Nancy Kerrigan Biography - Early Years On Ice, Winning Ways, Attacked, Chronology, Silver Medalist, Selected Writings By Kerrigan: - CONTACT INFORMATION
1969-
American figure skater
Nancy Kerrigan was born on October 13, 1969 in Stoneham, Massachusetts, where she was raised along with her two older brothers by her parents, Dan and Brenda Kerrigan. When she was one year old, her mother was struck by a rare illness that left her almost completely blind. Kerrigan began skating when she was six years old, taking group lessons at a nearby ice rink. The instructor quickly assessed Kerrigan's exceptional talent and suggested to her parents that they consider private lessons for her.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: c/o ProServe, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1800, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Online: http://www.nancyfans.com.
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To afford the expensive private skating lessons, Kerrigan's father, a welder at a local food plant, took on an extra job as a maintenance man in the evening. Due to his wife's physical limitations, he also managed many of the household and family affairs. Eventually he would take out substantial loans to keep his daughter's skating career afloat. Never pressured by her parents…
In 1985 Kerrigan finished second at the Eastern Junior Regionals, and in 1987 she placed fourth at the National Junior Championships. After graduating from Stoneham High School, she enrolled at nearby Emmanuel College, from which she received an associate's degree. In 1988 19-year-old Kerrigan won the National Collegiate Championships, as well as three other competitions. In the same year s…
Determined to return to form, Kerrigan recommitted herself to long, arduous practices. She was soon back in form, winning two major competitions before the end of the year (the Piruetten in Norway and the AT&T Pro Am in the United States). Stepping onto the ice at the U.S. Championships, Kerrigan was overwhelmingly favored to defend her title. Her closest competition was Harding, who skated…
Kerrigan's main competition at the 1994 Olympics was 17-year-old Oksana Baiul from the Ukraine, who had won the 1993 World Championships. Kerrigan, who was continuously surrounded by multiple security guards during the Olympics, won the short program, and although she made a small mistake near the beginning of her free skate, she completed a near-perfect routine. Baiul also made a minor mis…
(With Steve Woodward) Nancy Kerrigan: In My Own Words. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1996.
(With Mary Spencer) Artistry on Ice: Figure Skating Skills and Style. Champagne, IL: Human Kinetics, 2003. …
Edelson, Paula. A to Z of American Women in Sports. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2002. Great Women in Sports. Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1996. Newsmakers 1994, Issue 4. Detroit: Gale Research, 1994. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 5 vols. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. Sports Stars. Series 1-4. Detroit: U•X•L, 1994-98. Brennan, Christine. "Skater Attacked at Oly…
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