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This is an incredible story that is almost too unbelievable to think that it actually happened. The transcript is decent but not 100%. We hope to update this soon!
Director’s Explanation of the story: Did Tonya Harding Nancy Kerrigan story is one of the most notorious words or is it American history
What I find so amazing about this story is that one athlete was somehow involved in injuring another athlete. off the plane I knew it would make an amazing film. This is Tonya’s story because I think she played a far more pivotal role. I mean Nancy was a victim but he’s a very simple linear line where Tonya there’s so many twists and turns to what happened as she grew up I was not involved with what happens with a prospect it’s just layers upon layers of complexity and fascination. all right
What happened to the screen like that just turn off
The Price of Gold
I never heard a scream like, that just type of screen
somebody hit me.
There has bee na violent on an American athlete Nancy Kerrigan attacks have
Skaters on edge.
they’re doing steel Olympic gold in
the rumors were just playing immediately anything like this
Why?
Everybody uses the one who did this. Do you want to hit me with sticks and baseball bat or whatever.
January 4, 1994
and your training so far it was bright and early at 7 a.m. but Tonya Harding is very upbeat and confident about the way things are going.
Everything’s going and going and 1994 it was considered a great skater at that point is certainly one of
Only the top United States skaters her main competition will be waiting
always
Tonya Harding Woods hard-bitten gutsy, athletic and a phenomenal skater. spin faster and she was determined s
She was the ugly duckling, with frizzy blonde hair, from the wrong side of the tracks was hardly a little image that you have of a beautiful ice skater.
Worldwide female figure skaters are the Barbie dolls of sports. And although what they do is very athletic, the point is to make it look easy, that it’s not athletic. That it’s not a strain. You are wearing these costumes that are designed to make you look like a beauty pageant contestant. And it’s this odd sport.
It goes back to the
John Powers: The American concept of the ice princess goes way way back. This is funny Sonay. That’s the image of the weather ladies champion. Everyone knew Peggy Fleming. Everyone knew Dorothy Hamill, the All-American Girl but with a little bit of Glamour.
They are the ones on the cover of magazines and getting endorsement deals very sought-after as the princess of the ice.
Tonya had a moxie ice princess game. She had a lot of guts and moxie…
I never was after being an ice princess. I wasn’t the dainty little girl. I was the strong, buff, you know, woman.
Toyna: I was born November 12th 1970 out of Portland Oregon somewhere. Who knows where? We had bounced around all over the place and my dad went through different jobs. And my mother, she was always a waitress. It was just really hard growing up.
My skating was definitely My Sanctuary. Touch the door, leave your problems behind, go in and just skate.
Friend: The Lloyd Center had an ice rink in the shopping mall and I begged my mother to let me sign up for the little group lessons that they had there on Saturday mornings.
And Tonya was 3 at the time and she took the ice with the rest of the group. But I don’t remember the rest of the group. I only remember this little blonde haired, blue-eyed dynamo.
footage
I have never seen someone that small, skate that well. I’ve never seen anyone have that much natural talent for anything.
she’s a 6 year on the ice more like an 11-year old responsible determined determine give me the very very end between us music nice
Coach: Ticket out of the gutter. They live in a terrible rental house. She would have nothing in her life. ….. She would have
Toyna: We struggled. My dad was doing everything he could to be a good dad. Moving so much. But I loved my skating, more than I needed other people around.
There was poverty. She skated not really understanding the next lesson. She knew she was good at one thing. And that was skating. Nobody could mock her. Nobody could make her feel less than.
but everything young girls world understanding if she could pay for my it
Vision and Goals: Practice makes perfect. I want to go to the Olympics. I want to be a world champion.
Pressure from Parents: During the skating competition, I was in the bathroom and I was in the stall, and Tonya and her mom came in there. and Tonya was having some issues. Didn’t want to have her hair brushed, or whatever the issue was and Mrs. Harding just lost her temper and hit Tonya repeatedly with the hairbrush in the bathroom. And I remember seeing her through the stall
Looking the other way: And I remember going to Diane Rolinson. and telling me I’m going to call child protective services, and Diane said I couldn’t do that. When I asked her why and she said because then they would take Tonya away from parents and her skating career would be over.
When Toyna was 15 years old. I got the idea that I could make a little mover
Toyna: My relationship. She is a good mother and not a good mother. She hits me and she beats me. My mom is an alcoholic.
Tonya’s mom The bigger the can’t do it. If there is no you can’t do it. She won’t do it. Bird on the shoulder
Phone call (car ride). Hi mom. I got 6th place. No, it’s good. Now I have my international. I get to go to the sports festival. I got half credit for it, Mom. Yep. Ok I love you too. [end call] What a bitch. My mom said, So I heard you missed your combination. You suck. Just as long as you tried. I did.
