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The True Story of the Nancy Kerrigan Assault

Born in 1970 in Portland, Oregon, Tonya Harding lived a childhood marked by poverty and abuse. She began skating at a young age and quickly distinguished herself for her athletic ability.

On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan, one of Harding’s main rivals, was attacked after a training session in Detroit. A man, later identified as Shane Stant, hit Kerrigan in the right leg with a telescopic baton, aiming to prevent her from competing. Kerrigan collapsed, screaming in pain. The moment was captured on camera:

The investigation quickly reveals that the attack was orchestrated by Jeff Gillooly, Tonya Harding’s ex-husband, and his accomplice Shawn Eckardt. Also involved were Shane Stant, the perpetrator of the attack, and Derrick Smith, her driver. They hoped to increase Harding’s chances of winning the national championships and earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Despite the attack, Nancy Kerrigan quickly recovered. She competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where he won the silver medal. The incident generated immense sympathy for Kerrigan, solidifying her popularity and status in the figure skating world. Harding finished only eighth after a disappointing performance.

As a result of the investigation, Tonya Harding was banned for life from competitive figure skating by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and fined $110,000 for perjury.

What happened to Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding?

After her competitive career, Nancy Kerrigan continued to perform in professional skating shows and appeared on various television programs. She is also active in charity work and supporting young athletes.

After the relationship, Tonya Harding found herself ostracized from the skating world and had to seek other means of support. She took up professional boxing for a time and appeared on reality shows and other documentaries. She also tried to start an acting career in Hollywood, but was unsuccessful. According to the New York Times, she also worked as a clerk in a department store.