Tanya Harding is more famous for what happened to Nancy Kerrigan than she is for being the first American to land the triple axel. In 1994 Harding became a victim of not only her own upbringing, but the media. In the I, Tanya trailer Margot Robbie as Tanya Harding says, “There is no such thing as truth, everyone has their own truth.”
I, Tanya certainly proved that.
Two careers were ruined in the 1994 Olympics. One ruined career lasted as long as the recovery of a kneecap while the other would last a lifetime. That is, until a movie, a red carpet appearance in the golden globes, and a speech by the Allison Janney.
The Tanya Harding story is a sad one. It is a story of what could have been, but due to extraordinary factors was not. Nancy Kerrigan, the graceful, ideal ice skater was whacked by a man hired by Harding’s ex-husband whom Harding was in regular contact with. As the movie unfolded it also became clear that this is about a girl, corrupted by her own upbringing. It is a story of rich versus poor. Class vs. working class.
That’s why it may be surprising to learn that Nancy Kerrigan is the daughter of a welder and a homemaker. Kerrigan is hardworking from the working class. But, despite all this Kerrigan was not a victim in Tanya Haring’s story. Tanya Harding herself was.
What happened in 1994 is not a story of rich versus poor. It is a story of greed and the need for a family to succeed at all costs.
Allison Janney who won a golden globe for her role as Harding’s mother said this in her acceptance speech, “Tanya Harding is here tonight and I just- I’d like to thank Tanya for sharing her story with Steve and allowing him to tell all the different sides of the story and what I love about this movie, this entire- What everyone in this movie did was tell a story about class in America, tell a story about the disenfranchised. Tell a story about a woman who was not embraced for her individuality. Tell a story about truth and the perception of truth in the media and the truths we all tell ourselves when we wake up in bed every morning and go out and live our lives.”
Meanwhile, after the ceremony a reporter from The Times went to ask Harding a question. Harding said she was “under contract” and declined from answering. It is after all this drama Harding has become accepted. At least by Hollywood.
As the two hour film came to an end, it became apparent that Tanya Harding’s story is messy. It took a two-hour film and work from a whole set of writers, actors, and produces to prove to the audience that Tanya Harding no matter if it is true or not was the victim of her mother, her ex-husband and the world of figure skating.
It is hard to be Tanya Harding, defined by one event in her life, but it is a bit easier when praised at the golden globes.