There was never anything good for her. She said I was fat. I was ugly. I would be a waitress. Just wanting to be better than that. That
Confidence: I knew that at some point, I would be the best in the world. I knew it.
Ice skating is a snob sport. It is a very snobbish sport.
Toyna: I was daddy’s little girl.
Tonya was a tomboy…. Toyna got caught between both worlds. But it was really hard to meld them together.
I knew I would be the best for you ice skating I think it’s not worth working on the sea
looked at as a feminine skater and also very proud of whatever Hardscrabble athlete she was. That tomboy skater. It’s really hard to meld them together.
That’s incredible and Diane tried No blue finger nail polish. She knew what it was like.
She is quite outspoken
You need to work on grace. I like the jumps and spins and footwork. It was always jump, jump, jump. I was not afraid to jump.
She was an incredibly powerful skater. She did a triple axel that was three times higher than mine.
Triple Axel: Everyone talks because she was the first American woman to land that jump in competition.
Toyna: Oh my God! so excited in her stomach was in my throat. My heart was just racing.
I did it. I landed it YES! It was awesome. There is no way of explaining except knowing you nailed it.
The crowd just stood up and everyone was clapping for me. I did it.
The triple axel put her on the map. She had guts to try stuff that most women would not or
would not try to open the door for every little girl that wasn’t the Barbie doll ice princess.
Toyna: I am so happy for myself. TEARS of JOY
John Powers: I remember when she won it in 1991. Look who are our champions. Not the image figure skating wanted. There is no question that Toyna Harding was not the image.
what you want to not give anyone the feeling from within the sport they visuals on my God by skaters no questions.
Incredible Career: 1991 was an incredible year. 2nd in the World Championship. She was having an incredible year.
Figure skating, nobody can stop me. I will go out and I am going out to win.
But s he did feel she could win the Olympic gold. If she landed the triple axel, they would not be able to deny her the gold.
1991 the problem for Tonya.
Toyna: After 91, The triple axel was there, it wasn’t there. She contrived it was so up and down from that point.
Off Ice problems: There were just too many distractions.
She went from an abusive childhood to an abusive relationship Lewis County
Be REALLY careful selecting your significant other: I had met Jeff. I thought he was cured. I mean I didn’t date anybody. He was the first person I ever dated. And always telling me how beautiful I am. Tell me how much he loved me. We got married for all the wrong reasons.
I had to get away from my mother and I fell for somebody who was a few years older, who had a job. He hit me, but she hit me. But they love me.
She would tell me about him grabbing her arm. Toyna could dish it out. And now I knew that she could dish it out thinking it was a very volatile relationship.
We might get into a little brawl now and then. I’ll admit it to the world. She is the boss of the family
Careers: Education is key. Barely making minimum wage. He was just a warehouse guy. Moving stacks of booze around. I definitely think Jeff saw Tonya as his meal ticket.
Training and Focus: They were worried about her in that sense we were all so worried about him meddling in her career application. Him not being a positive influence on her. In terms of training and performance. It reached a point where Tonya wasn’t focused. The train schedule was erratic.
Toyna: Things are going downhill. I had gained some weight. Just so much going wrong.
John Powers: 1992 Olympics. going wrong in the 92 Olympic Games she showed up late, out of shape. Nowhere ready to go.
Toyna: I had broken off my blade 2 days before and they had to put the blade back. But it was just a little off and landing on everything. I missed the Triple Axel. Tonya came up 4th Nancy was 3rd. Once Yamaguchi Who was and after that that was that. was it
John Powers: Nancy Kerrigan was everything she wanted. Who is next in line?
Toyna: John Powers:
Family Support: Nancy Kerrigaion’s Family. She was from a Blue Collar family, Nancy’s was much more stable.
She is very elegant.
Here you had a beautiful Snow White, designer costumes who is so graceful on the ice. Nancy fits the mold. She was perfect.
Stoneham Massachusetts.
Nancy was a tom boy. Not interested in being artistic.
When I was young, I didn’t know what I was doing. bass jumping bananas dancing
Toyna: John Powers:
As Nancy got a little older. She grew her bangs out. She grew up to be this very elegant skater.
Nancy’s coaches invented that spiral where she would lift that leg so she could have that beautiful line. And it created this amazing look. (20:46)
She was a beautiful skater, but she was a really superior athlete. She jumps so easily that it didn’t look difficult when she did it.
Once Nancy put the jumps and the style together, it was very difficult to touch her.
She is the 1993 U.S. Championships National Champion
Early success vs. Late Bloomers: tables really had turned. Nancy started to beat Toyna. (21:00)
Nancy started to beat Tonya at a lot of different things.
