Tonya Harding

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tonya-harding

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Tonya Harding born?November 12, 1970
2. Where was Tonya Harding born?Portland, Oregon
3. What is Tonya Harding known for?First American woman to land a triple Axel in international competition (1991)
4. What is the cultural impact?Subject of numerous books, documentaries, and the 2017 film 'I, Tonya'
5. Why did Tonya Harding get banned from skating?After the 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution, and the U.S. Figure Skating Association banned her for life.
6. How did Tonya Harding start her skating career?She began skating in Portland, Oregon, left high school to focus on skating, trained hard, and quickly rose through U.S. Figure Skating ranks.

Triple Axel: A figure skating jump involving three and a half rotations, representing a significant technical challenge and benchmark of athletic prowess.
Conspiracy to hinder prosecution: A legal charge involving an agreement to obstruct or impede the lawful process of investigation or prosecution of a crime.
Figure Skating Championships: Annual competitions where skaters are evaluated on technical execution, artistic interpretation, and overall performance to determine a winner.
Cultural Phenomenon: An event or person that captures widespread public attention and becomes a significant topic of discussion and interest across society.