As a country we have watched Brian Orsers triumphs and defeats on the ice.  By all standards, his is a very impressive career.  Hes a World champion, but it is his four second-place finishes in the World Championships and the two Olympic silver medals that have defined his career.  He was the best free skater in the world but his critics only saw a skater who kept losing the gold.  And his most unforgiving critic was Orser himself.  With insights from family, friends, fellow athletes and coaches, SILVER LINING: THE BRIAN ORSER STORY chronicles the many sides of this extraordinary athlete and man who continues to pursue his professional and private life with trademark courage and passion. 

Orser is best known for his performance at the 1988 Calgary Olympics during the gold medal showdown against American Brian Boitano.  Canadians were hungry for a gold medal and Orser was their ticket to the top spot on the podium.  It was all or nothing.  But in what many consider the greatest night of figure skating ever, The Battle of the Brians, Orser placed second by 1/10th of a point.  For Canadians, he hadnt won the silver, hed lost the gold.  Two billion people turned off their television sets and 20,000 disappointed spectators streamed out of the Saddle Dome.  The party planned for his victory was cancelled.  And that night, Orser recalls, Me and my silver medal cried ourselves to sleep.  The next day, national headlines shouted DEFEAT!  Orser left Calgary to face the lonely and turbulent decade that would follow.

"I had imagined myself living as an Olympic champion and when that doesnt happen you have to do a lot of soul searching.  And if youre not an Olympic Champion then what are you?"    -      -   Brian Orser    -