I was sick all weekend and the only enjoyable part was my screeners arrived in the mail. I could watch films from the comfort of my couch surrounded by tissue, medications and lots of Gatorade, oh and with my cat, Gandalf.
I watched I, Tonya twice. Since then I have constantly pondered upon her life for many reasons past and present. Firstly, Ms. Robbie is an amazing actor and I’m happy to see Ms. Janney won the Golden Globe. She ‘rang the bell’ as they say with that character. The acting all around is superb. Or in ice skating terms: 6.0.
But back to Tonya Harding. Tonya and I are the same generation. We competed in athletics in the same era and both trained with the same intensity that a ‘6 hour/day’ athlete trains. What I can’t stop thinking about is my new-found respect for her. A respect that admittedly, none of us had back then and mostly due to the ‘incident’, and well, the over-done blue eye shadow didn’t help either. But I wore those pony-tail ‘scrunchies’ too, so I should stop the snark.
Thankfully we grow up and reflect. If I were to compare my various swimming teams back in the day, we were probably more like a bunch of ‘Kerrigans’. We always had the colorful and latest swimsuits, plenty of dress sweats, travel money, resources, and never really worried where our next meal would come from. It was also a ‘given’ that we’d all go to college. We all did. No one I knew sewed their own suits, that’s for sure.
We certainly didn’t chop wood before a practice or have the nightmare household that the film portrays. I remember whining to my Dad about raking some backyard leaves a few times a year – embarrassing.
Despite the enjoyment of experiencing a well-executed film in many areas, I took away a refreshed realization of how Tonya placed 4th in the 1992 Olympics and 8th in 1994 Olympics despite an incredible amount of stress, abuse, chaos and lack of resources. I truly believe that if she had a better home life, she could have been a gold medalist in at least one of the Games. Note: In 1991, she was the first woman to execute a triple Axel in her programs. Again, a miraculous feat within her circumstances.
All week I have thought of Tonya and how life often gives us a gracious redemptive twist and a second chance. She was seated at the Golden Globes in an elegant black dress on a very historic night. She is happily married now and enjoys being a Mom. Perhaps those are now her gold medals.
I, Tonya is a must-see for many reasons.
Today…Tonya, I stand with you.
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