Nancy Kerrigan for President
Announcer: Tonya knows this was a disappointing night for you. It’s disappointing but I went and did my best and I guess that you know it was okay. (21:24)
Judging: Skating is judged on the entire package. You had technical merit and artistic impression, which is costumes, music and performance.
What Toyna gave you was power. Sheer, raw, power on the ice. But you really had to be balanced and unfortunately Tonya didn’t have the artistic edge. (21:42) And she sometimes picks music that just wasn’t part of the status quo.
The judges would give under the table advice to skaters about what kind of music they would like to hear. What they think the skater strengths are, where they should work. That gives the judges a lot of power.
Money: Toyna: There was one year that I had a bright pink color that I made myself. It was really pretty. And one of the judges came up to me afterwards and said, you know what, if you ever wear anything like that again at the US championships, you will never do another one.
And I told them where to go. I said you know what if you can come up with $5,000 for a costume for me, then I won’t have to make it. But until then, I stayed out of my face and I turned around and walked off and Diane was like Oh my God. But that’s how they are. If it’s not their way, it’s the highway. (22:44)
Going into 94, Kerrigan was the poster child for United States skating. She was a darling of this country,
Endorsements: “In her quest for a gold World quest skater Nancy Kerrigan always eats plenty of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. Nancy worked with Campbell’s Soup and she worked with Reebok and Revlon and she had the charisma and the look that Corporate America is looking for. (23:10)
I just did a TV special for Christmas. It’s really exciting and without skating if I wouldn’t have these opportunities and real fortunate she was a great skater, But of course she was treated you knowI was grateful she was treated you know like this huge queen.
Jealousy and Competition: Nancy Kerrigan was making money and Tonya knew that and that ate at her, because she had no endorsements, no sponsors, She just couldn’t get anywhere.
Marketing and Profits: the Olympics decided they were going to stagger the Olympics decided that they were going to stagger the summer and the Winter Olympics.
There was going to be an Olympics in 1992 and one in 1994. What an incredible opportunity for Tonya. (24:00)
Decided that they were going to stay
Prime Age for Athletes: My dream was to compete at the Olympics again. I was 23. This was the year that I had left in me, to do it. The jump started coming back. And I was focusing. And the grace and everything. I was ready. I mean, totally 100% ready!
January 4th 1994
Olympic Trials & Team Selections: Al Michaels, ABC Wide World Of Sports begins its coverage of the u.s. figure skating championship. In effect the Olympic trials.
The United States national championships became the Olympic Trials for the skating team. You have to qualify. You have to finish one – two in the national championship.
We worried about facing the Tonya Nationals. I’ve never been more ready in my life. (24:44) I like her, so that you’re easy to beat. We’ll see.
January 6, 1994
Mary Scotvold: We were in Detroit for the typical practice at a National championship. When the practice was over, Nancy got off the ice
probably. Mary and I were walking up about 150 ft behind her.
I stopped to talk to somebody briefly. Someone briefly I hadn’t seen in years.
Nancy walked behind this curtain. Then we heard this yell. (25:32)
Why?
I looked up and saw this guy running away. So I started running after him. He crashed through a glass door that was locked and got on the inside and didn’t get much of a look at him.
Trying to get a description News coverage Continuity and Change: Surveillance cameras.
Her father came and picked her up and carried her into the medical facility. It was just bedlam. Just… Shock.
Toyna: I was sleeping when I found out what had happened. And my coach woke me up and told me. I had practice later on. I was scared to death, being on the ice, because nobody was caught. They had extra security out there, but I just couldn’t focus. Diane stopped me and said, If you do not pull your head out and start concentrating, you’re not going to be able to skate this. You’ve worked your whole entire life for this.
Announcer: What’s your take on this?
Toyna: It definitely bothers me. I know how she feels and I feel really bad that this happened. I was looking forward to competing against her and you know I just hope that she’s okay. (27:20)
January 7, 1994
Press Conference: Nancy Kerrigan will not be competing in the 1994 legs United States figure skating championships.
John Powers: …..There was not a fracture. There was not any ligament damage. It was a bad bone bruise. And it was right on the knee cap. And she couldn’t put weight on it. And it was very very difficult.
It was her landing leg and so that right knee is critical. And of course the Olympics are just a few weeks after Nationals and so it looked like she probably will not be going to the Olympic Games. (27:51)
Injuries: Nancy: Pretty upset and angry that someone would do this. And I really want to skate today, but the doctors all said I shouldn’t.
I remember walking back to the hotel with Evie. It was snowing. It was such a beautiful night to have this happen.
And said Tonya Harding has something to do with this. And I snatched my head and said are you serious? What makes you say that? He said, I just know. (28:29)
Well she’s the only one who had anything to gain by it.
