In 1976, he won the U.S. national title, landing five triple jumps in the long program and landing his first back flip. He was named to the American team for the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, where he became the first and only skater to perform a legal backflip; it was banned after the competition. To the present time, this move is his most important claim to ice skating fame. Less remembered is his ability to land five of the six triple jumps (except the Axel). In comparison, the gold medalist (John Curry) landed only three triple jumps in winning his Olympic gold medal. Indeed, it would not be until 1983 that any skater would land all six different kinds of triple jumps in competition. Brian Boitano accomplished that feat at the World Championships.