If you think that Olympic Figure Skating is all sequins and Swan Lake, allow me to gently slam a skate blade into that illusion of yours. Over 30 years ago in the 1990\u2019s Olympic figure skating was insanely popular, but not for the same reasons as today. You would find me glued to the TV watching every twist and turn these insanely talented athletes performed… but then there was so much more drama, it was like an episode of Jerry Springer; especially between two of the skaters. The showdown between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan- a rivalry so entirely chaotic that the entire world stopped what they were doing to clutch their pearls and suddenly give a shit about triple axels. It was a trainwreck we all could not stop watching. Beneath the rhinestones and perfect smiles, Olympic skating has always been equal parts artistry and warfare- just with significantly better costumes. More than 30 years later, this story still hangs over the sport, reminding fans that some of the biggest drama on ice happens off of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To those of you who were not born yet or were living under a rock- I literally had 3 channels on our TV, was nine years old and knew what was going on: just saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nancy Kerrigan was a refined and graceful skater, known for her elegance and beautiful skating. Growing up in an upper-class household, she had the best training that money could buy. She was incredibly talented, and after winning bronze in the 1992 Winter Olympics, she quickly became \u201cAmerica\u2019s Sweetheart\u201d of figure skating. Tonya Harding was the complete opposite. She grew up in a low-class working household, completely different than the rest of the ice princesses against which she would compete. She was also an incredibly aggressive on the ice, like a lineman ready to tackle someone instead of the elegance and grace that the times demanded from skaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be honest, I understood Tonya, therefore I was rooting for her. Being a girl that did not really fit anywhere but making a path for yourself was something I understood. With the aggressiveness that made her famous, Tonya used that and the pure athleticism that she undoubtedly held to overcome the other figure skaters. She used music that no other skater used, such as 80\u2019s rock music, and was the first woman to ever pull off a triple axel, a jump so difficult that even to this day skaters do not normally attempt. She then went on to win the 1991 US Figure Skating Championships, showing everyone else that she could compete with the rest, even in her hand me down, home sewn costumes and loud music. Her spicy flare was something that the skating world had not ever encountered, she stuck out to both fellow skaters and fans, putting the spotlight on herself with mixed reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quickly, Kerrigan and Harding became rivals; this rivalry intensified during the 1994 Olympic season, as they both fought for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On January 6th<\/sup>, 1994, shit hit the fan between these two competitors. After a practice session at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Kerrigan was attacked by a man in the hallway that hit her in the knee with a baton. The image of her crying and screaming \u201cWhy? Why?\u201d while clutching her leg was burnt into the brains of millions as it was broadcast across the globe. The uproar was ear piercing; the fallout was massive. After a police investigation, it was soon revealed that Tonya Harding\u2019s ex-husband, a real douche bag named Jeff Gillooly, and 5 of his douche bag friends had orchestrated this attack. Jeff was charged with the harshest penalty out of the group, only a measly 2 years in prison. Tonya Harding initially claimed to know nothing but ended up taking a plea agreement to admitting to helping cover the attack after the fact. Further investigation into Harding led to both a grand jury as well as the disciplinary board from the U.S. Figure Skating Association to determine that Tonya apparently was involved during the planning and execution phases of the attack. Tonya has always stated that she was not involved. To note, she was never convicted of a crime in connection with this incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convicted or not, Tonya had completely put herself up shit creek without a paddle. She was under the entire world\u2019s scrutiny and she felt it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was stripped of her 1994 U.S Figure Skating Championships title and received a lifetime ban from the U.S Figure Skating Association in June 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, prior to their decision, Tonya was already on the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team in February 1994. She was able to compete in the 1994 Olympics … along with teammate Nancy Kerrigan. Awkward\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anticipation was insane. There was NEVER this amount of coverage of figure skating from the media, as the soap opera between Kerrigan and Harding was better than any episode of \u201cDays of Our Lives.\u201d But that pressure was too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nancy Kerrigan skated beautifully and won silver. Tonya Harding crumpled under the pressure and placed eighth. For millions, watching this unfold was like watching the final episode of a reality TV show. Many saw this ending as Nancy\u2019s redemption and what Tonya deserved. While that may be true, there are so many facets to this entire drama. Tonya Harding was in an abusive relationship with Jeff Gillooly. Did Jeff do this without Tonya\u2019s knowledge? Was she forced to take a plea deal? Was taking the only thing that Tonya ever had, skating, a heartless act?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kerrigan was absolutely the victim here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, could there be more than one victim?<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter your thoughts, or mine for that matter, the legacy of this entire case goes beyond scandal. It also highlights the pressures elite athletes face, the media\u2019s power to shape narratives, and how a friendly rivalry can be shaped into something much darker and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you think that Olympic Figure Skating is all sequins and Swan Lake, allow me to gently slam a skate blade into that illusion of yours. Over 30 years ago in the 1990\u2019s Olympic figure skating was insanely popular, but not for the same reasons as today. 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