January 8th, 1994
Legg’s
Representing the Portland Ice Skating Club If she is going to do a triple axel, this is where she does it. It looks like it is not single. Even though I did a single, the rest of them were amazing. I was one of the best.
Announcer: National Championship…She still is a winner without that triple axel. Tonya Harding is the national champion.
Dilemma: Do you put Nancy on the team? “We are waiting for the Olympic team selection committee to meet. They will determine the fate of Nancy Kerrigan right here…
What is the prognosis? Nancy was in the room and they were talking sort of around her and I remember Nancy just boldly said I can compete. I can do this. I know I can do this.
Announcer: Okay it is Kerrigan and Tonya Harding will go to the Olympic Games representing the United States. (30:15)
The Cut: I am here with Michelle Kwan. You came in second place here, the committee decided Nancy Kerrigan to go. How do you feel about that decision?
Michelle Kwan: I feel fine. I think both of them deserve to go to the Olympics. I am happy for them.
Nancy: Really happy
January 10th, 1994
Portland, Oregon
Announcer: If the Harding camp expected to keep their arrival a secret, it was obvious by The Horde of cameras and reporters that it didn’t work. The media clearly outnumbered Stronger family and friends who greeted the skater tonight.
That scene at the airport was wild. There were dozens and dozens and dozens of reporters in her face.
I am really happy but It won’t be a true crown until I beat Nancy. And I am going to whip her butt.
Exactly so you feel good about the conversation.
Why shouldn’t I. They talked to everybody. They are d
Hardy’s bodyguard is around her right now and she’s fairly confident with the measures we are taking.
with their whole lives or something together but he was not my bodyguard. He was not even my friend. I thought he was a complete idiot. He was Jeff’s friend plain and simple.
The whole case started to unravel. the pool he started time traveling because I couldn’t stop bragging to everybody. He told his mother and father. So many people. He just couldn’t stop talking.
I didn’t know that the championships had been acting all weird and all this stuff and talking about stuff and so I didn’t know what was going on.
Announcer: Yesterday here at koin-tv we received this anonymous letter stating specifics about the conspiracy.
I’m working at and a letter comes to the assignment desk. I open this letter up and it’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen. A letter implicating Tonya, Jeff Gillooly and her bodyguards in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. And I’m thinking, this could be the start of something really crazy, because this says they hatched the plan.
One of my friends who worked for Channel two, calls me up and says what’s going on? And I’m like what do you mean?
I am holding this letter that I think you are going to want to look at and it directly impacts you and Jeff. and she said will you please fax it to me. Something like that.
I said no I won’t. What I’d let you do is read it. But you got to come here and you got to agree to an interview. You could hear her talk to Jeff in the background. He said okay.
You read the letter and your reaction to the letter. I can’t believe it. I mean, why does someone have to discredit me. I mean I just don’t understand.
On camera would not allow her to answer. you’re me just right over there just glaring at her. And on occasion after answering a question her eyes darted up to him come back to me. That was eerie. That was creepy.
As soon as we got in the car to leave point blank asked him what’s going on? Bam and he just nailed me. have you what did you do hat’s when I started and I’m trying to piece things together and stuff
late at night I knew something was going on, I just didn’t know what was going on.
We did give the letter to the FBI. They were quite interested in that letter.
This lady that wrote the letter had gotten the information from Sean Eckhardt’s dad. It turned out that Sean’s dad had been running his mouth too. So we went to interview Shawn that night. It turned into a rather lengthy interview.
He was such a prolific liar, I would catch him in those discrepancies. And when Shawn realized that he was facing some fairly serious penalties, he folded like a cheap accordion. We got a signed statement from him about the plot and who was involved.
Ice skater Tonya Harding’s bodyguard, 26 year old Shawn Eckhart, was the first brought into jail tonight. Earlier today 29 year old Derek Smith arrived at Portland’s airport. in FBI custody. He allegedly drove the getaway car for Nancy Kerrigan’s attacker. The elusive Hitman is believed to be Shane Stant of Portland of the suspect closest to skater Tonya Harding has her own husband, Jeff Gillooly.
We had learned Jeff Gillooly approached Sean about doing something to Nancy Kerrigan to take her out of the competition for the US Olympic team. And then Shawn hired Derrick Smith and Shane Stant they were the hit team.
The original thinking was to try to get her out of her home or something. They had actually sent off Stan to her practice facility in Massachusetts where Kerrigan trained. But in fact Kerrigan had gone to the national competition in Detroit. So then included Detroit Lakes 7 wordbrain theme from the beginning. And they did it. They confessed (37:28)
It was where you were asking to get caught.
They left a trail. I mean phone records, bank records
You would have to be a moron. To do a hit and put everything on Visa.
I have no comment.
