Tonya Harding

Tonya Harding was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She was a two-time US national figure skating champion. She began skating when she was about four years old and showed tremendous promise at an early age. At 5'1 and 105 pounds, Tonya was a very athletic, aggressive skater and was the first American woman to ever make a triple axle in competition. Childhood was extremely difficult. Her mother was allegedly abusive and her father suffered from physical problems that often prevented him from working. Her family had little money and stability. Growing up, Tonya had eight different addresses in the Portland area. She married Jeff Gillooly in 1990, when she was 19. Tonya filed several complaints with police during their three year marriage. Tonya divorced Gillooly in the summer of 1993, but reconciled shortly thereafter.