Tonya Harding (USA) - 1986 Skate America, Ladies' Long Program

[Taan123]

sensational ARTISTRY and athletism, tonya was the complete package, gorgeous skating.

[Dylvente]

Her footwork had so much more character and variety than it did in later years. She skated with more confidence. That pivot move they pointed out had so much more lean and impact (on the artistic quality of the performance) than when she did the same move in later years. I think she became more risk-averse as she moved up in the ranks, and although her jumps and spins continued to be strong, her skating lost something.

[officeaddict33]

@Dylvente - Agree with you. Tonya seems so "free" and aggressive in the early years. Fabulous. I would guess she started to sense as the years went by the politics and how they were playing into her career. I think this led to her feeling that the U.S. Federation would hold up the "pretty" skaters (Yamaguchi, Trenary, Kerrigan) in the marks as opposed to her...even though SHE was the one to give Midori Ito a run for her money.

[xmykeyx]

I wish Tonya was a master at figures. She would've been something at the 88 olympics!!