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Perhaps my choice for the most shocking news story from my childhood happened 18 years ago this week: when Nancy Kerrigan was attacked while training for the 1994 National Figure Skating championships.
I was a pretty half rear-ended Nancy Kerrigan fan. I think the only reason why I migrated to her was because she was US skating’s only hope for the 1994 Olympics after Kristi Yamaguchi retired after winning the Olympics and the World Championship in 1992.
I was way more into Tonya Harding, but she had fallen on hard times since the 1992 Olympics where was was in 4th place. In 1993, her dress became undone during a performance, also in the same year, her blade became wobbily. It was at the point where I didn’t even see her skating on tv at all in 1993.
Also, DEM BANGS:
I thought those bangs were high class growing up. I wanted my bangs to be like Tonya Harding’s.
By 1994, however, Tonya got rid of her bangs:
{btw, doesn’t her hair look like Pam’s in the Office episode “Valentines Day”?}
It always bugged me however, the way she would just half ass pull her back for performances though. Not very classy.
Nancy also had a tough 1993. Remember when she fell on her butt about every 1.5 seconds in the 1993 Worlds Long program? I cried about that for days. Cut me some slack, I was 9. It was so hyped up that she was going to win, I remember even staying up late with mom to watch it that Saturday evening, and it was just over within the first few seconds.
(Total sidenote, in that fluff piece, at 2:21, you see Nancy’s car, which is just a simple Acura Integra. I thought that was a high luxury car when I saw this segment as a 9 year old. I guess not very many people were driving Acura’s in Hampton Virginia in 1993).
I remember where I was when I found out about the attack. I was in my room getting ready to go to baton class, and mom was downstairs watching the news. Back then, I always kept my bedroom door open so naturally, I could always hear the tv. When I was at baton class later that evening, I thought about the chances of someone coming up to me and either stabbing me Monica Seles style, or hitting me with something hard, Nancy Kerrigan style.
A couple of days later, the women’s competition started, and since Nancy could not skate because of the bruised up knee, I remember her sitting in practically the nosebleed section of Cobo Arena watching everybody else skate.
During all this is going on, nobody even notices Michelle Kwan who was 13 years old, skating in an adult competition, who qualified for the Olympics, but due to Nancy getting injured, becoming a write in qualifier, wasn’t able to skate in the Olympics.
Tonya won the Nationals skating to … the music from Jurassic Park. yup.
Before ABC aired her performance, Tonya’s horoscope was shown:
Hmm.
Tonya skated a pretty alright performance, Dick Button and Peggy Fleming seemed surprised, almost belittling Tonya, giving how poorly she’d skated in the past at these sorts of events.
Buttons also gives some belittling to Michelle, showing a clip of “little Michelle” watching Tonya’s performance. “WOW”
You know who the real loser of this competition was?
Clear Choice Mouth Wash. I’ve never heard of the stuff, wasn’t even around long enough to make a real dent in a Google search.
Related Links:
Profile on Tonya’s troubles in 1992
saleintothe90s 