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The Ice Skating That Was Nancy Kerrigan and
Tonya Harding At Their Best In The 1994 Olympics
Tonya Harding At Their Best In The 1994 Olympics
The olympic figure skating drama that captivated the country 11 years
ago – with Kerrigan crying "Why me?" is the basis for "Nancy and
Tonya: The Opera," to be performed at Tufts University in Boston
spring 2006.
"This is the classic envy story and it was just so strange and got
stranger by the day," said Elizabeth Searle of Arlington, who wrote the
opera's libretto. Videotape of Kerrigan -- her face contorted in agony,
grabbing her knee and wailing "Why me? Why me?" -- was a TV staple
in the days after the attack. Harding, the cigarette-smoking, pickup-
driving bad girl, had promised to take care of business in the
Olympics. Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Stone, and two other men
served time for planning and carrying out the attack. Harding pleaded
guilty to covering up the attack but didn't serve any time. She received
a lifetime ban by the U.S. Figure Skating Association and apologized in
person to Kerrigan.
ago – with Kerrigan crying "Why me?" is the basis for "Nancy and
Tonya: The Opera," to be performed at Tufts University in Boston
spring 2006.
"This is the classic envy story and it was just so strange and got
stranger by the day," said Elizabeth Searle of Arlington, who wrote the
opera's libretto. Videotape of Kerrigan -- her face contorted in agony,
grabbing her knee and wailing "Why me? Why me?" -- was a TV staple
in the days after the attack. Harding, the cigarette-smoking, pickup-
driving bad girl, had promised to take care of business in the
Olympics. Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Stone, and two other men
served time for planning and carrying out the attack. Harding pleaded
guilty to covering up the attack but didn't serve any time. She received
a lifetime ban by the U.S. Figure Skating Association and apologized in
person to Kerrigan.
Niether Kerrigan or Harding were consulted about the one-act opera,
which was pieced together using actual quotes uttered by the women
and others involved in the scandal. Newspaper reports, FBI transcripts
and Searles story about the skating rivals, "Celebrities in Disgrace,"
were also used .
The opera opens with Kerrigan and Harding holding dueling news
conferences at the 1994 Olympics, just weeks after the attack on
Kerrigan. The attack prevented Kerrigan from competing, but she
recovered to win a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Games in
Lillehammer. Harding finished out of the running.
which was pieced together using actual quotes uttered by the women
and others involved in the scandal. Newspaper reports, FBI transcripts
and Searles story about the skating rivals, "Celebrities in Disgrace,"
were also used .
The opera opens with Kerrigan and Harding holding dueling news
conferences at the 1994 Olympics, just weeks after the attack on
Kerrigan. The attack prevented Kerrigan from competing, but she
recovered to win a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Games in
Lillehammer. Harding finished out of the running.
Don't know the whole story? Here it is:
Tonya Harding allegedly conspiried to harm Nancy Kerrigan in an attack, which took
place on January 6, 1994 at a practice session during the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating
Championships in Detroit. Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, who later changed his
last name to Stone, had hired Shane Stant to strike Kerrigan on the knee. Harding
went on to win that event, while Kerrigan's injury forced her to withdraw. After Harding
admitted that she had helped to cover up the attack, both the United States Figure
Skating Association and United States Olympic Committee initiated proceedings to
remove her from the 1994 Olympic team, but Harding retained her place after
threatening legal action. She finished eighth while Kerrigan, recovered from her
injuries, finished second.
On February 1, 1994, Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly accepted a plea bargain in
exchange for his testimony against Harding. Harding avoided further prosecution and
a possible jail sentence in that scandal by pleading guilty on March 16 to hindering
the investigation into the attack. She received three years probation, 500 hours
community service and a $160,000 fine. She maintains her innocence in the planning
of the attack itself, contradicting the confessions of the alleged conspirators.
After conducting its own investigation of the attack, the U.S. Figure Skating
Association (USFSA) stripped Harding of her 1994 U.S. title and banned her for life
from participating in any of its sanctioned events, or from becoming a sanctioned
coach, because it concluded that she had indeed known about the attack before it
happened. Although the USFSA has no control over professional skating events,
Harding was also not welcome on the pro circuit because few skaters and promoters
wanted to work with her. So, while pro skating enjoyed a tremendous boom in
popularity as a consequence of the scandal, Harding played no part in it.
Kerrigan, of course, went on to win the silver medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics in
Lillehammer (second to Oksana Baiul), with what was undoubtedly the best
performance of her career. The decision between Kerrigan and Baiul was close and
somewhat controversial, and remains so to this day. After hearing Kerrigan had
complained the judges hadn't noticed how flawless her performance was. CBS kept
playing video of a frustrated Kerrigan saying "I don't know why they're bothering
reapplying her makeup. She's only going to start crying again." ,after she was
mistakenly told the medal presentation was being delayed to allow Baiul to fix her
makeup. The delay was actually because no one knew the Ukrainian national anthem.
Without a fairy-tale ending, the media and public opinion soon turned on Kerrigan.