Tonya: After Sean was arrested. It was like, I just couldn’t believe what’s being said and stuff. I never met or talked to, didn’t even know the other persons that were involved.
Everything you just get hit by everything all at once. And you just, you just, want to crawl in the closet and say go away, because you don’t know what is going on.
Has Tonya Harding been cleared. She isn’t.
How are you feeling right now?
It has been a long week. But we are feeling ok.
No charges have been filed against against either Hatdd or
4 weeks before the Olympics
First Things First: I have been in therapy all day.. I haven’t I’ve been at Thursday all day
she didn’t want to hear about that and had a focus about her training and that was really all that mattered. And I know there’s a slew of competitors and probably myself included, who if that had happened to us. it would have taken us a year to get over it mentally and instead said she was likely to get to the Olympic Games.
We had 6 weeks. It was going to take her at least four weeks of off ice strength and conditioning training before she could actually hit the ice again. Which would mean two weeks of being able to skate before she was going to compete.
She had to decide. Do we work on the trauma of what happened to her or do we just stay on key with what we’ve been working so hard for in terms of the Olympic Games.
And she made it very clear. We were not doing trauma work. I am not a victim here.
Reporter: What is your reaction?
Nancy: I really can’t say anything about this
No, I, not at all. I just said why would someone hit me up but that’s about it.
January
For me I don’t think I could ever understand the answer because I can’t think that viciously.
Lawyer,
We brought Tonya in for investigating and she initially denied that Gillooly was involved. Denied
Aiding the investigation. And so the facts of life had to be explained to Tonya that you’re in a lot of trouble. However, if you are willing to cooperate, it’s basically you play Let’s Make a Deal.
Tonya: I was scared to death. Jeff told me he was going to kill me if I opened my mouth about anything. But if I told them what I knew and what I heard. What had happened and was said and phone calls and things like that since I had gotten back.
She was still denying her own involvement, but now she was putting it all on gillooly and she was giving direct evidence that was highly incriminating to him.
Do you have anything to say to your fans?
Tonya: Please, believe in me.
After that is when I left Jeff. I had separated from him and went and stayed with friends.
By that point we had enough evidence and that’s when we brought Gillooly in, and he could not believe that she had given him up.
Reporter: Do you still love Tonya?
The moment Jeff Gillooly got arrested for his part in this entire conspiracy everybody in the world assumed that Tonya Harding was part of it. That there was a plot that was hatched, and that they were in equal measure responsible for this.
John Powers: But it was unclear what he would ever get enough evidence against Tonya to be able to put the finger on her.
She was no longer talking to us at that point. They were giving press conferences.
Harding’s Attorney: I know it would be very easy for many people to conclude that Tonya Harding was somehow involved in this. I would ask all of you to keep an open mind in this matter. It is not resolved. Thank you very much.
January 24th
If it turns out that Tonya Harding was actually involved in the She wants to win an Olympic gold medal. That is a big enough challenge.
The press wanted to go wherever she was. …so everything had to be very secretive.
We want to try her ice skating, you know. Get her on the ice to see how the knees are going to respond but we needed to do it in a way that could be private.
We didn’t want anybody to see what she was doing because we had no idea how well or how badly she would be doing,
We decided to do it at about midnight on a Saturday night. And we’re all over Nancy’s house first and Nancy and actually had a coat over her. Kinda like laid down because the media was out there.
Eventually. We all met back at the rink and it really felt like a bank robbery. It was nerve wracking because I wanted to be seen.
She put the skates on. It was very exciting. She was very excited. She didn’t spend much of anything but you did more than I thought you were going to do. And it looks pretty hopeful.
On the East Coast Nancy was relatively all protected. Which was good and it kept her focused.
It was in the shopping center. They were around her at that rink.
When she was skating at Clackamas. There were hundreds of news crews there. And every day and every week it would just expand. They just wanted to get a shot of this most bizarre athlete, who has allegedly been a part of this most bizarre plot…
And she was actually pleasant. Tonya was very pleasant. I don’t think it occurred to her at this point just how deep and hot the water was. So she was kind of enjoying this attention.
They are looking at me. They came here to see me in America.
Reporter: Are you aware of how big this is?
I mean everyone was there. Oh believe me, even the New York Times was there. The venerable New York Times was horrifying for most reporters. But saw there they were standing side-by-side with all the tabloid glory.
I remember Diane Sawyer hanging out to the barrier to her to talk to her mom.
Reporter: Have you ever point blank asked Toyna where are you involved? If you haven’t asked, will you ask… I don’t think it’s necessary to ask.
We would drive up.
Toyna’s coach She is innocent.
