Tonya Harding's Past: Ex-Husband Jeff Gillooly Revealed

By Jayson Panganiban September 06, 2024 10:13

Photo by Getty Images

What was considered a world of grace and elegance changed the figure skating world forever with Tonya Harding after Jeff Gillooly was caught in a scandal. It grabbed headlines unlike anything seen before, ultimately concluding with the attack on Nancy Kerrigan that has since become synonymous with figure skating. What follows is the story of Harding and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly; their turbulent marriage and circumstances resulted in one of sports' most infamous scandals.

Background on Tonya Harding

Tonya Harding was born on November 12, 1970, in Portland, Oregon. A natural figure skater almost since she could walk, Harding started early because skating was her time away from home. Harding progressed quickly in competitive figure skating, landing a triple axel at 1991 Nationals, finishing second to Kristi Yamaguchi.

Who is Jeff Gillooly?

Jeff Gillooly came into Harding's life when she was just a teenager; they met in the mid-80s and were soon involved. They wed in 1990, but not long after welcoming a child, their union began to crumble. As a result, Gillooly appears to have been simultaneously controlling and manipulating an X-factor operating within the relationship.

However, amidst the obstacles was Gillooys's strong influence on Harding's skating career, including handling her money and scheduling practices. However, their union was marred by numerous fights and claims of domestic assault, which eventually resulted in a divorce in 1993.

Major Events and Controversies of Both Parties

The biggest Harding news was the plot to break Nancy Kerrigan's legs, which they denied involvement during the 1994 Winter Olympics build-up. One day after a practice in Detroit, Michigan, on January 6, 1994, she was attacked. The attacker, Shane Stant, was hired by Gillooly and Harding's bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, to break Kerrigan's knee so that he could not compete in nationals, thereby giving Harding a better shot at the Olympics.

The attack on Kerrigan, who suffered a bruised knee, was initially cloaked in an aura of doubt. The inquiry soon unraveled the plot, and it was linked to Gillooly and Eckardt before raising its head at Harding. Gillooly eventually confessed his involvement in the attack to authorities and implicated Harding.

What This Means for Harding's Public Image & Career

For Harding, the aftermath of the Kerrigan attack was immediate and dire. Her claims of innocence were met with blistering tabloid coverage and a public backlash. But the U.S. Figure Skating Association suspended her and banned her for life, took away all of those titles, and ended Nancy's competitive skating career as well.

The scandal rendered her accomplishments on the ice meaningless, as Harding was now villainized in front of America. The story ended as far less of a fairy tale. Gillooly, who later changed his name to Jeff Stone, spent time behind bars and mostly disappeared from the limelight altogether.

The incident brought to the surface the extreme pressures and rivalries in competitive sports, leading to debates over just how far athletes and their entourages may go for victory. The media's simple hero and villain tropes created an aura that surrounded the story, which eventually led to a plethora of books and docs on the topic as well as "I Tonya," one critically acclaimed extended daydream about Harding's life with Kerrigan at its declared focal point but also in many ways liftoff pad.

Tonya Harding and Jeff Gillooly's story is one of a kind, taking ambition to new heights, and we also witness some devious darling glances in sports. The scandal resulted in Harding's ban from the sport, but it also reinforced athletes' fighting spirit, as Kerrigan had to come back and compete with all of that stuff going on around her. As the world looks back on this incendiary episode, the ghost of Harding and Gillooly lives on in debates over integrity, fairness, and sportsmanship.