Tonya Harding's First Triple Axel- The 1991 U.S. Nationals Figure Skating Championships

This is a video clip of Tonya Harding's very first triple Axel. She truly made history with this jump being the first American woman to ever land the triple Axel in competition. The excitement in the commentators' voices, the audience's cheers, and Tonya's face are far too good not to mention.

[@omar505]

One minute into the program and she hits a triple lutz, a triple axel and a triple-triple combination. Iconic!

[@GuillermoGonzalez-dy2te]

I can’t see the difference between the triple lutz and the triple axel

[@liloccino]

@@GuillermoGonzalez-dy2te i think the difference is that a lutz is landed facing backwards while an axel is landed facing front. if you look closely you’ll see that right before the lutz she was facing and rose her leg backwards, the axel on the other hand she was skating backwards, turned forward, then jumped.

[@flightoflightning2505]

@@liloccinoalso the triple axel has 3.5 revolution and takes off with 1 foot

[@DanangWidiantoro]

sounds great. even I don't know what's that mean

[@seer1623]

Not quite. They both land facing backwards, but the Axel has a forward facing start, so it's 3.5 turns, as opposed to the Lutz at 3.

[@petrkysela1974]

everything can be bad, everyone can speak bad about her.....but one is absolutely clear......she is the real champion woman.

[@enso1273]

fr

[@annettedelahuerta9908]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@tylerrollins5295]

She worked really hard even made her own gear

[@hannaengle]

her smile afterwards is just the cherry on top... this is HER MOMENT!

[@WALNUTS52]

The greatest!!Barr none....

[@Nr.1Mimir]

Aww the man reacting to her is so sweet

[@valmacclinchy]

That's Dick Button, a classic figure skating medalist ...he was so excited for Tonya! 😊💖

[@rup54]

He is upfront and unrestrained in his admiration for her skating.

[@Nr.1Mimir]

@@rup54 ye fr

[@sottosopravoce]

Dick Button was the best. There's a compilation video on YT of him losing his mind over great skating called "The Dick Button Seal of Approval". I highly recommend it to turn around a bad day!

[@SaintVodou]

Now that I know more about Harding’s personal life I’m twice as awed. What heart she had, when she was a punching bag with zero support off the ice. She and Debbie Thomas were powerful athletic skaters, robbed by this sport’s insistence on frilly little girls.

[@phillipstroll7385]

She was a punching bag on the ice too. They never gave her the proper credit she deserved. The power this woman skated with, my god. More than most men. She was something to behold. She was greatness where greatness shouldn't be. She was short, poor, unelegant, unpleasant, and yet, still the greatest

[@ChristieAdamsKangoo]

​@@phillipstroll7385if she'd had even one person in her corner, how different things could have been. Yes, she didn't take advice well and could be her own worst enemy. But if JUST ONE person had sponsored her, helped her get some financial aid...things could have been different (and Nancy wouldn't have been attacked, either).

[@Harleylover14]

She is so beautiful and talented. She deserved so much better. Also, Batman music is great.

[@bubblesbubbles7988]

No. After trying to ruin nancy’s shot, she deserved to be exiled

[@coaster-dl1we]

@@bubblesbubbles7988 but she didnt it was a scheme. the media blamed her for what her toxic wife beating husband did

[@soobineffingchoi]

@@bubblesbubbles7988 no she doesn’t, she made the move iconic and will go down in history despite whatever scandals she got in😅

[@svis6888]

@@soobineffingchoi will go down in history as a horrible person

[@soobineffingchoi]

@@svis6888 she’s known more for her making history as the first woman to do triple axle, not for her scandal. that’s facts.

[@christina12311979]

She will go down in history as the 1st American woman to ever land a triple axle. No one can ever take that away from her. She was more athletic and powerful than Nancy Kerrigan. You could tell, she was all muscle. What happened to her sucked.

[@justabean._.5854]

She managed to pull a triple luts,a TRIPLE AXEL and a triple-triple combo, That's something they can only ever dream to Land perfectly.

