On March 12, 1994, one of the most shocking and controversial moments in recent celebrity history took place. Tanya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, hired Shane Stant to attack Harding's main rival, Nancy Kerrigan, during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Michigan.
The assault occurred after Kerrigan had finished a practice session. Stant struck Kerrigan's right knee with a police baton, causing her to withdraw from the championships due to her injuries. The attack was planned to improve Harding's chances of securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
The incident quickly became a media sensation, with Harding and Kerrigan's rivalry taking center stage. Harding eventually admitted to having knowledge of the attack after the fact, but denied any involvement in the planning. She pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution and was banned for life from participating in U.S. Figure Skating events as either a skater or a coach.
The scandal remains one of the most notorious incidents in sports history, with both Harding and Kerrigan's names being forever linked to the event. The story has been the subject of numerous documentaries, films, and books, including the 2017 movie "I, Tonya," which offered a semi-fictionalized account of Harding's life and the attack on Kerrigan.
Despite the controversy, Kerrigan recovered from her injuries and went on to win the silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, while Harding finished in eighth place.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
