Tonya Harding (USA) - 1991 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate

Tonya Finishes overall 2nd. She had a few mistakes but i thought she skated amazing! Its a shame she did not win. She did hit her 3 Axel 3flip 3 Lutz 3 Loop and double Axel.

[@janemariecox6547]

If she had landed the triple toe triple toe she would have been 1991 World Champion 🏆

[@shane802]

Shoulda woulda coulda

[@usaskjock]

Forget the jumps for a second. SHe was an outstanding spinner. Her centers and speed are rock solid

[@Dylvente]

What's so special about this performance (and her performance at Nationals that year) is the beauty and perfection of the triples she did complete. She makes them look absolutely effortless here. She would never quite achieve that degree of elegance on her triples again, even when she landed them in later seasons. She would often come down a little heavy. Still one of my all-time favorite skaters.

[@RogerLewis-ey2tt]

Her troubles got in her way. She's still a legend. I can't believe she got beat out by the boring Nasty Nancy Kerrigan

[@Dylvente]

I agree she's a legend. What are you referring to when you say "beat out"? Tonya beat Nancy at Nationals and World in 1991 and had beaten Nancy several times in the 80s. I feel that Tonya got the marks (and medals) she deserved when she earned them. In Albertville, Tonya had (IMO) a better long program performance than Nancy, but was coming from 6th in the short program compared to Nancy's 2nd. She would have had to skate much better than she did to overcome that disadvantage. At '94 Olympics, both of Nancy's programs were better. I can't think of any event where Nancy beat Tonya unfairly.@@RogerLewis-ey2tt

[@elisefincher4478]

The height that tonya would get on her jumps is insane. She has to imo be ranked among the best junpers.

[@GaryGarlic]

She should have pulled in on the salchow..... she didn't even try to do the triple. These were her worlds to win and it just didn't happen :(

[@dolcevitausa]

Say what you want about Tonya personally but you can not knock her jumping ability at least in 1991. Power,height and distance to those jumps...

[@omartorresdthree]

ugh...after the Kerrigan attack, I never once disliked Harding. In fact before she went South or bad girl, she was the best skater out of Yamaguchi or Kerrigan. She would have been the best in the sport but she let it slip away.

[@cleosmom7]

Gotta love the early 90s "power bangs"...lol.

[@panettonea]

I disagree with all these comments that Tonya wasn't artistic--she just lacked polish and sophistication. She simply needed more development.

[@douglasbrown5671]

Her programs in the late 80s were more artistic than her later ones. It is weird.

[@erika6651]

@@douglasbrown5671 Agreed, her presentation was much more aesthetically pleasing in 88/89 and declined from 91 on. Unless she was actively trying to portray a dinosaur on ice, her Jurassic Park program was hands down the least artistic program of the top 12 in Lillehammer and her absolute worse.

[@douglasbrown5671]

@@erika6651 Yes and her earlier programs were packed with field moves, and held moves out longer. She also focused on paying attention to the music. In later years she picked strange pieces of music and often skated through the music, all but ignoring it. Atleast in this program, while the music is a wierd mismatch of disjointed pieces, she does try and interpret each piece, in a couple years she wouldn't even be doing that anymore.

[@Karamarika]

​@@erika6651good points. Her choreography declined after this point. I think her heavier frame didn't help. She looked much bulkier since she is so short and it made her skating look clunkier. I don't think she was putting in the training in 93-94.

[@officeaddict33]

@Dylvente - Her triple jumps (the ones she landed) were spectacular here. Effortless, great posture on the landings. Maybe nerves blew the 3toe and 3sow. Still, a great performance.

[@metsdudenj]

I thought her SP here was amazing. well choreographed and great spins. I had her in first over Kristi in the SP

[@Dylvente]

I agree. Either that or had she even just done a triple toe, double toe combination instead of popping it, a double sal at the end would have been okay. She missed a great opportunity to be world champion, which had she skated clean, she should have been that year.

[@RogerLewis-ey2tt]

A lot of stressors in her private life...

