Following the 1984 Olympics, several skaters emerged as likely medal hopes following the retirement of Scott Hamilton…..as USA Brian Boitano had won the 1985 United States Figure Skating Championships….which was the 1st of his four titles. At the first World Championships of the post-Hamilton era in 1985….USSR Alexander Fadeev won…with CAN Brian Orser finishing 2nd and Boitano 3rd…..who had injured tendons in his right ankle a few weeks before the 1986 U.S. Championships but went on to win his second national title…..then at the 1986 World Championships….Boitano took the title after Fadeev had a disastrous free skate despite having been in an excellent position to win…..when Orser finished 2nd once again.
During the 1986–87 season, Boitano had introduced two new elements to his programs: the ‘Tano triple lutz and a quadruple toe loop….although he never succeeded in landing a clean quadruple jump in competition. The 1987 World Championships were held in Cincinnati…..giving defending World champion Boitano a home-field advantage. The outcome of the event would set the tone for the 1988 Olympics. At Worlds, Boitano fell on his quadruple toe loop attempt and placed 2nd.