[@jtridexter]

I agree that Tanya was the first American women to do a triple axel, and Midori Ito was the first Japanese women to also do a triple axel, but Midori Ito did it before Tanya Harding. Midori Ito did it in 1988, while Tanya Harding did it in 1991.

[@Choshako]

@@jtridexter Yeah, no one was saying that Tonya was the first to do the triple axel ever, genius. They were saying she was the first AMERICAN woman to do it. Learn to fucking read.

[@aleevzlaa]

No matter what.. nobody can't take this from her!!!

[@annettedelahuerta9908]

I remember when this happened in real time! We were all so proud of her as the first American to complete the triple axel!

[@WALNUTS52]

Damn right! Over and over!

[@crownbritish2259]

This always makes me tear up

[@valmacclinchy]

I remember watching this when it happened. It still makes me cry. She's iconic!! ⛸

[@SophieBaconBits]

I’m asking myself right why am I crying. I just watched Surya’s flip and then this and now I’m in tears over both.

[@wits3392]

I can only imagine how far she would have gone if there weren't for all those abusiv3 people in her life 😢

[@katieking7231]

People always say that and I feel like it implies she didn’t go far … but she competed twice in the Olympics and made sports history with the axel jump. That is an extremely impressive career, even if it ended with drama.

[@jtridexter]

In my opinion, I think her circumstances shaped her into the person she became. As crazy is this may sound, without those abusive individuals in her life, she likely wouldn't have reached the same level of greatness. It's a thought-provoking notion to consider.

[@siemenwachtmeester]

That is an epic event regardless how anybody thinks she changed the world of figure skating and she looked great doing it

[@Lep161]

Agreed...and she's just ICONIC...

[@valerieanimagus6230]

The commentator sounds like a proud dad ❤

[@venvanseeee]

i love the way he says "GOOD GIRL😃😃😃"

[@upncmnh11]

Just watched 'I, Tonya' today love the movie; Margo Robbie; and soundtrack. It brought me here and is that the Batman 1989 movie theme Tonya is skating too. Love that move too.

[@valmacclinchy]

Outstanding movie.

[@leoalagre]

Same here

[@bornjusticerule5764]

she killed it with the Batman music in the background. 🤙 she was effin things up that day.

[@elgersmam]

Beautiful- love her joy at her accomplishment. Go, Tonya!

[@scottfromboston4957]

Say what you will about her but on ice she was the best.

[@jmonster0973]

i don't really know why anyone thinks they have the right to say ANYTHING about her lol. at 23 years old there are far worse things people do, THEMSELVES, to MULTIPLE people, and still enjoy best selling albums and successful political careers and lucrative professional sports contracts. she got screwed. straight up.

[@shogunatepena5302]

Her boyfriend was a real pig and she was so naive. But one can be judged by the company they keep.

[@holyt34]

​@@jmonster0973 you don't know what happened brother

[@alazjaw.8968]

at no point in time was she ever the best

[@DollTheFace]

you weren't even alive back then how would you know@@alazjaw.8968

[@mcsinger7719]

I LOVE WATCHING HER JUMP.. There are some times where I think when she jumps it looks like her air position is like off or that she we fall.. IT IS ALMOST LIKE MID AIR she CORRECTS.... It is so cool. watch the jumps.. You would think she would fall on the triple axle but she just FREAKING NAILS IT!!

[@evew.r3884]

I recommend watching the triple axel on a playback speed of 0.25 coz it makes it look even more impressive

[@Syrastro]

That triple axel was incredible. No words other than, wow

[@shavedparmesanprosciuttoan4317]

Anyone else get emotional watching her reaction to landing that first triple? What a star

[@nicancelin3714]

Her reaction afterwards

[@valmacclinchy]

So adorable 😍💖

[@leanajo754]

Oh, Ms. Tonya, we love you. This was the GREATEST performance in your entire career. Love you...