[@ivanlavouras]

For me Tonya deserved #1. That 3A was enough for me. 4 triples (loop, lutz, flip and axel), the most difficult ones. Kristi couldnt even attempt a 3A

[@alexsdb9712]

And her skating edges, and her SPINS. She defeated Kristi in those as well, so it was enough for Tonya to win the 91 World Championships.

[@ManuelPabloArnao]

Had she hit that triple toe triple toe she would have been World Champion!

[@Dylvente]

What saves this performance is that the jumps she did land were the four most difficult ones, while she popped and skipped, respectively, the two easiest ones.

[@dawnymae6456]

Tonya---THE BEST EVERRRRR!!

[@pueraeternus111]

Despite her very complicated life, Tonya Harding remains as one of the most enduring, iconic, and beloved figures of the sport. What's particularly interesting about this program is that she aced all of her difficult jumps --- including a flawless triple axel --- but lost focus on the two easy ones, the salchow and toe loop. I also love how she was able to blend three disparate pieces of music --- Batman, Send in the Clowns, and Wild Thing --- into an exciting, coherent, and seamless program.

[@RogerLewis-ey2tt]

A true artist. She's forever amazing.

[@quiddy]

In the slow motion she was dangerously leaning off axis, a trait that would later get more pronounced and ultimately became too difficult to muscle back into safe landing.

[@USA-qm2bk]

Chris Quidlat she tilted In the air all through 92 season. She did it In practice in 94 but not in competition unfortunately

[@marcblunk542]

I must have a thing for bad girls because Tonya Harding and Nicole Bobek are among my favorite all-time female skaters. I like Nancy too because she was a fighter. And didn't let the knee attack keep her down. I hope US figure skating can get back to this. Where we sweep the podiums at World's.

[@erika6651]

The Russians did this year!

[@RogerLewis-ey2tt]

Nancy was and is still a whiney, self-entitled brat, and her skating is robotic

[@mauriciobarrientos9633]

OMG this report is so poetic, i can take the 90's style that media gaves to Figure Skating 😅😅

[@chriscoyne9717]

She had such presence and had nuances to the music. But more powerful than the others. She skated harder than the men did lol

[@iggyreilly2463]

One of the best spinners in ice skating history.

[@hollyjolly2066]

One of the best in history, period!

[@AJHyoton]

Kristi Yamaguchi is and was my favorite, but I love seeing Tonya Harding skate. She set the bar really high for Kristi to clear. Great performance

[@rfillangi]

I think after the 3 axel she thought about winning and that messed up the 3toe...If she had stayed focused she could have won.

[@joshhalcyon1192]

People keep talking about her 3axel (understandably given the difficulty), but her 3lutz and 3loop are much better technically IMO - her 3axel often looks tilted in the air, she could complete the rotations because of how high it was, but the air position was never as nice as her loop or her lutz

[@Dylvente]

I agree! For me her mark of distinction is not one move but the overall quality of her athleticism, including not only the jumps but also the spins.

[@raymondgomez7587]

Even with the popped jumps I think if Tonya had better footwork she may have won. Love Tonya. She had awesome jumps and spins and was good at figures too so you would have thought she would have stronger footwork?

[@RogerLewis-ey2tt]

I think her flaws were related to her poverty.

[@joshhalcyon1192]

Her jumps were some of the best the sport has ever seen. Too bad her coaches didn't allow her to develop artistically, she had good speed and fast, centered spins - she could've had it all.

[@JYoder]

Such a great skater - so sad she made so many bad choices.

[@LEDANCETHERAPY]

I never cared for Kristi Y. She was consistent but I never found herbcompelling to watch and it always annoyed me how her head was always tilted

[@soniablades7031]

Hey does anyone know where I can find Tonya skating to unchained melody iat an exhibition I think it was in Munich for worlds.....can’t find it anywhere!

[@danklies9606]

Heya, it got taken down for like no reason? Also, I have a playlist with as many of her performances that I could find on KZbin on my channel. So if it ever gets reuploaded again I'll put it there.

[@pinksparkles-kz8jj]

it was actually at skate america! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4abgZmLbtSMb8k here you go!

[@hollyjolly2066]

@@pinksparkles-kz8jj Thanks for posting that! 💙

[@Simba85]

You know, say what you want about Tonya Harding but the girl could jump!