I mean it was so crazy you drove up to a coach’s house. I remember a guy saying to me, you want to hear what they’re having for lunch? Have a listen? I bugged her house. It got to that point. (46:56)
Magazine Covers TV reports
Even if you cared to talk about focused attention on the intense rivalries that exist in figure skating..
There had never been one that captured the world’s attention.
Even if you care nothing about figure skating.
They have died for some plot line like this play. My God! Is that real?
It was the supreme Ice Princess versus the trailer trash ignoramus. It was so rich in its blacks and whites. Nobody did the grey.
Nancy looked as though was wealthy and she was very good to her so that played on for a while it was a big class issue.
They embraced the fact that Tonya didn’t come up with the money. They appreciated how hard she worked and what a great athlete she was.
Nobody needed the grant.
Toyna’s fans embrace. They appreciated how hard she worked.
Toyna: I may be a little rough around the edges sometimes but overall I think I’m a good person and I think there’s a lot of people out there that you like.
me more than this world was all about glamour.
Toyna: My attorney told me that I can’t talk about anything. It is hard when people ask you. I can’t say anything.
Following her to this follows her to that. She just did not have a life. Crews were told to go get Tonya. Flush her out. Get her to talk.
Toyna: The media will set off my alarm in my truck and then they even called in a tow company so I can run out there and stop him. Anything from taking a snapshot.
Jesus Christ! Get out of my way.
Toyna: Trying to train in front of everyone with so much media. Everytime I jumped they’d all flashed and I would fall on my face. I hurt myself a couple of times.
It just started becoming really impossible just to even concentrate on anything answering your questions.
I said
Tom Brokaw: Good evening Tonya Harding’s ex-husband charges today that Harding was in on the attack on Nancy Kerrigan from the beginning and that she was angry when the men around or didn’t carry it out sooner.
Are you willing to sell Tonya out to save yourself? Sources say he will plead guilty to a reduced charge In exchange, he will testify that she said both of you thinking.
She said, “What do you think?” He said I think we should do it and she said do it.
Tonya Harding talked about money very openly. I have these little dollar signs in her head.
add or something and
Everyone Loves a Winner: You win the gold in figure skating, You are set for life. Absolutely set for life.
You can go and make all sorts of money when the Ice shows. All the endorsements. There’s gold in the gold medal.
They threw her under the bus. They all served up Tonya. She was going down.
Larry King. So there’s no doubt in your mind she’s in on the conspiracy about covering it up.
Toyna: They all started changing their stories around and everything. I mean what am I supposed to do? What do you do?
Toyna: Could you guys please leave me alone. I am trying to get some sleep. I can’t make any comments.
Reporter: The phone calls that you made apparently made to Boston. I have no comments. I don’t know, I cannot tell you anything.
Did you make the schedule?
Jeff said that she made the calls to the Tony Kent Arena to find out Nancy’s practice session times. Now that’s Jeff’s word against Tonya’s word, I guess, but we just had to find corroborating evidence.
The FBI is now pouring over evidence that these scraps could corroborate the plan. One one of the Tony Kent Arena and was once believed to be the site of the assault
It was not my
Jeff Lewis playing that parting was in on the planning of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan.
In one of the papers you can see the words Tony Kent Arena, the name of the rink where Kerrigan practices and was once believed to be a plan site for the assault.
I just know that there was a piece of paper with numbers and stuff on it and other writings and names or something.
They tested the handwriting and we had the handwriting tested if they identified dresser handwriting. It was strong evidence of her involvement.
January 27th,
Okay here we go. They are coming in at this time.
Tonya would like to make some remarks:
Toyna: I would like to begin by saying how sorry I am about what happened to Nancy Kerrigan. I’m embarrassed and ashamed to think that anyone close to me could be involved.
When I did the press conference, I was like, we have to do something because I didn’t do this. But at that very point when they said oh she did it. Everybody looks at me like I’m the guilty party.
I had no prior knowledge of the planned assault on Nancy Kerrigan. I am responsible, however for failing, for failing to report things I learned about the assault when I returned home from Nationals.
Despite my mistakes, I ask only for your understanding and the opportunity to represent my country with the best figure skating performance of my life.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Peter Jennings: For several weeks now the skater Tonya Harding has denied that she knew anything at all about the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. Today Miss Harding admitted that was not quite true. She didn’t do anything in advance; she said what she did learn of the attack later and did not tell the authorities right away.
John Powers: What made it difficult to throw her off the team was for her culpability.
I don’t listen to what other people say.
Toyna: The Association said I said is that okay because I am going to sue you for $10 million dollars because I earned the right to skate on that Olympic team did not do this Whelchel
John Powers:
do the right thing no matter what anybody thinks that I’m on the phone u.s. figure skating team
Toyna: I am going to go out there and wing. No matter what, I am the best and I’m going to go out and show them. And that is what I was thinking.