[@krystinb8252]

.44 that is the cleanest landing I have ever seen

[@C.K.d.K]

I love the Tonya Harding's coreography, its beautiuful🦋

[@elenacorsaro9510]

she was and is the real forever champion

[@flightoflightning2505]

no midori ito is

[@rogeriotavares8312]

Acabei de assistir ao filme, estou pensando se desde sempre Tonya tivesse tido estrutura emocional e financeira, ela seria a maior atleta de sua área em todos os tempos.

[@Brandon-ld2zo]

Say what you want about Tonya Harding but the woman is a skating legend!

[@alexis_253]

I know about the scandal and everything but watching this moment and seeing the joy on her face brings me to tears ❤

[@serenequeen8973]

It’s incredible how history is formed especially the music choices being Batman related and then Margot Robbie plays Harley Quinn and then goes on to do the role of Tonya Harding so that her side of the story could be shared. It’s not fair what happened to Tonya where she lost everything and she didn’t do anything and yet OJ Simpson got to keep everything even though he committed murder. I thought Margot did an amazing performance ❤️ I’m glad Tonya got the chance to explain her side of the story 💕

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@serenequeen8973, what part of OJ was acquitted do you not comprehend? ZERO evidence that he ever murdered anybody, PUTZ. Even the damn glove was the wrong size for his hand. Medium will not fit an extra large hand. Congrats for pegging the dumbass meter.

[@SP-cd3wo]

Team tonya

[@theking_Eric.]

"legend"

[@dblanc3870]

I'm really curious to hear from professional skaters and competent judging by people that know skating well whether she deserved the scores she got when she was competing professionally.

[@shawng7902]

Famous for all the wrong reasons today. But damn if she wasnt a powerhouse. 100# and she looks like she could squat a truck. When she hit them she killed it.

[@marshallscott2331]

the way she ate so hard omg

[@bleucollar]

a real tragedy...such skill and talent ending in disaster

[@maryjosejuarez2096]

Hermosa y fuerte

[@CJLOVE23]

A MF ICON BABY!!! 🎉

[@kellywilliamson2187]

She is GORGEOUS!

[@Itstonytime77]

NONE of the girls doing triple axles now get anywhere near the height she or Midori had!

[@amberdenise5954]

Considering how she grew up , she is extremely blessed

[@JimmyAruba]

I'm not American! But I feel like one in this moment..... No matter what happen she is the best🎉 ❤

[@elieolivennes1250]

Does anyone know the music during her choreography ?

[@MarcosBGoularte]

Batman theme, Danny Elfman

[@lunameq]

O sistema foi muito cruel com essa mulher!!! Mas a forma como ela patina vai ficar pra sempre marcado na história!!!

[@mennakenndall]

Unbelievable talent,

[@devon2667]

wow

[@camronwilliams]

Bravo

[@jaengen]

She is a goddess

[@YmustTh3w0rldG0r0und]

I love that she did it it to the batman theme. An epic song for an epic move.

[@TheTaylor1982]

I, Tonya brought me here.

[@ninicornio9412]

why everyone keeps hating on tonya when as far as I know she wasn’t involved in the assault itself she just thought thau were sending letters to her? she didn’t know they were going to break nancy’s knee

[@DanilaTranquila]

Espectacular 👌

[@user-su8qw9dw6d]

I like how she kept showing off

[@cablevamp3163]

She was pretty damn good at skating

[@kitrichardson2165]

What a shame that she worked so hard, and really must’ve had a great deal of courage and talent to reach that level, and then had all of it snatched away from her by a thug, although, like most of us, she was her own worst enemy in the episode

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@kitrichardson2165, Tonya Harding had no involvement in the Nancy Kerrigan attack, PUTZ..

[@kitrichardson2165]

@@sergeantmasson3669 very few people believe that. Her boyfriend carried out the attack for crying out loud. She was almost certainly an accessory.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@kitrichardson2165 The evidence proved otherwise.

[@CrustyMuffinsify]

Was that also the batman song in the background 😮?

[@ikebanaJc]

Nice! And even better with the Batman track.

[@Quimlh]

Tonya Harding hizo historia para bien y para mal.

