Tonya Harding opens up about Nancy Kerrigan attack incident: 'I'm always the bad person'

Years after the Nancy Kerrigan attack incident that put an end to disgraced Olympian Tonya Harding's career, the former figure skater opened up about the unpleasant episode in a recent interview. "I'm always the bad person," the 47-year-old lamented.

American TV network ABC is set to air a special interview of the sportsperson in a docu-series titled Truth and Lies where she revealed how the incident from 1994 changed her life.

Ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckhardt, had conspired to keep her main contender Nancy Kerrigan away from the sporting event by breaking her leg. They believed that would help Tonya win a medal.

The duo hired a man to attack Kerrigan during a practice session but, she survived the assault and sustained only bruises to her leg. She fully recovered from the injury soon after and won a silver medal at the global sporting event. Harding, on the other hand, finished eighth.

Later, Harding was banned from the sport over suspected involvement in the attack on Kerrigan. The dark chapter in her figure skating career still haunts her, she told the broadcaster.

"The media had me convicted of doing something wrong before I had even done anything at all," she told the ABC's Amy Robach as seen in a teaser to the documentary series.

Tonya maintained that she survived the hatred post the scandal by never losing her faith. And, as a result she continued her career by adopting boxing as her sport in 2002 — eight years after the attack on Nancy.

"Is it a challenge from the Lord to see how far I can be pushed until I break and become nothing? You can't push me that far anymore because I've been nothing and I've been nothing several times," she said as she explained how she wants her son to be proud of her.

"But it's my faith in myself and in my father that comes back to me and makes me get back up off my butt and be something worth being proud of. I always wanted my daddy to be proud. And now, I want my son to be proud."

Harding's story is set to feature as a biopic — I, Tonya — directed by Craig Gillespie. In the film, Margot Robbie plays Tonya. The film mostly focuses on the relationship between the ex-spouses, Harding and Gillooly.

Harding has reportedly seen the film and has given her nod to the director. "She watched the film. I'm sure it's hard to be objective when looking at one's own life, but I am told she is happy with it," Gillespie told Us Weekly.

The two-hour special docu-series Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story will air on ABC network on 11 January 2018 at 9 pm ET in the US.