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Imagine a merciless fight between two women who are complete opposites. At the end of this struggle, glory, fame, and wealth await the one who wins. We are not in an episode of Dallas but on the ice of an ice rink in the state of Michigan. In 1994, with the Norwegian Olympics on the horizon, the stakes were simply enormous for the young American skaters. And you will see that some are really ready to do anything to win the prestigious medal, so back in 1994, on January 6th to be precise. While that day might seem like any other for most of the inhabitants of D3, it is far from being the case for Tonia Harding, a young
ice skating prodigy known to all fans of the genre. The athlete is notably the very first American skater in history to perform the incredible trip Axel move in competition. This means that during a jump, she makes three and a half rotations in the air before landing in perfect balance on the ice. first American to attempt and complete a triple axle jump. We will know that here whether she tries it or not. This is nothing less than a true feat and it earns her the recognition of all the professionals but also of the public who then discover a young woman gifted with prodigious talent but also determined, fighting and tenacious.
Indeed, it must be said that life has not been kind to Tonya so far. She discovered a true passion for skating at the age of only 3 years old. But her parents are already struggling to cope with daily expenses and to escape their surrounding poverty. Although, incidentally, this lack of financial resources does not prevent Tonia's mother from drinking liters of alcohol all day long. This supposedly exemplary mother does not hesitate to beat her daughter as soon as she doesn't perform best on the ice. She ended up getting divorced once during that same period. Yes, because we're already at the 6th or 7th divorce, not to mention all the children of different fathers who are scattered all over the country. But Tonia,
she has a burning rage inside her and a desire to get out of this. She knows she has talent in this area and anyway, for her ice skating is her whole life. So, from her teenage years, she worked on her own to pay for her skating lessons and trained relentlessly. She met her future husband, Jeff Guiloui, at the age of 15. His son was born 4 years ago, and the young man doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life yet. Unlike Tonia, the wedding is celebrated in 1990. The bride is 19 years old at the time and she fully intends to prove to her mother that she can become someone and succeed in life. Moreover, Tonia's intensive training at the ice
rink and her unwavering determination are finally starting to pay off. She developed a mastery of her art that many describe as extraordinary. As proof, she ranked among the best at the American championships in 1986, 1987 and 1989. In 1991, she finally achieved recognition. Tony Harding achieved the feat of landing a perfect triple Axel and left an indelible mark. In the history of figure skating. The vola has become a true star. Glitter, sponsorship ticket and champagne. Everything is given to America's rising star, who already imagines herself as a world champion. So that's all well and good, but when you're trying to stay at the same level in
sports and especially as a professional, you have to work hard without stopping. You're going to tell me that Tonia knows that better than anyone. However, it is clear that the young lady returned home forgetting to pack her professional conscience in her suitcase, because she will make the mistake of spending the next few months partying and leaving her skates in the locker room. And while she's at it, she also takes the opportunity to fire her coach. Well yes, now that she's the best, she no longer needs to pay for her services. Tonia makes mistake after mistake. She makes the worst decisions for
her career to the point where we start to wonder if she's deliberately sabotaging herself. Inevitably, by neglecting her training and physical condition, she also begins to gain weight and lose her abilities. She still finished in a respectable 3rd place at the 1992 US Nationals. But her decline was already noticeable to those with a discerning eye. The triple Axel, the move that made him famous, seems less mastered. Moreover, she will never be able to reproduce it in competition. That same year, when everyone hoped to see her repeat a feat, she failed to reach the podium at the Albertville Olympic Games and landed painfully in 6th place at the world championships. It is a slow descent into hell that begins for the young athlete who gradually sees all
her sponsors turn to other talented athletes. Yes, you don't get something for nothing. All the better, actually. Inevitably, the money is starting to run out. It's not so easy to change your lifestyle. Especially since we've always wanted to escape poverty, just like her. Badly advised by her indolent husband, overwhelmed by events and lagging behind in sports, she then went through one of the worst periods of her personal and professional life. In fact, Tonia and her husband Jeff are even evicted from their apartment because they cannot pay the rent. The disillusionment is terrible and the reality is hard to swallow for those
who were smiling under the flashing cameras just 2 years earlier. But he still has one last hope. A solution that could solve all her problems in the blink of an eye. To win a gold medal at the Olympic Games which will take place a few months later in Norway. If she succeeds, Tonia will be able to restore her image with the media and sponsors. She will once again be a minor celebrity in her country. She will regain everything she has lost in the last two years, and therefore her dream life. And most importantly, in the event of an Olympic victory, she will pocket several million dollars. Millions of dollars certainly promised by the Federation and sponsors. From that moment on, in Tonia's mind, it was simple: she had to win
the competition at all costs. She has already fought so hard to get out of it that she is ready to overcome any obstacles that may again stand in her way. She can do it, she must do it. No matter what it costs him and no matter the collateral damage. Unfortunately for the young athlete, the first threat will soon appear. The scene takes place at the Kobo Arena, the ice rink where she has resumed training. The threat is named Nancy Carrigan and she is simply her exact opposite. Between the two talented skaters, it's a bit like night and day, fire and ice, the ugly duckling and the princess. Yes, Tonya was judged for a long time for her physique, which some considered a little too unattractive. Its shape is a little too
round, not feminine enough. His way of life, smoking and swearing like a tomboy. But Nancy is slender, graceful, delicate, and has a doll-like face that fits much more with the skating stereotypes that the media love. In addition to that, her talent on the ice already promises her a very, very bright future. The only thing they have in common, at best, is that they both come from rather modest families. But that's where it ends. Tonia, who knows that her future depends on a single victory in the next gios, views the arrival of this rival, who seems to be perfectly groomed and adored by the public, with a very bad eye.
