Margot Robbie, currently one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses with hits like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Suicide Squad,” took on one of her most transformative roles to play Tonya Harding. When it was announced she would portray the controversial skater, the internet was flooded with images and comments about her change in appearance.
But the story Robbie starred in is far from a simple biopic. The real-life events it is based on are one of the most well-known sports scandals of the 1990s. Do you want to know the full story? Read on!
Tonya Harding, One of the Best Skaters in the United States
The woman who would become one of the best skaters in the United States, and also one of its most controversial sports figures, did not have an easy start in life.
Tonya Harding was born in 1970 into a family with serious economic problems. In later interviews, Tonya revealed that her family survived on charity and that she often went to the skating rink or school without eating because there was no food at home. She also accused her mother of physically and psychologically abusing her during her childhood and adolescence.
Tonya began skating at just three years old, and her unusual talent quickly made her stand out from other competitors her age. As she advanced in the competitive ranks over the years, she soon left school to focus entirely on her sports career.
Tonya’s style was far removed from the usual standards of figure skating, and it earned her both fans and critics in equal measure. But her technique, incredible jumping ability, and risky programs made her one of the best American skaters known to date.
Harding’s best years as a professional skater were in the early 1990s. In 1991, she won the U.S. national championship and, that same year, placed second in the world championship. During that season, she became the first American woman to successfully land a triple axel in an international competition. She also debuted a difficult combination of a triple axel with a double toe loop.
These achievements made Tonya a true star, and it seemed she had secured a spot on the podium for the upcoming 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France. However, during those Games, Tonya had a poor performance and finished in fourth place, overtaken by two of her compatriots, Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan, who both reached the podium.
After the 1992 Olympics, Tonya Harding’s career seemed to deflate. Her results were far from what she had achieved in 1991, and her star appeared to be in decline. During this time, Tonya was married to Jeff Gillooly, with whom she had a volatile relationship. She filed for divorce twice and even obtained a restraining order against him, but they also reconciled on several occasions, and she even made him her manager.
Her personal problems, along with constant changes in coaches and a lack of consistency in competitions, caused her fame to decrease, while that of her closest competitors, especially Nancy Kerrigan, grew.
However, a change in the Olympic cycle meant that the Winter Games would be held in both 1992 and 1994. This gave Tonya Harding another opportunity to qualify for the Olympics and achieve her great ambition of winning a medal. But to participate, she had to place among the top skaters at the U.S. national championship, which would determine who would represent the United States at the Games.
Based on her poor results that season and the negative image she projected due to her personal problems, Tonya Harding was at risk of not qualifying, potentially being surpassed by Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan. Tonya Harding needed to win that competition.
Shortly before the competition, during one of the last practice sessions, an event occurred that no one could have anticipated. A man attacked Nancy Kerrigan as she was leaving the rink, violently striking her right knee with a baton. Kerrigan’s screams were heard by others in the arena, and cameras captured the moment she was found crying on the floor in pain. Nancy was injured and could not compete; Tonya went on to win, and there were serious doubts whether the favorite, Kerrigan, could even participate in the upcoming Olympic Games.
The Consequences of the Attack on Nancy Kerrigan
The media frenzy exploded when, a few days later, Kerrigan’s attacker was identified as Shane Stant, a hitman who had been hired by Tonya’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and Tonya’s bodyguard, Shawn Eckhardt.
The scandal was sensationalized. The press portrayed it as the story of an ice princess cruelly attacked by a jealous rival from a lower-class background, who had conspired with her husband and a thug to steal a victory. Tonya denied any involvement or prior knowledge of the attack, although those involved immediately claimed she was one of the people who had orchestrated it.
The U.S. Olympic Committee considered removing Tonya from the Olympic team, but this idea was rejected because her guilt had not been proven, and she threatened a serious lawsuit. Thus, Tonya and a recovered Nancy Kerrigan both participated in the Olympic Games in February 1994.
Tonya Harding Finishes in Eighth Position
However, Tonya did not achieve her goal. Her performance was lackluster, and she finished in eighth position, far from the podium. For her part, Nancy Kerrigan won the silver medal.
The media circus surrounding the attack on Nancy Kerrigan continued for months after the Olympics. Gillooly stated that Tonya had known about his plans beforehand and had discussed them with him. Tonya, on the other hand, maintained that she did not know about the attack before it happened, but learned of it later and remained silent for fear of her ex-husband, who she said had physically threatened her. To avoid further legal trouble, in March of that year, Tonya pleaded guilty to the crime of hindering the criminal investigation. It could never be definitively proven that she did more than this, although speculation about her real involvement in the attack continues to this day.
As a consequence of this, Tonya was stripped of her 1994 U.S. champion title and was banned for life from competing or being involved in any activity related to the U.S. Figure Skating Association, which, in practice, meant the end of her skating career.
The impact of this case was so great that the rivalry between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding is still discussed today. The event dominated magazine covers like “People” and “Newsweek,” and journalists camped outside the homes of those involved. Songs were composed, books were written, and even an opera was created about their rivalry. The story continues to be remembered every Winter Olympics and remains one of the biggest sports scandals of all time. Now, this story has been reborn with the film starring Margot Robbie, titled “I, Tonya.”
