Ep 39. Tonya Harding

In season 6, episode 39 of E! True Hollywood Story, viewers are taken on a deep dive into the life of former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding. From her humble beginnings in a broken home to her rise to fame as a world-class athlete, this episode explores the highs and lows of Harding's career and personal life.

The episode begins by tracing Harding's early career in figure skating, from her first steps on the ice at age three to her ascent to the top ranks of the sport in the mid-1990s. We hear from coaches, family members, and fellow skaters about the talent and determination that drove Harding to succeed, as well as the obstacles she faced along the way. As we learn more about Harding's early life and training, we begin to understand the factors that would shape her future in ways she never could have predicted.

From there, the episode explores the infamous incident that would come to define Harding's career: the 1994 attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan, which Harding was ultimately found to have been involved in. Through interviews with Harding herself, as well as with journalists, investigators, and legal experts, we gain a new perspective on the events of that turbulent time. We see how Harding's actions were shaped by her upbringing, her ambition, and the intense pressure of the world of competitive figure skating - and we begin to question our assumptions about who she really was and what she really wanted.

As the episode unfolds, we witness the fallout from the Kerrigan attack and the media frenzy that surrounded it. We see how Harding was vilified by the press and the public, despite her insistence that she had no prior knowledge of the plot. We hear from friends and colleagues who stood by her during those difficult days, and we see how those experiences shaped her future.

In the years that followed, Harding struggled to rebuild her life and her reputation. She turned to other sports, including boxing and professional wrestling, and became a reality TV personality and a sought-after speaker. She also faced personal challenges, including a tumultuous marriage and a struggle with substance abuse. Through it all, she remained a lightning rod for controversy and criticism, and we see how this affected her deeply.

Ultimately, the episode paints a complex and compelling portrait of Tonya Harding - a woman whose life has been both deeply tragic and undeniably fascinating. Through interviews with those who knew her best and archive footage from throughout her career, we come to understand the many factors that shaped her path, and question whether we might have judged her too harshly in the past. Whether you're a diehard fan of figure skating or simply curious about one of the most notorious episodes in sports history, this episode of E! True Hollywood Story is not to be missed.