She even begins to think that because of her, the d's are thrown away. At the same time, she is aware that she has completely destroyed her reputation in the eyes of the public. On the contrary, Nany is so admired and praised by critics, it's almost as if she has automatically qualified for the Olympic Games. Then, little by little, Tonya felt jealousy creeping in. She convinces herself that the judges' judgment will inevitably be influenced by the image of America's beloved little skater, and therefore that the victory, her victory, is being stolen from her On January 6, 1994, the best female skaters in the country trained on the ice of the Cobo Arena. The following day, the selections for participation
in the Norwegian Olympic Games will take place. Among these athletes of course are Nancy Carigan, the big favorite, but also Tonia Harding, her main competitor. Early this afternoon, Nan trains tirelessly and with great effort under the satisfied gaze of her coach. It must be said that she is in great shape and reveals her full potential by executing her sequences perfectly. She is precise and determined. The selections the following day should be a mere formality for her. There is a very good chance that she will fly to Norway in a few weeks and perhaps even win a valuable medal there. A little before 3 p.m., after a particularly good training session, Nancy takes off her skates and heads towards the locker room to
change. On her way, she meets an acquaintance and stops for a few moments to chat. It was at this precise moment that a man approached, pulled out a telescopic baton and struck the young woman with incredible violence. Nancy Carrigan collapses screaming the second the blow lands on her Because the attacker did not aim at random. It was his right knee that he tried to smash. The man who just hit the skater takes the opportunity to flee, breaking through an exit door. He jumps into a car he was waiting for, engine running, and disappears into city traffic while people rush to Nancy, who is screaming and holding onto her leg
. But it wasn't so much the pain that made him cry. It's mostly about knowing that all those hopes of competition and all her childhood dreams have just been swept away in an instant. No knees, no skating. Suddenly, while it was in complete chaos just a second ago, the corridors of the ice rink emptied. But the cries of the young girl, a true hope for figure skating, still echo on the walls. For what? Who did this? The answer won't be long in coming. Indeed, while the police launched a manhunt for the attacker, many eyes turned to Tony Harding, whose most serious rival was Nancy. No one is unaware of the financial and professional difficulties the skater is currently experiencing. With Nancy out of
the running, the path is clear for Tonia at the Olympic Games. Therefore, one can only draw a connection between this act of cowardice and the former champion. But you don't arrest someone based on a few suspicions, and thank goodness for that. Let the investigation begin. Unfortunately, at this stage, little is known about the culprit except that he is a rather tall white man and was wearing a leather jacket. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. But the journalists have already formed their own opinion. The person in charge is none other than Tonia. Unsurprisingly, the person most directly involved is blocking her accusations. She claims that she was asleep in her room when the tragedy occurred and that she has no idea who the
culprit is. Moreover, she is deeply sorry for her rival who unfortunately will not be able to participate in the qualifiers. What a coincidence! This gives Tonya every chance of winning a medal at the Norwegian Games. Moreover, now that the path is clear, Tonya easily wins the United States championships, which automatically qualifies her for the Olympic Games which will take place a month later. Without the slightest threat, the millions promised to Olympic champions are almost already in his pocket. Except that no one can believe that the young woman is not involved in this terrible tragedy, either directly or indirectly.
