Nancy Kerrigan

Former professional figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was born on Oct. 13, 1969 in Woburn, MA. Her mother, Brenda, was a stay at home mom, and her father, Daniel Kerrigan was a welder. Nancy Kerrigan began ice skating when she was two years old, and often accompanied her two older brothers, Michael and Mark, to their hockey practices and games during the cold Massachusetts winter. Since hockey was considered to be a boy's sport, Nancy's mother suggested that Nancy take figure skating lessons at a near-by skating rink. Nancy appeared in her first ice show at age 6.

As her talent began to develop, her trainer, Theresa Martin felt that Nancy would benefit from private lessons and at age 9 entered her first skating competition, the Boston Open and finished second.

She continued her training through high school and competed at local events, and at age 17, advanced to the junior national level. After graduating from high school, she began training with her new coaches, Evy and Mary Scotvold.

In 1988, she advanced to the senior national level and competed in the U. S. Nationals, an audition for the Calgary Olympics. She finished 12th, but with determination, she eventually finished third in the Goodwill Games in 1991, making the World Team. In her first world competition, she came in third, behind her teammates, Kristi Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding.

In the 1992 U.S. Nationals, Kerrigan came in second, after Yamaguchi, and ahead of Harding, earning a place on the U.S. Figure Skating team for the 1992 games in Albertville where she won the bronze medal. That same year, she graduated from Emmanuel College with a business degree.

Kerrigan maintained her amateur status and in 1993 won the United States Figure Skating Championship. However, her performances began to slip and she fell into 5th place.

Again, with hard work and determination, she began the 1994 season strong and was considered the favorite to win the Nationals and a spot on the Olympic Team going to Lillehammer. Kristi Yamaguchi had retired from amateur competitions, making Kerrigan the United States Champion.

On January 6, 1994, Kerrigan and Harding were skating in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, MI when Kerrigan was assaulted.<ref>http://www.figure-skating.com/Skaters/Kerrigan/Bio.asp

Following practice for the U.S. Nationals, Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee by an assailant. It was later revealed that the assailant, Shane Stant, was hired by Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, to break Kerrigan's leg. Shant hit her on the leg above the knee with a collapsible police baton. Kerrigan's leg was bruised, but not broken. She was not able to compete in the Championship because of her injuries, and Harding went on to win the competition. Kerrigan's cry of "Why? Why?", which was caught on video tape, was replayed over and over again.

Even though Kerrigan was unable to compete in the Championships, she was awarded a place on the Olympic team and won the silver medal, while Harding placed 8th.[http://www.sptimes.com/News/112999/Sports/Harding__Kerrigan_are.shtml

The investigation into the assault had everyone involved pointing the finger at each other, including Tonya Harding. The bodyguard blames Harding and her ex, the ex blames everone including himself, Harding claims she knew nothing of the plot and that her ex-husband threatened her with bodily harm if she tried to stand in the way. When it was all said and done, Gillooley pleaded guilty to racketeering in exchange for a 24-month sentence. Gillooley was also fined $100,000. Eckardt pleaded guilty to racketeering and Derrick Smith and Stant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree assault and all received 18 month sentences.

Harding, who tried to maintain her innocence, eventually pleaded guilty to hindering the FBI's investigation into the assault case. She was placed on probation, ordered to pay $160,000 in fines and banned for life from competitive skating or coaching.http://www.oregonlive.com/special/tonya/index.ssf?/special/tonya/timeline.frame

The U.S. public loves an underdog but not one that barks too much. Nancy Kerrigan captured the hearts of the public following the attack and the allegations that Tonya Harding had something to do with it. Both women went to the Olympics in Lillehammer, and everyone watched to see what was going to happen. Kerrigan was a heavy favorite, having worked so hard, and brutally attacked by a jealous rival. And they cheered when Kerrigan took the silver, losing to Oksana Baiul , and they cheered that Hardy did so badly. But just as quickly as the adoration appeared, it began to dissipate.

While they were waiting for the medal presentation which was delayed because they were searching for a copy of the Ukranian National Anthem, Kerrigan was erroneously told that the delay was due to Baiul getting her make up done, to which Kerrigan said, "Oh, come on. So she's going to get out here and cry again. What's the difference?"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/timeline/articles/time_030494.htmToo bad for Nancy. Thoughts that she was a bad loser began to surface.

Then she didn't stay for the closing ceremony in Lillehammer, which was again taken as a sign of unsportsmanship. Kerrigan went to Disney World. She was being honored in a parade at the Magic Kingdom and was heard to have remarked, "This is so corny. This is so dumb. I hate it. This is the most corny thing I've ever done."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/timeline/articles/time_030494.htm

Excuses for her remarks and attitude were offered, but the damage had been done. It was said that she lost a number of lucrative contracts because of these 36 words. People began looking at the Kerrigan-Hardy situation in a totally different light.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/timeline/articles/time_030494.htm

Following the Olympics, she began to skate professionally appearing in ice shows and doing some commentaries for skating events. She married Jerry Lawrence Solomon on September 9, 1995. and they have three children, two sons and a daughter. Since 1994, Kerrigan was not highly visible until January of 2010.

On Sunday, January 24, 2010, police in Massachusetts were investigating the death of a 'man' found in Kerrigan's family home. The man was Daniel Kerrigan, Nancy Kerrigan's father. Kerrigan's brother, Mark and Mr. Kerrigan were arguing about the phone, when Mark Kerrigan grabbed his father by the neck hard enough to fracture his windpipe. Daniel Kerrigan collapsed, then died a short time later.

A medical examiner listed the cause of death as "cardiac dysrhythmia," an interruption in the heart beat. The 70 year old had heart problems, and the examination confirmed that he also had high blood pressure and clogged arteries.

Mark was initially arrested for with "assault and battery on an elderly person resulting in serious bodily injury" and released on bail, and went to live in that home with his mother. The autopsy ruled the death as a homocide and Mark was charged with manslaughter.

D.A. Gerry Leone stated that Mark's "reckless actions and complete disregard for his father's safety and well-being" led to his death. Mark has had other arrests for assaults, resisting arrest, drunken driving, and others. He also was taking prescription stress syndrome relief medication.

The Kerrigan family is fighting the ruling, and hoping to get the charges dropped. If found guilty of manslaughter, Mark could receive up to 20 years in jail. On April 9, 2010, he entered a plea of not guilty to manslaughter and assault, and was released on a new bail of $25000.

Mark's ex-wife appeared on the "Today Show" in February, 2010 and claimed that her husband was extremely violent and had hit and choked her on different occasions.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/daniel-kerrigan-manslaugh_n_530399.html