[@kristiana282]

Wow. Stunningly amazing.

[@hollyjolly2066]

Perfectly said!

[@shane802]

Tonya great jumper. But I don't know what it was, but I found it hard to root for her. I just think it's because artistically, Tonay could not hold a candle to Kristi and Nancy

[@aspenrobinson8797]

I understand she landed a triple axel, but to me she can't ever do a champion program over again. She missed jumps and doubled here. She can never never do it all at a skate

[@shihlin1]

The only thing you can say in Tonya's defense is she's been surrounded by negative, selfish people her entire life, starting with her own mother and leading to her loserish husband Jeff Gilooly and their sad sack group of henchmen.

[@Dylvente]

@officeaddict33 Yeah, and it was impressive how after popping the combination she pulled herself back together to land two more beautiful triples.

[@janemariecox6547]

Her triple axel was wonkey but AMAZING!!!!!!

[@depauw2007]

Wtf with this music selection...

[@surge2k7]

Back in the day when the U.S. had an arsenol of awesom skaters

[@surge2k7]

Love Tonya Harding, she had so many obsticles.

[@Maybebluechels]

Tonya was always better then Nancy LOL...only once was she better then Kristi.

[@humphreyblogut672]

Twice, actually. She beat Yamaguchi at 1991 Nationals and 1991 Skate America.

[@danstafford5977]

Some people that are so hypocritical they get joy in debasing anyone, out of just pure Envy!

[@andreikuzmin2693]

А теперь только Елизавета Туктамышева прыгает тройной аксель после 20-ти...

[@CarlosCastro_]

Unfortunately for Tonya her artistry and musicality were none existent. Without that triple Axel, she would have never beaten Kristi at nationals. At worlds even if she landed another triple, she was not going to beat Kristi.

[@chriscoyne9717]

Carlos Castro she still would have skated perfectly at nationals and kristi fell

[@redd605]

I remember watching this on TV, when she did that jump,she was so fast,i went wow.should of got a Olympic medal.the rest is history.as we no.

[@janemariecox6547]

She was so in shape and fit during the 91 season. She was lean and strong. Later on she was overweight and out of shape.

[@MAllanDavis1979]

I keep forgetting I was there!!

[@ovafanboy]

"where will the triple axel come?" hahah oh dick enberg!

[@agoodjuan]

She skated to the Batman soundtrack?!

[@erinjohnson1124]

Part of it yes. She also has another program where the entirety of the music is all Batman.

[@chriscoyne9717]

Why couldn't kristi do a 3axel? Is it her legs, lack of upper body strength?

[@humphreyblogut672]

She reportedly was capable of landing them in practice, but not consistently enough to put one in a program. She didn't necessarily need a 3-axel to win, and chose to concentrate on her consistency, non-jump elements, and the other jumps. Her strategy paid off as Harding lost her 3-axel and Ito's became somewhat inconsistent. And she had tremendous upper body strength -- this from a hockey player friend who watched her lift weights when she was training in Edmonton. He was stunned that someone her size could lift so much weight.

[@jondavwal13]

Ito had one competition where it was inconsistent, the 1992 Olympics, due to Japanese media pressure on her to win. However, she still landed one. I loved Kristi and wanted her to win in 1992, but in retrospect I wish Midori had won the gold medal. She was a once in a lifetime skater and live you have never seen anything like it.

[@chriscoyne3534]

why couldnt Kristi land a triple axel? does it have to do with muscle strength or ..

[@LennonTheBunny]

She didnt practice it enough

[@jondavwal13]

She stopped trying after the Olympics. She was very close. There is video of her attempting it.

[@shane802]

Nancy 2 Olympic medals, Tonya-none. Tonya has nothing to show for being "better than Nancy"

[@paulief.biggie5459]

High marks.

[@hollyjolly2066]

She is MESMERIZING!

[@shihlin1]

Still came down to Power (Tonya) vs. Beauty (Kristi) in their skating. Which do you prefer? Going by the final scores, the judges made their preference very clear.

