If you're a pop culture aficionado like me, you're probably very familiar with the infamous disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding. If this is your first time hearing about Ms. Harding, let me give you some background on one of figure skating's most iconic, and notorious, athletes.
Tonya Harding had great promise as a skater when she first appeared on the skating scene. Her athleticism and power allowed her to create routines that showed off her seemingly natural ability. However, she was not a favorite with judges due to her unconventional costumes (which were hand-sewn by her mother and herself) and more abrasive performances. Tonya's more athletic approach to figure skating made her a great favorite with spectators since she deviated from the norm in figure skating.
Tonya created history at the 1991 U.S. Championships when she became the first American woman to attempt and land a triple axel; one of figure skating's most difficult maneuvers. She would then move on to become a member of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating team and compete in both the 1991-1992 and 1993-1994 Winter Olympics. But, something happened in 1994 that would knock Tonya Harding off of the pedestal of figure skating. A moment that would change Tonya's life forever.
on January 6th, 1994 Harding's competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, was finishing a practice session when she was suddenly struck above the knee with a retractable police baton. The video of the aftermath became something of a viral video for the '90s. Kerrigan, dressed in white lace, is seen sitting on the floor wailing as medical personal swarm her. "Why! why! why!" sobs Kerrigan as she clutches her knee, dreading the idea of it being broken. Fortunately, Nancy's knee was only bruised and she was able to continue on to the Olympics. But, one question remained on the minds of media outlets everywhere: who did it and why?
The attacker was later identified as Shane Stant. His conspirators? Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhardt: Tonya's ex-husband (Gillooly) and bodyguard (Eckhardt).
Tonya Harding claimed she had no part in the attack, nor, did she even know it had occurred. However, Tonya eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder the prosecution of Kerrigan's attackers. She was sentenced to 500 hours of community service, a fine of $160,000 and a revocation of her membership from the U.S. Olympic team. Tonya was also stripped of her awards and titles as well as forced to resign from the United States Figure Skating Association. She was given a lifetime ban from ever performing in or coaching any and all USFSA run events.
Now, you're probably wondering: "Zachary, when are you going to get to the point? Is this just an article on the backstory of Tonya Harding?" I'm glad you asked because this train is about to make it's final stop.
Recently, the film "I, Tonya" was released during the holiday season. The film, starring Margo Robbie as Tonya Harding, tells the story of Tonya's personal life as well as her rise and fall from skating royalty. The film is mainly told from Tonya's perspective as well as from the people who knew her. The film depicts the severe emotional and physical abuse she received from both her mother and her ex-husband, her borderline poverty, as well as her multiple run-ins with the judges at various skating events ("suck my d*ck!" she tells a snooty judge who suggested she chooses another sport). The film creates a sympathetic portrait of Tonya, painting her as a woman who's personal life was just a tumultuous as her media coverage.
In one part of the film, we are with Tonya in the courtroom as she is given her sentence. When the judge orders that she resign from the skating team as well as revoke her membership within the USFSA, she becomes upset. She sobs and begins to beg the judge to put her in jail, she'd rather go to jail then give up skating. We see, at this moment, just how important skating was to Tonya. For Tonya, figure skating offered an escape from her bleak personal life. She felt loved. She felt like she could amount to something. When Tonya looks back at her triumphant triple axel she becomes emotional, telling the audience that it was the one thing that they could not take away from her.
With that in mind, a question comes into play: is Tonya the villain or the victim? While Nancy Kerrigan was a victim of a brutal attack on her personal well-being, it seems Tonya was a victim of her circumstances. Because of her poor background and history of abuse, Tonya was subjected to people who didn't always have her best interest in mind. If she would have ran with better people, with people who cared about her, could she have lifted herself from "trailer trash" to "ice princess" and avoided the media frenzy? we don't know.
It is up to us to decide whether or not we should label Tonya as a villainous mastermind or a victim of circumstance. Everyone has a story to tell, every piece of it coming from experience, and it is sometimes warped by those who only hear the parts they want to hear. So, my dear reader, it is up to you to decide if Tonya is the villain or the victim.
