Tonya Harding is a former American figure skater born on November 12, 1970, in Portland, Oregon. She gained fame in the 1990s for her athleticism and was the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition. Harding competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics and was a two-time national champion. Her career became controversial after the attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994, which was linked to Harding's ex-husband. This incident led to a scandal that overshadowed her athletic achievements, resulting in Harding being banned from the sport and facing legal consequences.