[@alexsdb9712]

However, if people look closely, then and now, Tonya was more of a complete skater than Kristi Yamaguchi. The qualities of her skating technique and understanding/feel of the ice and blades was at another level. This was highlighted by how Tonya was better than Kristi in figures. Tonya also had presentation, not balletic but just musical and even with a "show" quality. Overall, it was Midori and Tonya who were the best of that era and possibly ever. Figure skating may never see another kind like these two.

[@shihlin1]

@@alexsdb9712 Yeah, but in order to be the "best" you had to show it when it counts. Tonya did it at 91 Nationals and almost did it at the Worlds a month later. She always had the skills, but the drama of her private life (her abusive mother, husband, etc) caught up to her. Plus Tonya's penchant for switching coaches and bad work ethic (frequently skipping practice) didn't help either. These are all well documented on various documentaries on KZbin.. Tonya flourished under coach Dody Teachman shown here, but again, that relationship did not last.

[@alexsdb9712]

@@shihlin1 You missed the point and essence of my comment, and many others like mine in the www. It goes beyond the one night of the World Championships. Plus, she had the results and defeating of Yamaguchi in 91 anyway. And to think what Harding achieved in the face of socio-economic, marriage and family issues, as well as overlooking of her own skating federation. Thank you for taking the time to read my thought and for replying.

[@ManuelPabloArnao]

The pieces of music she choose for this program are just laughable. Amazing triple axel though.

[@aspenrobinson8797]

She she only just win one medal at world's 1991 ever ? Is that all she ever won ?

[@reflexiona7583]

She was Olympic champion un 1992

[@mattcastg5170]

Jeez those music selections are all over the place.

[@annajeehee]

CAuse you smoke

[@graemii]

I cannot believe that ending music. At the worlds, oh my goodness lol.

[@juliaangelina1984]

Why? It was her. She was being herself. Who fucking cares? She skated beautifully.

[@graemii]

I know I don't care

[@extra_ice_girl]

That's Tonya, so doesn't GAF!

[@shane802]

Still no Olympic medals. :) Smile honey

[@vandapietrantonio9956]

There was no question Kristie should have won. Yes Tonya did a triple axle. She had no choreography between the jumps her spins were not as good. Christi skated faster and was more musical. Tonya looked like a junior skater. I was there and as I remember Christi lit up the arena.

[@dannyleo4791]

I agree. Tonya had physical talent, but Kristi was a much more complete and graceful skater.

[@panettonea]

Tonya's spins were not as good? I don't know about that. And Tonya usually skated *much* faster than Kristi, so I have difficulty believing that Kristi actually skated faster than Tonya at this event.

[@sbe79]

Tonya offered SOME choreography. Not much, but some. She hit several of the notes with dedicated movements, which was quite evident. It was, musically, a mess. "Send In The Clowns" versus "Wild Thing". Who authorized that?!?

[@panettonea]

sbe79 Yes, Kristi had better choreography. And Tonya's music was kind of amateurish. But Kristi's speed, flow, jumps, and edges were not in Tonya's league. Kristi was also a rather wobbly skater who glided over the ice, whereas Tonya skated powerfully *into* the ice. If Tonya had landed even one more triple, I would have had no problem placing her ahead. But her skate was a bit too sloppy to win this one. At least she won Skate America convincingly later that fall.

[@humphreyblogut672]

+panettonea Kristi Yamaguchi a "rather wobbly skater"? You're obviously a moron who knows very little about figure skating.

[@VTMCompany]

5:17 says it all...

[@noahfence4493]

I dont care what she did. It was wrong. Totally wrong. But she still was a outstanding skater. Better than most. Even better than Nancy, but Nancy was excellent and should have NOT won silver it should have been gold. But I still wanted to sleep with her and bury my head between those wonderful thighs. So I am NOT gay. Big Deal!

[@shane802]

"Wild thing"-how classy and elegant. (eye roll)

[@juliaangelina1984]

Fuck off. She wasn't classy or elegant. She was a hell of a skater, and that should be enough.More than enough.

[@shane802]

Classy and elegant I see you are Julia. Good comment.!

[@hollyjolly2066]

@@juliaangelina1984 Agreed 💯!!

[@SonOfAGun1814]

those marks are ridiculously high - i didn't like when they changed the scoring system, but now i'm glad they did.