More than three decades after becoming one of the most controversial figures in sporting history, former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding is making an unexpected return to the spotlight.
The 55-year-old, whose career came crashing down following the infamous 1994 attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan, is preparing to perform in front of an audience once again.
Tonya, who turns 56 on November 12, has been spotted back on the ice in Vancouver, Washington, where she is training for an upcoming skating show.
And despite being away from competitive figure skating for more than 30 years, the former champion is proving that her passion for the sport hasn't faded.
"The love of skating is the reason why I've always come back," she told local television station KOIN 6 News. "I just can't walk away from it."
Tonya Harding's surprising comeback
© Getty ImagesTonya is preparing to appear in Tonya and Friends, a public skating show taking place at Mountain View Ice Arena in Vancouver, Washington, on December 12.
The former Olympian revealed that she began skating twice a week earlier this year, hoping to regain her strength and eventually perform for an audience.
She has been working with her former coach Dody Teachman, who first coached her in the 1990s, and has even been using a training harness as she rebuilds her skills.
Although she remains banned from competitive figure skating, Tonya is looking forward to entertaining fans again and sharing the sport she has loved since childhood.
© Getty ImagesWhat happened to Tonya Harding?
Tonya became a household name in 1991 when she made history as the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition.
However, her achievements were overshadowed three years later when her Olympic rival Nancy Kerrigan was attacked ahead of the 1994 Winter Games.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe assault was orchestrated by Tonya's then-ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and her former bodyguard Shawn Eckardt.
Tonya denied involvement in planning the attack but pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution. She was subsequently stripped of her 1994 US national title and banned for life from the US Figure Skating Association.
The scandal became one of the most sensational stories of the decade and was later brought to the big screen in the critically acclaimed 2017 film I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie.
© Disney General Entertainment ConWhere is Tonya Harding now?
Since leaving competitive figure skating behind, Tonya has taken on several surprising roles, including a stint as a professional boxer.
She also returned to television in 2018, finishing third on Dancing with the Stars, before winning Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition the following year.
© Getty ImagesAway from the spotlight, Tonya has focused on family life with her husband Joseph Price and their son Gordon, who was born in 2011.
In a 2024 interview with People, the former skater revealed that she had been working as a custodian while enjoying a quieter life with her family.
