l honestly do not believe ANYBODY could have beaten Oksana ''The Swann'' Baiul in 94. Nancy Kerrigan turned in her very best performance and still fell short. Oksana gave a deeply moving once in a lifetime presentation of unequalled spiritual heights......HOWEVER, how would Tonya Harding had done in the Olympics had she not gotten mentally and emotionally caught up in her criminal associations and public scrutiny...CLEARY, Tonya was a personal train wreck in her performance and got eliminated....How far would Harding have gotten IF she would have stayed focused, trained hard. and palyed by the rules?

l do not think they would have given it to Tonya no matter how well she skated. Her trashy, guttersnipe image does not play in a sport that likes to pretend that the women are all little princesses. Never mind reality, it is all illusion.

l think Tonya would have given her a chance for the medal that year.

l personally think by '94 Tonya Harding was ''done''. With her natural athletic abilities, she could have left a greater mark in skating. But instead, her continual poor sportsmanship ultimately led to getting the boot from the skating world along with a lifetime notorious reputation. She needed to get her act together well before the '94 Olympics before there would even be expectations that she'd come out at the top.

Her peak was about '91 & then her skating just dwindled from there. l do not think she did any triple axels in competition since then, her claim to fame as a female skater. She was a powerhouse jumper & spinner which could have spoken for itself . . . but instead she became a drama queen, resorting to excuses, ''shinnanigans & getting involved in a plot to wipe out the competition. Not a smart or ethical way to try to win. And she didn't.

It is interesting to think how far she would have gotten if she'd only played her cards right. It is hard enough even for the best of skaters who do stay focused, train hard, & play by the rules . . . it is about who can stay mentally tough (regardless of what is going on in real life) & bring out the goods when it counts. She HAD the goods, athletically speaking. But we will never really know . . . & sadly for her, she has to live with that.

Its funny u mention that cause l found on the web that Tonya Harding was coaching kids figure skating recently a couple of years ago. She had talent & got all caught up in a the bull**** by 94 she was done. If she stayed focused & never met the guy she married etc prob back in 91 if she stayed on track, she might of never got caught up in all of the drama as we know today. As for her ability she was the one to beat as she was known to land a triple axel in competition back then which was a very big thing, Tonya was part of a very few in womens figure skating back then that had a triple axel but she was more a powerhouse then graceful skater. As we see u need both to win the olympics. Where as Nancy had the grace & beauty aspect of skating. It was said in an article in Skating magazine in January 05 http://usfsa.org/Magazine.asp?issue=28360 about Michelle Kwan that when Nancy got hit in her leg she meaning Michelle was suppose to walk out before her but was called back for something.

Oksana got all caught up in the limelight as well after the olympics & she was a train wreak until recently. Either way Tonya let it slip away in replacement of greed! Oksana is nice in person but she has a way of being mistaken as a B***H. Nancy Kerrigan as well is nice but more reserved. Oksana trys to reach out to young figureskaters & local & overseas charities that she supports & Nancy & Oksana r regular apperances for Stars Stripes & Skates a 9/11 tribute fundraiser on ice. Oksana does the swan routine almost every time she performs locally u can find her skating in the Ice House Hackensack NJ or the Sky Rink in NYC.

Here is my daughter with Oksana
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/marlnails/159335244293.jpg

My daughter with Nancy Kerrigan
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/marlnails/nancyandalyssa2006.jpg