Norway
Reports have described you as virtually friendless on the US team. She never hugged you before. How do you feel you have been received by your teammates?
Toyna: I feel has been received I feel that I have been received very well everyone has been very nice to me and we’re all excited to be here as a team and represent our country today
An army of media kept close watch
Bear in mind at CBS to take millions of dollars. It was a dream for CBS. They had a made for TV movie the better if you know that don’t you dastardly deed. I don’t think it has to do with it being perfect. CBS knew the more we covered this the more viewerships.
The whole world is talking about you.
No I don’t/ It has to do with the Olympics.
It has a lot to do with skating in about Nancy and I and
It has to do with skating and who’s going to win the gold medal
She was pretty smart
I am not going to answer that. .
She was not going to answer questions about the attack.
She was not going to answer that. I am done with this.
She took off her mic and she walked out
I am not here to do interviews.
The media I am not here do all these interviews the media is they don’t care about anything except themselves and their paycheck
We didn’t want to skate with Tonya. Each country skates together in a group.
I wrote a letter requesting on behalf of Nancy that she does not have .
No. This problem was made in America. This is your baby. so even more of a circus. with each other
Scratch their eyes out.
It was a very small skating rink and maybe it could hold 100 and there were two thousand people. You were pinned in.
They had to see this moment. The moment that was about to happen.
Every camera crew wanted to see them fight. That’s why we went.
Toyna: when I first saw her and told her how sorry I was for being around the people that have done this to her. She just blew it off like it was nothing.
I thought we were friends. For her to treat me like that. Like I was nothing. Like she was above me. That is rude.
Here was this absurd situation that never should have taken place. There was some irony that Nancy wore the dress she was attacked in did she have any children it’s simply to make a statement. You are not going to take this away from me. You are going to have more than a couple of thugs.
Tonya was unnerved. There is no doubt about it.
Nancy is a princess. That is how everyone sees her and I am a pile of carp. saying hi or not security with me 24/7. And she got to do whatever she wanted to do.
But that is okay.
You know what? It’s not okay. How I was treated by everybody out there. It was not okay.
February 23rd,
All the anticipation.
The 1994 women’s figure is still. The most watched Olympic program. that has been building for almost 2 months n
John Powers: Ratings of Super Bowl rings it was very difficult to focus what time it was. Every barroom in the world wanted to see this.
She hits the triple lutz. She nails this Triple lutz. If she hits the triple lutz. That’s it. That’s it. She’s got it.
On the ice Tonya.
The Moment: I worked my whole entire life, for that one moment in time. It was very difficult to focus. I tried. I still didn’t skate great. It wasn’t in the cards for me.
The standings 1st Toyna Harding was 10th.
Toyna: She had a terrible 1st program. By the time the whole world watched, on medal night, where was she?
She did show up. It was like the end of the Sound of Music. And nobody shows up.
This is something that never happens. “It is not going to hold me.”
If she is not out in 45 seconds, they will disqualify
Finally did appear on the screen and did not complete the jump. And stated it to the judges. A problem with the right skate.
Toyna: My lace broke, I knew I could. I would have white skin but I would have ended up breaking her ankle. been this is me sure
This is not the first time that Toyna had a mishap with clothing or her skates and made an equipment check. They believed she was starting over because she made a mistake.
on yourself down and does continue
Get your thoughts in order. And then your body gets cold. You have to keep warming up. I took my skates off and put them on. get your. It was just a mess. Just a complete mess.
When she got back on that ice, she wasn’t even close to being a good skater much less a great one. Much less a medal winner.
What happened?
I went out and I couldn’t do it.
I was disappointed. My lace broke. Tonya Harding did the triple axel.
And that would be one of the last things people remember. I didn’t do it. I think I did the best I could under all the circumstances.
John Powers: Once Tonya is done, The only story is can Nancy make this Cinderella comeback and win the gold medal. You could see it in her eyes. I am going to skate perfectly tonight.
Wow. This is an incredible moment.
I didn’t remember just a minute to think that she whacked me on the knee 6 weeks ago. Then I had to come here with the media and steps on the ice and skates like that. That is one of most heroic performance evidence.
John Powers: She skated a the gold medal performance
Nobody had any idea.
Ultimately the gold medal went to Oksana Bialuel. And the powers that be at CBS were not happy with the result.
Disappointment & Devastation: Oh my josh. Nobody can believe it. Nancy Kerrigan gets the silver. She gets the silver #She was really just devastated. It felt oh my gosh no one can believe it.
We stood backstage and could barely move, we just couldn’t believe it.
Nancy had much for technical content then did Oksana and on that day it just felt like there was a decision that had been premeditated. And it felt political.
I think most of America thinks she won the gold.
