The Dichotomy of Nancy and Tonya: A Timely Look Back

It was 1994 -- 15 years ago almost exactly -- that Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding faced off at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Kerrigan, after being attacked and clubbed in the leg by an associate of Harding's at the US Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, could not compete. Harding took first place at the event and secured a spot on the Olympic team and, after she denied involvement in the Kerrigan attack, the USOC (with no proof to the contrary) had no choice but to allow Harding to compete in Lillehammer. Kerrigan, meanwhile, in an unprecedented move by the USOC, was given a spot on the Olympic team in place of Michelle Kwan, who had finished second at nationals. A media frenzy ensued as reporters and cameras followed Harding and Kerrigan's every move leading up to the Olympics.

The next month, Kerrigan and Harding had their showdown at the '94 Games (which incidentally, were the first to be staggered -- i.e., held in a different year -- from the summer games.) The ladies figure skating final that year was packed with contenders and star power, including China's Chen Lu, Canadian national champion Josée Chouinard, reigning World silver medalist Surya Bonaly, and two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt. Shown in prime time, the broadcast was one of the most watched in US history. An estimated 45 million people (representing about 48% of all households in this country that owned TVs) tuned to watch this intro (culled from the Pop Culture Fiend Archives) and the ensuing drama.



When it came time for Harding to skate, she missed her first jump, then, to most everyone's amazement, interrupted her routine, skated over to the judges sobbing and explained that her shoelace had broken. Harding was allowed to fix her shoe and skate again later, but in the end, Ukraine's Oksana Baiul won the gold medal. Kerrigan (with her Katherine Hepburn looks) had to this point been a media darling and object of sympathy, but -- after seemingly pouting on the medal stand after winning silver -- came off as a sore loser.

It's interesting to see the dichotomy of these two over the last decade -- how fulfilled and content Kerrigan seems today, while Harding appears still bitter and resentful about everything that's transpired. Admittedly, she's had a much harder life than Kerrigan, both before these events took place and after. After all, she grew up poor and struggling to find the funds for training, dropped out of high school, was (allegedly) physically abused by her mother, banned for life by the US Figure Skating Association, cited for multiple DUIs, claims she suffered domestic violence at the hands of various boyfriends, failed at both boxing and singing, and to this day, she's still reviled by the public for her role in the plot against her rival. Even during last fall's Democratic Presidential primary, the two campaigns wound up referencing Harding in a negative way.

And of course, Tonya was also the star of one of the very first celebrity sex tapes. Way before Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian were on anyone's radar, Harding's ex-, Jeff Gillooly sold a home video of he and Tonya having sex on their "wedding night", though later it was revealed that they were just role-playing.

Kerrigan, by comparison, has pretty much led a quiet life since Lillehammer. Upon her return to the US, she was skewered by the media after being caught on-mic complaining during a Disney World Parade honoring her. Afterwards, she retreated from the spotlight and retired from figure skating, only to quickly pop up as the star of a few professional skating shows. She hosted Saturday Night Live, got married, had a cameo in the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory, but has spent a good deal of her time just doing charity work and raising her three kids.