[@FULANODETAL]

lo peor de todo es que no le hacia falta hacer trampas

[@bigmom987]

A beautiful skater

[@joeyacmilan]

🐐

[@loristrode9556]

If the competition was about skills alone she would have dominated.

[@seanjenkins331]

She could have easily done quad jumps

[@joewhitehead3]

She was incredible. She did not deserve any of the abuse she endured from her mother, Jeff, or to be undervalued by the the skating community just cus she didn’t have a certain image

[@aibge_]

“She’s a very powerful skater, she’s tiny.” 😭

[@comicscodeauthority3920]

Is that the batman 89 theme?

[@SaccoBelmonte]

"Whhooo aare you?!?!" .... ... ... "I'm Tonya!"

[@blossom1643]

Well Whatever Else she did That was pretty Cool.😎

[@mimiz8330]

00:43 Am I goin mad or did he say good girl?

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

He did and it sounds creepy.

[@user-ff5wt5dm4d]

Where is Tonya

[@MichaelDiazmickeyfirebolt]

To Batman’s theme

[@rg1whiteywins598]

Since only GOD knows what happened with the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, we gotta be amazed and saddened as well at the whole Tonya Harding situation. So much talent and so much devastation.

[@Wild-Eye]

How many people here because of Kanye 😂???

[@Kim-pq9sm]

😮❤

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

So did she announce ahead of time that she would attempt it? How did everyone know she was going to try it? Why not just totally make it a huge surprise?

[@katyrish]

bc the judges and announcers have their programs beforehand

[@jeff0li]

batman theme is just playing in the background

[@meow-vk7uq]

0:41

[@fjr4205]

Dick Button is THRILLED and its so cute

[@tim-behacker]

Ohh miammm

[@Meriale46]

She was a great skater, she didn't need to attack her rival Nancy Kerrigan. In fact, you can't convince me that she had anything to do with it. She was a very confident skater. I honestly believe her ex husband set it all up to ruin her chances at a better life. She was divorcing him and he wanted her solely dependant on him because he knew she had no family support. He was a selfish and wicked man. Her life and career was completely ruined because of that jerk. I still love watching her skate. I followed her career back in the early 90s until this feasco in 1994. No one deserves what happened to her. Nancy Kerrigan was not affected by her injury which makes me suspicious of the motive behind the attack. A man the size of her attacker was certainly strong enough to break her knee or break her leg... yet all he did was bruise her chin. Nancy's father was an abitious man and I still think he made a deal with Gulluly to end Tanya career so his daughter could win the gold medal. Only he never counted on Oksana Baiul.

[@mattdeans9873]

Let that be a lesson to us all: John Kennedy Jr., Tupac, Princess Diana, etc. ... and Tanya Harding. You can have it all one minute and lose it all the next.

[@loveinthematrix]

Tell me the lesson when you are killed for being yourself. Tupac & Princess Diana are not the same as Tanya Harding, she did something that ruined her career. I respect her though

[@ChristieAdamsKangoo]

Nowadays, there's much more appreciation for powerful women skaters. There's also more financial aid to help pay for such an expensive sport. She'd have had the support to go far. What a waste.

[@user-vs5nb7xd6y]

По сравнению с русскими фигуристами вообще ни о чем. Очень медленно.

[@user-pc8ee8sx7v]

Not at the time.

[@jaguarcesar]

Tonya is GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL!

[@cameronfateweaver2206]

Have they made a film of that Nancy Sheridan woman she attacked?

[@littleladyip]

It was Kerrigan@Cameron Fateweaver. But I'm with Sheridan as well for her. Uptight bitch. Nancy Kerrigan. she didn't have it like Tonya. Nancy Kerrigan was a snooze fest of a skater to watch. I Kidd you not check her out.

[@Sir_Jake15]

Yeah the Sheridan attack is well documented.

[@riverjordan2725]

Her name is Nancy Kerrigan!😐 Sheridan, hmpf! 😐

[@ana0banana]

@@riverjordan2725she will be that sheridan girl from now on. sorry.

[@amberdenise5954]

Bragging rights FORVER 🩵

[@wonyzcupid]

0:44