Nancy Kerrigan
Quick Summary
Nancy Kerrigan is an American figure skater known for her rivalry with Tonya Harding. In 1994, Kerrigan was attacked and injured after a practice session, which prevented her from competing in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Tonya Harding won that competition in Kerrigan's absence.12
Both skaters competed in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games. Harding was implicated in the attack on Kerrigan, leading to a legal dispute, but both ultimately participated. Harding finished eighth, while Kerrigan narrowly missed the gold medal, coming in second to Oksana Baiul of Ukraine.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Olympic GamesLillehammer, Norway, 1994…major story centered on Americans Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. About a month before the Games were to begin, Harding was implicated in an attempt to injure Kerrigan. Harding filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee, seeking an injunction against being barred from the Olympics. However, the legal dispute…
Read More…major story centered on Americans Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. About a month before the Games were to begin, Harding was implicated in an attempt to injure Kerrigan. Harding filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee, seeking an injunction against being barred from the Olympics. However, the legal dispute…
Read More
Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter GamesCompetition, results, and notable athletes…major story centered on Americans Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. About a month before the Games were to begin, Harding was implicated in an attempt to injure Kerrigan. Harding filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee, seeking an injunction against being barred from the Olympics. However, the legal dispute…
Read More…major story centered on Americans Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. About a month before the Games were to begin, Harding was implicated in an attempt to injure Kerrigan. Harding filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee, seeking an injunction against being barred from the Olympics. However, the legal dispute…
Read More
- Oksana BaiulEarly life and 1994 Olympics
…plot to injure her teammate Nancy Kerrigan. Though Baiul trailed Kerrigan after the short program, she landed five triple jumps in the free-skating performance. She displayed mesmerizing artistry and edged Kerrigan by one-tenth of a point to win the gold medal.
Read More…plot to injure her teammate Nancy Kerrigan. Though Baiul trailed Kerrigan after the short program, she landed five triple jumps in the free-skating performance. She displayed mesmerizing artistry and edged Kerrigan by one-tenth of a point to win the gold medal.
Read More 
Tonya Harding…brutal attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan, Harding’s main nemesis in the early 1990s. Kerrigan was clubbed on the knee as she left the ice after a practice during the U.S. championships—just six weeks before the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder…
Read More…brutal attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan, Harding’s main nemesis in the early 1990s. Kerrigan was clubbed on the knee as she left the ice after a practice during the U.S. championships—just six weeks before the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder…
Read More