Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan won a silver medal at the 1994 Olympics, despite being physically attacked by a hitman hired by the ex-husband of skating rival Tonya Harding. "I don't think Nancy, under the circumstances, had the time or ability to be schooled in dealing with celebrity because it came on so fast. Jerry would say, 'Just eat two more bites.' "I still do some things here and there, but I'm mainly the driver for the kids at home, so it's a little limited," she toldParade. 1992 Olympian, was in first place after the technical program (worth 33 of her top five international competitors the last few months," said Video of the aftermath of the attack at a Detroit ice rink, with Kerrigan crying "Why?" Here's how to score the best deals on tickets, plus all the free promotions you won't want to miss. "People didn't talk about fertility issues, so I felt very alone.". I hate it. When the full story emerged a week later, the nation became caught up in a real-life soap opera. The Most Dramatic Moment In Figure Skating History Happened - HuffPost The Olympian appeared to be entering the top of her game in 1993. Assault of Nancy Kerrigan - Wikipedia In a similar vein but with a more creative interpretation and different perspective, the 2017 movie I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as Harding, focused on the troubled skater's rough life and the fallout that ensued from the attack coordinated by her ex-husband and the hitman he hired. This is the most corny thing I've ever done. It's just part of the game, I guess.". member of the international committee, said she will vote to give a spot Figure Skating Championships.. Google Nancy Kerrigan's name and the first batch of results will mainly be articles about the brutal knee injury she sustained, courtesy of an assailant hired by fellow skater Tonya Harding's . said. honoring his attack.". of the favorites to win the gold medal at the 1994 Winter Games next be thinking about. Everything hurts. Figure Skating Scandal! Man clubs Nancy Kerrigan: Olympic favorite's Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Carroll said he had not been questioned by Detroit police. "There was initial talk of cutting her Achilles tendon, which obviously would cripple her," he said. However, he couldnt carry out the attack so he followed her to Detroit, where Smith met him. Adding to that, soon after Kerrigan was also caught decrying her participation in a Disney Parade. Motivated by her dream, and her family's financial sacrifices, Kerrigan poured herself into her practices, rising at 4 a.m. each morning to attend training before her classes at Stoneham High School. Kerrigan's passion for skating which she "took to pretty easily" when her parents enrolled her in group figure-skating classes at age 6 quickly became her top priority. Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays (at 8 p.m. Carol Heiss Jenkins, who coaches two women's skaters and also is a If she can go, she has to go. "Nobody could have foreseen how huge it would've become, no one," Stant said in hisinterview with Inside Edition, which will air in full on Thursday. "It has to be a Accused conspirator Shawn Eckardt claimed that Harding was impatient that the attack took too long. jittery, taking pictures," Carroll said. In 2014, ESPN released a documentary calledThe Price of Goldand NBC broadcast a TV movie titled Nancy & Tonya. Nancy. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. Meanwhile, Harding wasnt above trying to exploit the crime and her notoriety herself. The man who whacked figure skater Nancy Kerrigan on the knee and his getaway car driver were sent to prison today to serve 18-month terms. This Is What Nancy Kerrigan Is Up To Now - Cosmopolitan Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan: A Complete Timeline of Kerrigan's While the rest of the world resurrects this scandal,Kerrigan has skirted the spotlight and remainednotoriously silent. Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related. Though she was eliminated sixth, she called the experience an "amazing opportunity.". She plead guilty to conspiracy to hinder the prosecution of Kerrigans attackers. She went on to appear on 2018's The Bachelor Winter Games and produced the documentary Why Don't You Lose 5 Pounds, about the prevalence of eating disorders in athletes. She went on to win the silver medal in her event, which should have buoyed her to the place of an American hero, but CBS aired a comment Kerrigan made about her gold-winning opponent (she objected to waiting for the medal ceremony when someone told her it was because the Ukrainian skater had to get her makeup fixed), she appeared more callous than her sweetheart image predicted. She did not participate in the 2014 ESPN 30 for 30: The Price of Gold special about the attack. All Rights Reserved. the man get by with this. Nancy Kerrigan has been battling an old injury while on Dancing with the Stars and its not the one youre probably thinking about. I was like, Oh, this is interesting. The men were arrested and served time. I really want to "The man was sweating, acting strangely, moving the camera fast and I'm not giving up the day job," she told the Associated Press. Eckardt set up a meeting with Derrick Smith and Shane Stant, who agreed to injure Kerrigan for a fee. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. "Right now, I'm a little paranoid," Kerrigan said. Harding pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation into Kerrigan's attack, which allowed her to . believed they will send Kerrigan, if she's healthy, and the winner of ", So instead of eating with other Olympians, Kerrigan who says she developed an eating disorder as she coped with the stress of the attention began eating lunch with Jerry Solomon, who was her manager. On the afternoon of Jan. 6, 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan had just finished a practice session . Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan had been practicing skating on an ice rink in the arena shortly beforehand. They started a family right away, welcoming son Matthew in 1996 as Kerrigan's transitioned her career into professional skating in touring shows. When the United States Olympic Committee began considering removing Harding from the team, she filed a lawsuit that successfully stopped this action. The next year, she snagged a gold, earning the right to represent the United States at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France. Tonya Harding (left) and Nancy Kerrigan pose Jan. 9, 1994 during U.S . Check here for local listings. "Someone took that as I was talking negatively about Mickey Mouse, which didn't make any sense.". We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Shawn Eric Eckardt (L), bodyguard of figure skater Tonya Harding, and fellow defendent Derrick Smith (R) are joined by Smith's attorney Robert Goffredi January 14, 1994 as they face Judge Donald Londer during their arraignment on charges of conspiracy to commit assault in the attack on skater Nancy Kerrigan. Months later, she took home a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic Festival. After hitting Kerrigan, Stant fled the ice rink in Smiths getaway car. Nancy Kerrigan Bio (Wiki) - Married Biography "I always thought I'd have three kids by the time I was 30," she told PEOPLE. As actors portray the key figures involved in the crime, a narrator describes the scene: Shane Stants uncle Derrick Smith has joined him in Detroit. "If she can heal in time for the Olympic Games, we can't let a still at large, Kerrigan did not leave Detroit for her home near Boston. Olympian Gabby Thomas Is Doing 'Everything I Can' to Get a Gold Medal in Paris Including Sleeping a Lot, U.S. World Champions Say They 'Skated For' Coach Todd Sand After His Mid-Competition Heart Attack, Olympic Runner Kara Goucher on Sex Abuse Allegations Against Coach: 'I Want My Voice to Be Heard', 15-Year-Old Isabeau Levito Wins U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championships, 'You Have to Share These Things': 15 Times Athletes Opened Up About Mental Health, Gold Medalist Nathan Chen Finishing School at Yale Then 'Will See Where He's At' for 2026 Olympics, Olympic Couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates Recreate Their First Date: 'Where Our Love Story Began', Tara Lipinski Reflects on Tragedy of Olympic Russian Figure Skating Scandal as Worlds Gets Underway, Nathan Chen Revisits His Childhood and 2022 Olympic Gold Win in New Memoir, 'One Jump at a Time', Sunisa Lee 'Didn't Even Think' She Could Win Gold in Gymnastics All-Around: 'It Was So Emotional', Caeleb Dressel Says He Was Disappointed with Tokyo Performance Despite Golds: 'Not Fair to Myself', Olympic Track Star Gail Devers Opens Up About Living with Graves' Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease, Olympian Katie Ledecky Says 'Go for the Gold' After She's Named Best Female Athlete at 2022 ESPY Awards, Skating Through the Competition! She was fined $100,000 and sentenced to probation and 500 hours of community service. Twenty years ago, the most memorable event in figure skating history -- a sordid '90s tale of violence, conspiracy, jealousy and sequined dresses -- began to unfold. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. "Nancy is the top-ranked skater in the country and she's beaten four However, not all was well with the decorated and beloved skater. Figure Skating Team was Tonya Harding. I just wanted to be here and do this and be a part of this.. Following her silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammerwon a mere seven weeks after the attack on her kneeKerrigan retired from competitive ice skating at the age of 25. Training is training, its a mindset, but I havent trained and skated in a long time and these moves are totally, totally different, says Kerrigan, who is paired with pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev. She even claims she was asked to leave Lillehammer by the King of Norway via a message that deemed her "a security risk.". Let's find out. Arena. In the spring of 2017 she was cast in ABC's Dancing With the Stars and also brought attention to her latest project: serving as executive producer to Why Don't You Lose 5 Pounds, a documentary that discusses eating disorders in athletes. However, an attempted movie career was dead in the water from the beginning. After the Olympics, Kerrigan was also recorded at a Disney parade complaining that the event was the corniest thing [she had] ever done, which added to the tarnishing of her reputation. "She's probably ranked number I'll be strong enough. Boston once the swelling in her knee goes down. (Gillooly, Stant, Eckardt and Smith all served prison time for their roles in the attack.). "This was a criminal Tonya Harding has her lace inspected during her Olympic competition in Lillehammer during the 1994 Winter Olympics. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! Man who hit Kerrigan's knee can't be a SEAL - NBC News We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Nancy Kerrigan Fights Back With Water Therapy The In other words, Kerrigan went out on a high note. Im so sore, its insane. Nancy is a spokesperson for the Foundation Fighting Blindnessand raises money for the vision-impaired through theNancy Kerrigan Foundation. She has performed in shows such asHalloween on Ice and the awkwardly-named Musselman's Apple Sauce Family Skating Tribute as recently as 2016. The Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan affair began with unchecked ambition, unbridled greed and a whack to the knee. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Stant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and spent 18 months in prison. "I struggle through certain steps, but I figure it out. He was always there for me no matter what turn the world might take. Kerrigan suffered a huge personal setback in 2010 when her brother, Mark Kerrigan, was incarcerated in connection to the death of her father, Daniel Kerrigan. were captured on video and replayed repeatedly on national TV. She is the 1992 Olympic Bronze medalist, the 1993 US National Champion, the 1994 Olympic Silver medalist, and a two-time world medalist. she called "a long, black stick" after a Thursday practice at Cobo "Ididn't think it was necessary. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Celebrities & Notables Running the Boston Marathon, 7 Facts About Gymnast and TikTok Star Olivia Dunne, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, 8 Negro League Legends Featured in a New MLB Game, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. Kerrigan said she awoke this morning in her downtown hotel room Add to those the factors of stress and exhaustion and jet lag and cameras and microphones being thrust into her face. But now as a mom of three, "My job is being with my kids after school and asking them how their way was," she said. Evy Scotvold, Kerrigan's longtime coach. CREATURES OF HABIT:Ten things we will still do in 2017. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? US figure skaters Tonya Harding (L) and Nancy Kerrigan avoid each other during a training session February 17, 1994 in Hamar, Norway, during the Winter Olympics. A news report in the Portland Oregonian newspaper said prosecutors have enough evidence to charge Harding. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. "She is unable to do what she needs The United States must commit to the two women skaters by A hot mic, however, seemingly caught her saying, "This is dumb. The hard work paid off, and Kerrigan landed two big wins at major international competitions at the end of 1993. Tonya Hardings bodyguard Shawn Eckardt (left) and fellow defendant Derrick Smith (right) are joined by Smiths attorney Robert Goffredi Jan. 14, 1994, as Eckardt and Smith are arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit assault in the attack on skater Nancy Kerrigan. I havent used a lot of these muscles in many, many years. Frank Carroll, coach of 13-year-old Michelle Kwan, said the man "This is so dumb. her fiercest rivals. Admittedly, she developed something similar to an eating disorder but soon was able to pull out of her destructive behavior. Kwiatkowski, is knocked off the team because of it. Harding, a former national champion and "I've been through a lot," Nancy Kerrigan told PEOPLE in 2017. Two gushing fan letters Kerrigan maintained his death was due to a heart attack, but her brother Mark a veteran who suffers from PTSD was convicted of assault and battery in an incident that authorities said led to Daniel's death. In 1995, Kerrigan tied the knot with manager Solomon, 16 years her senior. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. Later in 2014 she was interviewed for NBCs Nancy & Tonya, an hourlong documentary in which she described the entire situation as sad and said I dont dwell on it. The two were not put face-to-face for the NBC documentary. "The decision not to skate was made by the medical staff based on Harding, who wasKerrigan's rival on the ice, has deniedany involvement in the attack. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Nancy Kerrigan on Dancing With the Stars, dancing with her partner Artem Chigvintsev. 5 Fast Facts About Nancy Kerrigan | Mental Floss Why now?" In 2001, she appeared in an all-skating production of Footloose and skated for two years on the Champions on Ice tour. Part of that motivation was her kids: Matthew, 20, Brian, 11, and Nicole, 8. I'm a competitor, I love the challenge, and it makes me feel young again. the Olympic team skaters who do not compete at the championships. The women's figure skating competition at the Olympic Games is Feb. She also hosted Saturday Night Live in 1994. The hitman was Shane. Behind the scenes, however, there was still a struggle for Kerrigan, who suffered "at least" six miscarriages after son Matthew's 1996 arrival. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Michigan. I'm having the time of my life." Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. The spotlight has been harsh to her Getty Images Though many now categorize the Kerrigan verus Harding era as a classic battle of good versus. N. KERRIGAN'S FIRST TRAINING SESSION AFTER ATTACK Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan smiles as she takes her seat for a news conference 07 January 1994 following being attacked after practice for the 1994. Figure Skating Championships. 10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Name: Nancy Kerrigan, Birth Year: 1969, Birth date: October 13, 1969, Birth State: Massachusetts, Birth City: Stoneham, Birth Country: United States. January 25, 2010 / 3:07 PM For more of the interview, tune into Inside Edition. 23 years ago skater Nancy Kerrigan was whacked in the knee by Tonya Harding's goons. so Im trying to push hard all of those hours and Im tired, so you get a little bit emotional and mentally drained., FROM COINAGE: The Cost of Dancing With the Stars Mirrorball Trophy. On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked after practice at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, in what would become one of the biggest sports scandals in history. Though she's remained out of the spotlight lately, her name will never not be in the news. Stant, then 22, was hired by a close friend of Tonya Harding's ex-husband,Jeff Gillooly, to carry out the attack. Carroll said. A judge refused to clear the record of the man who whacked Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan on the knee in 1994, likely ending his hopes to become a Navy SEAL. That's bragging," she told NBC in 2014. In her post-skating life, Kerrigan was inducted into the U.S. So I want to become more confident. But doubt comes in, she says. ", Kerrigan opened up toDaily Mail in 2013, insisting that on top of the crushing weight of the media scrutiny, she was, indeed, receiving death threats. It ended with four men in jail, a broken shoelace and a highly publicized mouthing . Jan 6, 2014, 04:07 PM EST | Updated Dec 6, 2017. After that, no alternate may substitute for an injured skater. I forgot they even were there. The rehabilitation of such serious injuries used to take several months at the least. This was to be expected. The woman who finishes second at the trials would become the first not know when she will return to the ice to practice. Celeb Exes Who May Run Into Each Other at the Met Gala, Serena Announces Pregnancy at the Met Gala, Blake Lively Pumps Breast Milk Instead of Attending Met Gala, PHOTOS: Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2015. We watch [the show] all the time since the beginning so theyre loving it.. In 1994, the figure skater found herself at. because of the rule brought to attention late Thursday night by USFSA "I think she's overwhelmed," producer Steve Tisch said, who was working on her television biopic at the time. 11 Olympic Skaters Who've Gone on 'Dancing with the Stars', Shangela Promises to 'Get Spicy' in 'DWTS' Ballroom After Receiving First Perfect Score, Charli D'Amelio and Mark Ballas 'Shell-Shocked' After Winning 'DWTS' Season 31: 'It Happened So Fast! shoulder to see who's behind me. She wasn't aware of Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan or anything to do with the knee-bashing incident. After giving birth to her first child in 1996, the continued pressures of being in the limelight caused Kerrigan to withdraw and she began dramatically losing weight. The controversy has been thrust back into the spotlight with the release of the movie, I, Tonya. For a few months we all cared way, way too much about figure skating and we were proud of it. percent of the final score). Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E!