Honestly I’m not so sure that she wasn’t blamed for all of the attention that this whole thing was getting. What she had nothing to do with. And, I don’t know, but it was a travesty.
When they were waiting for the medals excited was taking your time and she been crying and I think she would put on makeup
She is going to get over here and cry again.
All Eyes on You: A lot of people sign sour grapes. I was kinda like “Give the girl a break.” She was under a microscope. No one could survive that.
Toyna: You know she was the cry baby who didn’t win the gold. you know I’m sorry I’ve never said this before but just shut up! Nobody wants to hear. You got a silver medal at the Olympics. And all you are going to do okay poo poo them away. I just don’t think this right,
Portland, Oregon
This afternoon Tonya Harding entered a plea of guilty. This ends the biggest part you were excited about this afternoon, an unending nightmare for over two months.
I wonder what set the stage for a plea bargain. And then it was that question of cutting her losses.
I pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution. My attorney said, either I would take that or I would have to go to jail for a year or something like that.
Toyna: I am really sorry that I interfered.
I admitted to knowing after the fact. But because I did not report it, that is hindering prosecution.
Reporter: In the end she played a role in the cover up not the attack herself. Her sentence. prosecution $160,000 truthfully
Toyna: I don’t remember much about anything after the Olympics. cuz I lost everything. I mean everything. (1:10:30)
Consequences: The United States Figure Skating Association has unanimously determined that Miss Harding will be removed as the 1994 U.S. ladies figure skating champion and we’ll be banned from membership in the U.S.FSA for life.
I was never in competition. I’m kicked out of the association. Let her skate. She won’t get the mark that she deserves. She won’t get anything in her life to do with skating ever again. Ever ever again.
I think Tonya deserved to be banned. And I think that was an incredible consequence for her. I mean it was an abrupt halt like no other. It was really a death sentence in this sport. And, I think that it was deserved.
I mean that was pretty much the worst thing that could ever happen to me. because I didn’t have any other source of where I could go? What could I do? I mean what am I going to do with my life now?
Value Education: There was nothing to fall back on when Tonya went to high school until she was a sophomore. She is not a GED. She had no tangible skills other than this incredible talent. And now this innate gift, was completely squandered.
We should never thank an assault for happening, but, skating popularity shot for the roof after this event. The tours that were filling up ice arenas around the country skaters are making a real bank. And Nancy rode that wave and rode it well. thing getting
Skating was supposed to be put on the map. Everyone makes a living and livelihoodI mean accept me.
Toyna: I did boxing, it wasn’t another career of course. But it helped me survive for a few years. But then doing different interviews and working on cars and doing landscaping and things like that and I’ve succeeded.
Life after Fame: I’ve been married for three and a half years and I have a 2 1/2 year old son. Just having my life with my husband and my son that’s what I need and want and have.
Rivalries: Nancy will always be remembered for Wounded Knee. She’s always going to be linked to Tonya. Nac
it’s always giving me a few times and you never hear one without the other.
was but I don’t think she ever would have wanted the attention that she got. Nancy moved on.
married about a year-and-a-half after the Olympics and shortly thereafter started having a family and now have three kids and that’s what drives everything at this point.
It has been almost 20 years and she really didn’t want to talk about it. She’s trying to get over it already. And, but I’m sure she probably knows that it will continue to make her famous.
Really? All the pundits. His song. My chance is to knee cap her. Pull a Tonya
If you said Harding to anybody who is over 20 years old 30 years old in a right away.aaaaaa
For all the wrong reasons.
The one thing we will really never know. Is what was Toyna’s involvement involved in this thing did she planet from the beginning did she tell them to do
it voided the question of whether or not I think Tonya was involved for 20 years. I don’t know why I’ve avoided that question.I think because she was
Of course she was.
Of course not everybody that out there that really knows me knows that I was involved in any of the planning or anything.
Tonya is Your Worst Enemy. And her tragic flaw is the inability to take responsibility and Culpality for her actions.
Reinvent and create here own reality maybe that’s a survival tactic but it’s really an unexamined life.
Anyway people are going to believe what they want to believe in the past and like I said before I really don’t give a damn. Those people are not in my life.
Be Happy with Who You Are: I love me. My husband loves me and my son Trevor falls in love with you. How can you love somebody else? Start from point a
Jeff Gillooly changed his name to Jeff Stone he was briefly married, divorced and twice arrested for domestic violence he still resides in Oregon.
Shawn Eckhadt changed his name to Brian Griffith. He died at the age of 40 of unknown causes.
change that lives in Anonymous life in Southern California
Derek Smith’s whereabouts are unknown
Nancy Kerrigan was inducted into the U.S. figure skating Hall of Fame in 2004. She declined to be interviewed for this film.