Tonya harding celebrities galleries and Biography
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon
Parents: LaVona and Al Harding (divorced)
Siblings: half-brother Chris Davison (deceased)
Spouse: Michael Smith, Nov. 1995 (divorced)
Children: None
Education: dropped out of high school during her Sophomore year, later got her GED
Career Highlights: 4th- 1992 Olympics; 1st- 1991 Skate America; 2nd- 1991 World Champion.; 1st- 1991 US Nationals
Tonya Harding was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She was a two-time U.S. national figure skating champion. She began skating when she was about four years old and showed tremendous promise at an early age. At 5’1 and 105 pounds, Tonya was a very athletic, aggressive skater and was the first American woman to ever make a triple axel in competition. Childhood was extremely difficult. Her mother was allegedly abusive and her father suffered from physical problems that often prevented him from working. Her family had little money and stability. Growing up, Tonya had eight different addresses in the Portland area. She married Jeff Gillooly in 1990, when she was 19. Tonya filed several complaints with police during their three year marriage. Tonya divorced Gillooly in the summer of 1993, but reconciled shortly thereafter.
On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was struck on the knee by Shane Stant, hired by Shawn Eckardt, and ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. Tonya went on to win the Nationals and indicated she was not involved in the attack. Eckardt and Gillooly were charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit assault, and assault. On February 1, 1994, Gillooly plead guilty to racketeering; he was sentenced to two years in prison on July 14, 1994. On March 17, 1994, Tonya entered a plea of guilty of conspiracy to hinder prosecution. She denies any prior knowledge or involvement in planning the assault on Kerrigan. She was stripped of her national title and banned for life by the U.S. She was placed on three years' probation and has completed 500 hours of community service and paid $110,000 in fines.
"I would love to be out there performing", Tonya has stated. "I made one mistake, and there are people who don't want to forgive me. I'm not out raping people. I'm not out smoking crack, beating up people, stealing. I made one mistake. Cant I go on and live my life? I've learned my lesson. Give me the chance to prove I'm a better person."
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