If you recognize the names Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, then you were around on this day in 1994 and remember the “breaking news.” Both women were figure skaters, vying for a place on the U.S. Figure Skating Team. Harding, 23, and Kerrigan, 24, wanted to compete in the 1994 Winter Olympics. One tried to obtain the position dishonorably.
Kerrigan had been practicing at a rink in Detroit. After the practice, she left the building, unaware that Shane Stant was waiting to attack her. Using a telescoping baton, he hit her lower right thigh, injuring her knee and quadriceps tendon. She would not be able to compete at the U.S. Championships which ran from January 4th-8th, opening the door for Harding to get a place on the Olympic team.
The attack was orchestrated by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. Originally, he had made plans with Shawn Eckardt to carry out the attack in Massachusetts. For some reason, Eckardt couldn’t do it and he hired Stant and his nephew, Derrick Smith to carry it out. Harding won the U.S. Championships and secured her place on the Olympic team while vehemently denying that she knew anything about the attack.
The Olympics ran from February 12th-27th in Lillehammer, Norway. Despite not competing in the U.S. Championship, the Olympic committee granted Kerrigan a spot on the team. The tension was palpable and the drama palpable! Harding famously fell apart crying when her shoelace broke. She was allowed to get it repaired and her competition portion restarted. Even so, she continued to fall apart emotionally, affecting her performance. She finished 8th overall while Kerrigan took home the silver medal, losing the gold to Oksana Baiul from Ukraine.
As the investigation took place throughout 1994, it was discovered that Harding was complicit in the attack against Kerrigan. “Harding’s penalties included three years of probation, a $100,000 fine, and 500 hours community service. She agreed to reimburse Multnomah County $10,000 in legal expenses, undergo a psychiatric examination, and volunteered to give $50,000 to the Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) charity.
“On June 30, chairman William Hybl [of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA)] stated, “By a preponderance of the evidence, the panel did conclude that she had prior knowledge and was involved prior to the incident. This is based on civil standards, not criminal standards … bank records, phone records – the way they came together to establish a case…[demonstrating] a clear disregard for fairness, good sportsmanship, and ethical behaviour.
“Harding was stripped of her 1994 U.S. Championship title and banned for life from participating in USFSA events as either skater or coach.” 1
You have to wonder why Harding fell apart emotionally at the Olympics? The answer should be clear. God said in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Harding had committed nearly all these abominations. The guilt must have been overpowering! Guilt is more debilitating than a telescopic baton. It certainly hurts worse.
Even in the religious world, everything imaginable is done to alleviate guilt. However, I think people miss the benefits of guilt. Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Whenever the Word of God is violated, people should feel guilty. That guilt should drive a lost person to Jesus, recognizing that they need to be saved. Guilt should drive a believer to Jesus, asking for forgiveness and cleansing.
“Forgiving yourself” is psychobabble! If you could forgive yourself, why would you need Jesus? Nothing in Scripture tells us to forgive ourselves. We are to seek GOD’s forgiveness and we are to forgive those who “trespass against us.”
If you are carrying the weight of guilt on your shoulders today, you need to go to Jesus immediately. Let Him relieve you of that burden and give you the forgiveness, grace, and mercy you need.
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_of_Nancy_Kerrigan
