Tonya Harding is back on the ice in Vancouver, Washington, training twice a week since spring to get ready for a public skating show scheduled for December 12. The 55-year-old former Olympian, who turns 56 in two weeks, is preparing for “Tonya and Friends” at Mountain View Ice Arena, working through warmups, jumps and spins while using a harness to help rebuild her strength.
Harding told KOIN.com in an exclusive interview that she has skated twice a week since spring to stay in shape for the possible public performance. “The love of skating is the reason why I’ve always come back,” she said. “I just can’t walk away from it.” The show, set to start at 2 p.m. on December 12, will feature Harding alongside other skaters, and organizers say fans will have a chance to meet performers and collect autographs afterward.
Back With Her Old Coach
Harding is preparing with two coaches, including Dody Teachman, who first worked with her in the early 1990s. According to Kerry Eggers, Harding is training with Teachman at Mountain View Ice Arena, the same rink where, per The Columbian, she has skated on occasion in recent years. Teachman said Harding retains the grit that defined her skating career while also showing a softer side these days. “She’s a force all her own,” Teachman said.
Harding’s return to regular training follows a quiet stretch. She hadn’t skated since posting a Merry Christmas video on Instagram during the 2024 holiday season, according to Eggers. Once she got back on the ice, progress came quickly — by her third day back, Harding said she had already landed a double loop, double salchow and double toe loop. She said she plans to skate at Mountain View usually on Tuesdays, and more often if a documentary project she’s involved with moves forward.
Not a Competition, But a Real Show
Harding knows the December date isn’t a competition, but she wants attendees to see a genuine skating show rather than a nostalgia act. She said skating for fans, family and friends again makes her heart feel good, and she’s glad people will get the chance to watch her skate once more.
Harding’s path back to the rink carries the weight of a career that once made national headlines for the right reasons. She became the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, according to ABC News. She went on to compete at both the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, finishing fourth in Albertville, France in 1992, per the Oregon Encyclopedia. She also won U.S. national titles in 1991 and 1994, according to Portland Monthly.
