It is hard to believe that the events surrounding the attack on Nancy Kerrigan – the Tonya Harding ice skating scandal – just weeks before the Olympic Games in Norway are over 20 years old. ESPN Films will debut a new “30 for 30” documentary, The Price of Gold, on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. The documentary looks back at the events and with interviews of many who witnessed or participated in the events first-hand. After having the unique privilege of watching the program before it airs, and with the benefit of history, one cannot feel anything but that Tonya Harding was an exceedingly tragic figure whose life could have turned out much differently.
First, the scream and wail of Nancy Kerrigan after she was clubbed on the knee by an unknown assailant was absolutely heartbreaking. One can only imagine how frightened and scared she must have been in that moment. Athletes can be devastated by injuries in practice or competition, but to be attacked and hit on the knee in that manner is hard to fathom. Kerrigan had worked so hard up to that point to get to the Olympics and that moment could have ended that dream.
Harding’s then husband Jeff Gillooly, Shawn Eckhardt, Shane Stant and Derrick B. Smith later plead guilty to planning and committing the crime. Harding later plead guilty to not reporting that she had found out the details of the crime after the fact.
Whether or not Harding was in on the planning, one can see how all-consuming the rivalry with Kerrigan had become for Harding. In addition to competing directly against each other, Kerrigan also had many endorsements and sponsors. Harding had none. Kerrigan had the looks, the poise and the grace of an ice princess. Harding was the brute athlete and powerful skater who had been the first American woman to complete a triple axel jump in competition. Harding was the ultimate outsider to the skating community who didn’t quite fit in.
While Harding earned a spot in the 1994 Winter Olympics, she never won any medals, while Kerrigan won a silver medal behind Oksana Baiul. Kerrigan went on to reportedly earn millions in endorsements and other deals. Harding was banned for life from the U.S. Figure Skating Association. This ban was truly what made Harding a tragic figure. Harding could not even join the post-Olympic career ice-show circuit. Ice skating was the only skill and focus Harding had gained in her entire life. And she has struggled to make a living ever since.
This is not to say that Harding did not deserve the lifetime ban, of course. What Gillooly and his accomplices did to Kerrigan was horrendous and Harding was the direct beneficiary of that attack. Aside from the deep bruise and psychological trauma she suffered, Kerrigan could have been so seriously injured that she might not have ever competed or skated again. Thankfully, that was not the case. Harding still denies being in on the plan, but even an old friend of Harding said in the ESPN documentary, “Of course she was involved.”
Harding still harbors resentment against Kerrigan. In the documentary, Harding referred to Kerrigan as the “crybaby who didn’t win the gold.” Harding also still seems surprised the Kerrigan was not receptive to Harding’s apology in Norway prior to one of the Olympic events for the actions of Gillooly and his cohorts – notably not for any actions by Harding herself.
But one more way that shows Harding to be a truly tragic figure is that, had she had a better support system around her, she may have fared far differently. Harding was a very strong and talented athlete. She persevered against all odds. Ice skating is an expensive sport, and she did not have much money for lessons. She had to create many of her costumes herself.
Assuming Harding was not in on the planning, she was clearly surrounded by a husband and friends that were not too bright. It was an evil, poorly conceived plan. Better people would have helped Harding focus on training and doing the best she could at the competitions. And had she had the support system and sponsorships that Kerrigan did, she would have not had the frequent equipment and costume failures that marred Harding’s career. With the proper training and support, it is not too far-fetched to suggest that Harding could have won the gold medal in Norway.
The Harding/Kerrigan ice skating scandal captured our attention for several months in 1994. If only the events could have happened differently and the two skaters had both won medals at the Olympics, history would have viewed Harding much more favorably.
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