WINTER OLYMPICS : Notes

It is not known if he has political aspirations but figure skater Lyndon Johnson represented Canada in the pairs competition.

“I’m not nervous, and that’s what makes me nervous,” Canadian speed skater Gord Goplen said before the 5,000-meter competition.

He finished 34th in a field of 38. Probably a case of the nerves.

After Brian Boitano, the four-time U.S. national figure skating champion, finished his third figure in the compulsory figure competition at Father David Bauer Arena, his coach, Linda Leaver, asked reporters to loan her a camera.

She proceeded to walk onto the ice and take a picture of Boitano’s figure.

“It was so beautiful,” he said. “It was the best figure of my entire life. I’ve never done one even close to that in a competition ever.”

According to judges, Boitano’s third figure was the second best among those performed by the 28 competitors. He also was second on the first figure and fourth on the second figure, giving him second place entering tonight’s short program.

“I was really nervous,” he said. “I didn’t get any sleep last night.”

Boitano’s roommate at the athletes village is Peter Oppegard, who, along with partner Jill Watson, won a bronze medal in the pairs competition Tuesday night.

“He came in at 4 a.m., but he didn’t go to bed,” Boitano said. “He had to get ready for the morning shows.”

Oppegard and Watson, the first U.S. medalists here, were guests on two U.S. network television shows Wednesday morning.

Times Assistant Sports Editor Mike Kupper and staff writer Randy Harvey contributed to this story.