano skated first, delivering a performance to the music of Napoleon that was, quite frankly, terrifyingly perfect. He landed eight triple jumps. He didn't wobble. He didn't blink.
Orser skated later and made one tiny, microscopic mistake—doubling a planned triple Axel. That was it. That's all it took. Boitano won the gold in a 5-4 split among the judges. It was the last time the Olympics used the technical mark as a tiebreaker. If it happened a year later, Orser might have won on artistic marks. That's how close the margins were.
💡 You might also like: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
What Most People Get Wrong About His Technique
People often pigeonhole Boitano as just a "jumper." That’s a bit of a disservice. Yes, he was the first American to land a triple Axel. And yes, he invented the 'Tano Lutz.
For the uninitiated, the 'Tano Lutz is a triple Lutz where you jump with one arm raised over your head. It’s not just for show. It completely changes your center of gravity and makes the rotation harder to control. Today, you see skaters doing it all the time to squeeze out extra points in the judging system, but Boitano was the one who made it look like an art form back in 1987.
After losing the 1987 World Championships to Orser, he realized he couldn't just out-jump everyone. He had to become an artist. He hired choreographer Sandra Bezic, and they stripped away the "skater" look for something more masculine and cinematic. He stopped being a kid who jumped well and became a performer.
The Professional Revolution and the 1994 Return
Most skaters win gold and then fade into ice show tours. Boitano did the opposite. He went pro and basically refused to stop competing. He won ten straight professional competitions. He was so good that he actually petitioned the International Skating Union (ISU) to let professionals back into the Olympics.
📖 Related: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
He succeeded.
Because of Brian Boitano, the rules changed. He returned for the 1994 Lillehammer Games. He didn't medal—he finished sixth—but he paved the way for the "open" era of skating. He showed that you didn't have to "retire" at 22.
Life Beyond the Ice: Lounges and Lifestyles
So, what has he been doing lately? A lot, actually. Boitano is one of the few athletes who successfully jumped from the rink to the kitchen. His Food Network show, What Would Brian Boitano Make?, was a hit because he didn't take himself too seriously.
He's also leaned heavily into his Italian heritage. If you find yourself in Lincoln, Nebraska, you can visit Boitano’s Lounge in the Kindler Hotel. He’s been expanding that brand, even planning pop-up versions for the 2026 U.S. Championships and the Milan Olympics. He even bought and renovated his great-grandfather’s derelict home in Favale di Malvaro, Italy—a project that became an HGTV series.
👉 See also: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
Why His Legacy Still Hits Different
- Longevity: He’s been working with the same coach, Linda Leaver, for over 45 years. That kind of loyalty is unheard of in modern sports.
- The Coming Out: In 2014, when he was named to the U.S. delegation for the Sochi Olympics, he came out as gay. He did it quietly, purposefully, as a stand against Russia's anti-gay laws.
- Technical Impact: Every time you see a skater raise an arm during a jump, that’s Brian.
- The Toolbox: He often gives keynote speeches about his "toolbox"—skills like resilience and "pivoting" (a skating pun he definitely leans into) that help people transition careers.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Boitano Playbook
If you're looking to apply a bit of that Boitano energy to your own life or career, here is what the data of his life actually shows us:
- Iterate or Die: After 1987, Boitano knew his old style wouldn't win. He changed his entire aesthetic. If what you're doing isn't working, change the "artistry," not just the "mechanics."
- Own Your Niche: He didn't shy away from the South Park song; he used the title for his cooking show. Lean into the "memes" of your own life.
- Bridge the Gap: Boitano didn't just quit skating to cook; he used the discipline of training to master the kitchen. Figure out which of your current skills are "portable."
Brian Boitano isn't just a guy who won a gold medal 38 years ago. He’s a guy who figured out how to stay relevant by being authentically himself—whether that's on a sheet of ice in Calgary or in a kitchen in Northern Italy. As the 2026 Winter Games approach, his influence on the technical side of the sport is more visible than ever.
Check out the current U.S. Figure Skating standings to see how the new generation is using the 'Tano Lutz to chase their own gold in Milan.