More than thirty years after the infamous attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics, Kerrigan shared that she still has not received a direct apology from her rival, Tonya Harding. In a 2017 interview with ABC, Kerrigan, now 56, expressed her feelings about the lack of a personal acknowledgment from Harding, who is currently 55. She questioned the relevance of the apology over three decades later, asking, “Does it matter, at this point?”
The incident dates back to January 1994, during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, when Kerrigan was struck in the knee with a police baton by Shane Stant, a man hired by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt. Their plan aimed to incapacitate Kerrigan in hopes of sabotaging her Olympic aspirations. Despite the assault, Kerrigan persevered and earned a silver medal at the Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway.
Harding faced severe consequences for her involvement in the attack. She was convicted of conspiracy to hinder prosecution and, as part of a plea deal, acknowledged her knowledge of the assault plot after it occurred. The deal also revealed that she conspired with Gillooly and Eckardt to fabricate a cover story while misleading FBI investigators. As punishment, Harding received three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and a fine of $160,000. Additionally, she lost her 1994 U.S. Championship title and was banned for life from participating in any U.S. Figure Skating Association events, whether as a skater or a coach.
The history of this rivalry continues to resonate in the world of figure skating, highlighting issues of rivalry, ethics, and accountability in sports. While Kerrigan has clearly moved on to an impressive career, the lingering quest for closure regarding the attack reflects a complex history between the two athletes.