She was criticized for leaving the Olympic venue before the closing ceremonies to
take part in a pre-arranged publicity parade at Walt Disney World, her $2 million
sponsor, and then for being caught on microphone during the parade saying "This is
dumb. I hate it. This is the most corniest thing I have ever done." She said her
remarks were taken out of context: she was not commenting on being in the parade,
but on the fact she didn't want to wear her silver medal in the parade.
The tabloids also started to publish stories that she was seeing her agent/future
husband, Jerry Solomon, while he was still married to his first wife. Solomon had been
long separated from his first wife and they were headed to a divorce. Kerrigan's guest
appearance on Saturday Night Live was not well received either. She was nervous
throughout the live performance and her acting seemed wooden.
Later in a Dateline NBC interview, she responded to all of the attacks made on her,
and broke down because of the pressure that took its toll on her everyday life. It was
clear she was having a hard time living up to the image of being America's newest
skating sweetheart, a title which was given to her by fate. For her part, Kerrigan
undoubtedly made mistakes in handling her public image. But after a few months, the
press moved on and she was able to live a normal life again.
Kerrigan retired from active competition after the Olympics, and is now married with
two sons, Matthew and Brian. She has appeared in a variety of ice skating shows
since turning professional. She also created The Nancy Kerrigan Foundation to raise
awareness and support for the vision impaired. Harding meanwhile tries a little boxing
and a little skating now and then or just tries to stay out of jail.
Tonya Harding allegedly conspiried to harm Nancy Kerrigan in an attack, which took
place on January 6, 1994 at a practice session during the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating
Championships in Detroit. Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, who later changed his
last name to Stone, had hired Shane Stant to strike Kerrigan on the knee. Harding
went on to win that event, while Kerrigan's injury forced her to withdraw. After Harding
admitted that she had helped to cover up the attack, both the United States Figure
Skating Association and United States Olympic Committee initiated proceedings to
remove her from the 1994 Olympic team, but Harding retained her place after
threatening legal action. She finished eighth while Kerrigan, recovered from her
injuries, finished second.
On February 1, 1994, Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly accepted a plea bargain in
exchange for his testimony against Harding. Harding avoided further prosecution and
a possible jail sentence in that scandal by pleading guilty on March 16 to hindering
the investigation into the attack. She received three years probation, 500 hours
community service and a $160,000 fine. She maintains her innocence in the planning
of the attack itself, contradicting the confessions of the alleged conspirators.
After conducting its own investigation of the attack, the U.S. Figure Skating
Association (USFSA) stripped Harding of her 1994 U.S. title and banned her for life
from participating in any of its sanctioned events, or from becoming a sanctioned
coach, because it concluded that she had indeed known about the attack before it
happened. Although the USFSA has no control over professional skating events,
Harding was also not welcome on the pro circuit because few skaters and promoters
wanted to work with her. So, while pro skating enjoyed a tremendous boom in
popularity as a consequence of the scandal, Harding played no part in it.
Kerrigan, of course, went on to win the silver medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics in
Lillehammer (second to Oksana Baiul), with what was undoubtedly the best
performance of her career. The decision between Kerrigan and Baiul was close and
somewhat controversial, and remains so to this day. After hearing Kerrigan had
complained the judges hadn't noticed how flawless her performance was. CBS kept
playing video of a frustrated Kerrigan saying "I don't know why they're bothering
reapplying her makeup. She's only going to start crying again." ,after she was
mistakenly told the medal presentation was being delayed to allow Baiul to fix her
makeup. The delay was actually because no one knew the Ukrainian national anthem.
Without a fairy-tale ending, the media and public opinion soon turned on Kerrigan.
She was criticized for leaving the Olympic venue before the closing ceremonies to
take part in a pre-arranged publicity parade at Walt Disney World, her $2 million
sponsor, and then for being caught on microphone during the parade saying "This is
dumb. I hate it. This is the most corniest thing I have ever done." She said her
remarks were taken out of context: she was not commenting on being in the parade,
but on the fact she didn't want to wear her silver medal in the parade.
The tabloids also started to publish stories that she was seeing her agent/future
husband, Jerry Solomon, while he was still married to his first wife. Solomon had been
long separated from his first wife and they were headed to a divorce. Kerrigan's guest
appearance on Saturday Night Live was not well received either. She was nervous
throughout the live performance and her acting seemed wooden.
Later in a Dateline NBC interview, she responded to all of the attacks made on her,
and broke down because of the pressure that took its toll on her everyday life. It was
clear she was having a hard time living up to the image of being America's newest
skating sweetheart, a title which was given to her by fate. For her part, Kerrigan
undoubtedly made mistakes in handling her public image. But after a few months, the
press moved on and she was able to live a normal life again.
Kerrigan retired from active competition after the Olympics, and is now married with
two sons, Matthew and Brian. She has appeared in a variety of ice skating shows
since turning professional. She also created The Nancy Kerrigan Foundation to raise
awareness and support for the vision impaired. Harding meanwhile tries a little boxing
and a little skating now and then or just tries to stay out of jail.
| Does Anyone Remember Who I Am In The Middle? |
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