Tonya Harding - 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate

Tonya Wins the national title here, People say that Nancy would have won if she skated. But she never skated a clean program until Olympics, I also think that Tonya would have done the triple Axel if Nancy was skating.

[@cato451]

What a story. Crazy ass life but no one can deny her skating skills.

[@markoyo1]

Her lutz is amazing so powerful and perfect, she ends the rotation before her blade touches the ice, actually a lot of skaters UR a loop and Tonya not, that championship was 26 years ago, she was ahead of her time technically speaking

[@valmacclinchy]

She was ahead of her time in a lot of ways..her choice of music was bold and fun, not the same classical piece everyone has skated to..

[@valmacclinchy]

Tonya's Lutz is incredible, so are her spins!

[@theartoffigureskating2315]

her triple loops were always amazing. incredible how she could even drop out of the jump because she almost always finished all of her rotations in the air.

[@danstafford5977]

I love Tonya Harding she's not comparable she has it all!

[@stevenvalencia6353]

She doesn't have it all wheres the artistry an softness if she had those 2 qualities then she would have it all

[@erictyson5947]

There have been many better skaters since Tonya

[@valmacclinchy]

@@stevenvalencia6353 she's extremely artistic and graceful. Go watch 1992 Albertville Olympic Exhibition, her Ina Bauer is absolutely stunning.

[@stevenvalencia6353]

@@valmacclinchy omg🤦 that is not graceful nor artistic u need to go look up the definition of graceful an artistic machelle kwan Nicole bobeck sash Cohen aksana bauil they are grace full an artistic Tonya not in the same league sry a in a baur held for 15 sec dont make u artistic it makes u strong lol lmao OMG 🤦

[@valmacclinchy]

@@stevenvalencia6353 when you can form a sentence maybe we'll talk

[@ovafanboy]

@tripleaxel1991 so true, people don't realize that even at the 93 nationals, Nancy made plenty of mistakes. This routine was flawless, triple axel aside.

[@USA-qm2bk]

ovafanboy the two foot on the triple toe and no triple triple combo. But I do love her ❤️

[@sbe79]

I echo the sentiments. If none of the lead-up had ever occurred, Nancy competed and Tonya skated exactly like this, she had an excellent chance of walking away with the national title. Nancy was not the greatest competitor, she merely had the look of opulence that was marketable. Nancy never skated her programs to 100% and typically struggled to even get credit for half of the jump elements. Tonya didn't skate hers to 100% post-early season 1992, don't get me wrong. But, Tonya was very, very close to it here with a newfound maturity and nobody expected it because she'd always either been a trainwreck and veered dangerously close to being so. Nancy might have been "on" for the first instance just in time for the Olympics, but I actually think sitting out the US Nationals seriously worked to her advantage. Instead of scrambling to prep, she was able to take her time. Whereas, the press coverage on Tonya at Lillehammer was a huge disadvantage to her as she was closely scrutinized at every practice session by every country that reported the Games -- and she couldn't handle that. I'm actually surprised she skated as well as she did there.

[@alexsdb9712]

To be fair, Nancy was so much improved and determined after her 93 World's meltdown. But if Nancy Kerrigan wasn't assaulted and was able to compete at the 94 American nationals, there's a very good chance she would have made it a tense and close competition with Tonya Harding there, for the title. However, it must be considered that the ordeal and assault that Kerrigan went through, only made her stronger, focused and made her reach her full potential as was seen at the 94 Olympics in Norway.

[@bethanycook8430]

Her double axle was a walk in the park

[@musicalperson17]

What I love here is that her lutz actually improved greatly from the 91 season when she was in top form. More height and even more dynamic than before, plus that deeeeeep outside edge right up to take off. Beyond textbook perfect

[@Beargeek616]

When Tonya is on, she is unbeatable. I wish she had her triple Axel consistantly. And man that triple loop of hers?!! She could have easily turned it into a quad!

[@alexsdb9712]

Yes, and because of her great technique on the loop, she completed a quad loop off-camera during the filming of her Texaco commercial back in 91.

[@keithbrashier4848]

That triple lutz is the best one ever performed by any figure skater in history - male or female - (in my opinion). Damn!

[@audio91000]

Tonya skated so beautifully and had such amazing energy when she performed. I think it's such a shame what happened. I don't care what anyone says she did not deserve to be banned. I just don't get it. I think the skating federation already had it out for her, and hated that she was their champion, and it was the perfect excuse to get rid of her. That's just my opinion on the matter

[@shanitrahan9904]

Tonya harding is the 1994 national champion isn't that wonderful? She has great strength and power and has an upper body Tonya harding won the gold medal she's in first place wow

[@erictyson5947]

No it's not wonderful, Nancy Kerrigan would have won if Tonya didn't assault her

[@valmacclinchy]

@@erictyson5947 Tonya didn't assault her.

[@erictyson5947]

@@valmacclinchy ya she did

[@ivanlavouras]

@@erictyson5947 Tonya didnt assault her, it was not her fault. Also Im sure if Tonya Had Nancy as competitor she wouldnt have backed off that Triple Axel since this year was her peak at the triple axel, never had it as controlled as this season.

[@mht4908]

I thought she wasn't going to make the lutz and the triple loop because she starts rotating quite late, of course she always proves me wrong. I don't believe she was involved in Nancy's attack, her jumping ability is way beyond Nancy's league. Too bad that the judges don't always give the power jumpers the credit they deserve

[@wheresbaby7783]

Why aren’t they saying anything about Nancy being clubbed?

[@tazmanf69]

you are the best

[@vivianaell8228]

Beautiful ❤ and Fantastic Music Jurassic Park 😊...👍 Beautiful !!!💕

[@shanitrahan9904]

Whoo!

[@user-gw8uk1pf4x]

Она великолепна! Прыжки высокие и легкие несмотря на полноту тела, это невероятно!

[@wildabisesihahn7396]

I wish she'd had access to better music

[@user-rr3kd1mq7i]

すばらしい

[@Justhatipp]

Could anyone tell me who the commentators are?

[@erictyson5947]

you mean the commentators who pretended they didn't know she was guilty?

[@Justhatipp]

@@erictyson5947 i mean were they there at that moment when deals were made to attack Nancy? Didn’t it literally just happen like a few days before this? They didn’t know and wasn’t exactly their job to comment their theories on that situation! I can’t imagine them being like “oh she just did a triple lutz....but I think she’s a criminal. Her next move a triple axle.....but please everyone do not cheer we THINK she’s a criminal oh good she popped it and did a single karmas a bitch Tonya Haha” lol! Your comment is stupid all i asked was who the voices were

[@erictyson5947]

@@Justhatipp Nancy knew who did it as soon as it happened you moron, and Tonya didn't do any triple axels in this performance. She only did that trick 1 time 3 years before this. Nobody liked Tonya dude, she was bitchy and full of drama. Glad they ended her career

[@valmacclinchy]

@@erictyson5947 she did the triple axel several times successfully in competition. And no matter what, she will always remain the first American woman to do so. She was always exciting to watch. Lots of us loved her and still do.

[@erictyson5947]

@@valmacclinchy nobody who isn't American cares about that. She wasn't the first in the world.