Neither do the D3 police officers, for that matter. Although there was virtually nothing usable to begin their investigation. Apart from the rather vague description of the culprit, they have no fingerprints, no physical evidence, not even the license plates of the car he used to flee. And if he's not stupid, he's surely already set sail in another state. In short, it would take a first miracle to find the mystery man and a second for him to hand over the one everyone thinks is the mastermind, Sonia Hardy. Well, these two miracles will happen less than a week after the attack. Indeed, shortly after the attack, the FBI itself received
a call from someone claiming to be able to provide them with important information. According to this key witness, one of her childhood friends, a certain sh, keeps boasting about being involved in the attack on Nancy. I have trouble understanding what he's proud of. Without hesitation, the police arrested this clever fellow to question him about the case. But anyway, who are these SH and Calt guys? A completely twisted fan, a simple mentally ill person walking around the ice rink with a telescopic baton, a bitter ex-boyfriend? No, he's just Tonia Orling's bodyguard. Well, what a coincidence! In the FBI offices, the man who is certainly a very good bodyguard but not exactly a very good criminal mastermind confesses in less time than it
takes to say it. Shon admits that he was indeed part of a plot targeting Nancy Carrigan. Among his accomplices was a certain Shane Stant, a former soldier recruited as a henchman to assault Nancy. Derick Smith, Shane's uncle tasked with playing chauffeur, but also and especially Jeff Guiloui, husband and manager of Tonia Hardling. Let's be honest, things are starting to look pretty grim for Tonya. Especially since Shaw, the bodyguard, specifies that it is indeed Jeff, the champion's husband, who is the instigator of the plot. He reportedly even told his wife that she had no chance of beating Nancy and that they should therefore get rid of her together. Well, yes, why train harder to try and beat your competitors when
you can simply destroy their kneecaps with a telescopic baton? It's faster, it's simpler. Why didn't I make progress sooner? Just so you know, initially there was even talk of killing Nancy Carrigan. Arrested in the aftermath along with his other accomplices, Shain St, the henchman, is in turn questioned by law enforcement. He confirms everything that was said by the bodyguard and recounts that he did indeed go to the ice rink on that fateful day of January 6, equipped with a telescopic baton. His goal was simple: find Nancy Carigan and break her knee to eliminate her from the competition. In itself, one could say that the quintet has achieved its goals. The athlete cannot participate in the championship, which automatically
disqualifies him from the Olympic Games. But the attacker didn't even manage to hit the kneecap. And instead of putting a definitive end to the young woman's sporting career, it only kept her away from the ice for a while, leaving her with large bruises on her thigh. Even more cleverly, Shane had n't thought to check that the exit would be clear to make his escape, because the doors he planned to leave through were unfortunately closed, which explains why he had to break a window. In short, we are clearly not dealing with experts, and that's just as well for Nancy, who narrowly escaped a sudden career cut short or even death. But Tonia in all this, she is indeed suspected of having been aware of the plot from the beginning.
These suspicions are reinforced by phone calls made by Tonia to the hotel where Nancy was staying, which suggests that the group may have planned a first attack in her room. Then she contacted Shaile several times, something she never ordinarily did. For what reason? If it weren't for the fact that it was to transmit information to him about the plan to follow. Despite her doubts, the champion continues to repeat loudly that she knew nothing about it. And this, despite the fact that she lived with Jeff under the same roof and that all these people were meeting at their house to
prepare for the attack on January 6th. Well, Tonia was probably making herself a little Nutrition protein shake while he was discussing all this. So, she's not aware of it. Maybe. However, she continues on this line of defense, albeit with a slight nuance. On the advice of her lawyer at a press conference, the champion admitted to having known about the plot against her rival, but only after the attack had taken place. If she is guilty of anything, it is only of not having denounced her husband afterwards. However, this excuse is still a little hard for the USFSA to swallow. The body in charge of overseeing qualifications for the Olympic Games following the scandal that has just
broken out is even seriously considering disqualifying Tonia. Goodbye to dreams of glory and fortune. But obviously, the young woman doesn't intend to let that happen. After all, she didn't go that far only to end up being excluded from the competition. She is therefore threatening the USFSA with legal action, demanding 10 million euros in compensation if, in her opinion, she is unfairly deprived of participation in the Olympic Games. And the worst part is, it works. The members of the USFSA are not stupid. They know that the justice system only has strong suspicions against Tonia. There are, to a certain extent, the testimonies of members of the conspiracy who claim to have gone to her house, but no one directly points the finger at the athlete by
formally accusing him of having taken part. And without material evidence, the case is far from being won by the USFSA. Tony Harding is therefore finally allowed to go to Norway and participate in the race for the gold medal as she has always wanted. It is often said that crime does not pay. Well, frankly, we have the right to ask the question. But there is a term that can very well apply to the rest of the story and it is called karma. Remember Shane, the former soldier whose mission was to break Nancy Carrigan's knee, completely missed by aiming for the inner quadriceps muscle. The vast medial. This is a muscle that has been particularly developed in female athletes. This is what saved her, because although she suffered from
severe pain and a temporary problem with knee extension, Nancy was able to put her skates back on in just a few weeks of rehabilitation. Just in time for the Olympic Games. Yes, but she had not participated in the championship and therefore was not part of the official selection list. Well, the USFSA decided to circumvent the regulations and exceptionally granted Nancy the right to participate in the Olympic Games. It's back to square one for Tonia, who sees her great rival drop off her luggage at the same hotel as her in the Olympic Village. The girls will have to live together for the entire duration of the games, cross paths in the corridors, sit in the same dining room, and all this in a tension that could be cut with a knife.
And if Tony Harding's reputation was far from brilliant before the selections of January 6, 1994, let me tell you, it was disastrous at that time. Because the story of the attack perpetrated on Nancy Carrigan was not limited to the borders of the United States. It has literally gone around the globe and for several weeks the world press has been having a field day commenting on every move of the two rivals. As one might expect, in this case, the bias is that of Nancy, the little princess of skating. Tonia is considered evil personified. She understands that she is not welcome here. But no matter, once she gets her check back, she'll go home and everything will eventually settle down.
Unfortunately, nothing is less certain as the Harding-Krigan confrontation becomes the story to follow. Thousands of people are fascinated by this news story, which has the appearance of a settling of scores, and everyone wants to see the good guy in the story win this duel. Unfortunately for the other athletes and other disciplines, that year, it must be admitted that 90% of the spectators were there for only one thing: the figure skating event. Who will win? When the two champions meet at training at the same time, it is around 7 a.m. The thermometer reading -20°g does not deter the curious and the approximately 3000 journalists from around the world. They rush to provide material for their articles,
bombarding the scene with hundreds of photos. Nancy and Tonya together on the ice, religiously ignoring each other. Television cameras are also focused on the girls during their training. On February 25th, during the free skating event, the ice rink is packed and the spectators are going to get their money's worth. Because Tonia, due to a problem with her lass being too short, stopped her challenge and went to see the judges crying and begging them to grant her 30 minutes of extra time. She wants to present herself once again, but this time with the right license, which will be granted to her. However, this more than generous second chance will not help the skater to shine.
She tries to replicate her triple Axel but without success. In the end, her performance only earned her 8th place and it was even her worst nightmare that came true when her rival, who performed a breathtaking cover, climbed the steps to second place on the podium. She wins a silver medal to the cheers of the crowd. Tonya's world is crumbling, and this is just the beginning. Upon her return to the United States, she must indeed answer to the justice system in the case of the conspiracy against Nancy. Jeff, her husband, is sentenced to 2 years in prison, but Tonia, who is liable for perjury, is forced to perform 500 hours of general labor. In addition to that, she must pay a fine of $110,000 and is banned for life by
the U.S. Figure Skating Federation. Meanwhile, Nancy Krigan, propelled to superstardom, becomes a multimillionaire and marries the love of her life. Tony Harding, for her part, falls into the most Gloc-like category when a tape of her wedding night with Jeffiloui is marketed. According to her, she is the victim of manipulation by her husband who wanted to make money off her. Speaking of money, she's ready to do anything to scrape together a few measly dollars to pull her out of her financial ruin. She therefore tries to get into boxing, into cinema, but it leads to absolutely nothing and she suffers failure after failure. However, over the years, she continues to make headlines, but unfortunately not in a
good way. Driving under the influence of alcohol, domestic violence. Pse attempted kidnapping, nothing particularly glorious as always. This incredible story has permanently tarnished figure skating in the United States, but it has also allowed it to move to the forefront of the scene when, at the time, it had very little following. Moreover, director Greg Gilepsy made a biopic about the life of Tonia Harding. Her name is Tonia. It was released in cinemas in 2017 with Margoot Robby in the role of the champion. The film retraces the main events in Tonia's life, including of course the event that marked a
dramatic turning point in her personal life and professional career. The attack against her competitor who was supposed to secure her a place at the 1994 Olympic Games.
