Relationship with her mother. When im being a bitch, people will know where i got it from. First the nightline 5. We do whatever it takes to fight cancer. These are the specialists were proud to call our own. Experts from all over the world working closely together to deliver truly personalized cancer care. Expert medicine works here. Learn more at cancercenter. Com. Feel the power of theraflu express max. New power to fight back. Theraflus powerful new formula to defeat seven cold and flu symptoms fast so you can play good evening. Thanks for joining us. Former figure skater ton that harding has been portrayed as an american villain whose exhusband arranged a savage attack on her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, to help her earn a spot on the olympic team. But tonight she tells Abcs Amy Robach that tonya is not the real tonya. Enough apologizing. Shes got her life, ive got my life. We both have wonderful lives. And that should be all that matters. Reporter Tonya Harding, a name synonymous with scandal, once an olympic darling known for that bretttaking triple axel jump. Until the scandal that would rock american figure skating. Why . Why . Reporter its been 24 years since the infamous attack on Nancy Kerrigan. Now all these years later, Tonya Harding is back in the spotlight with the movie about her i, tonya. Margot robbie plays harding. I never did this. Reporter despite the passage of time, we had to ask the question Everyone Wants to know. Was she aware of the brutal attack on kerrigan beforehand . The one master minded by her exhusband, jeff galuli . You never said to jeff, lets do this . No. No. He never asked your permission . No. You were never part of the planning . No. I did, however, overhear them talking about stuff where, well, maybe we should take somebody out so we can make sure she gets on the team. And i remember telling them, i go, what the hell are you talking about . I can skate. You heard them talking about doing something to someone before the attack on nancy, but Nothing Specific . This was like a month or two months before. They were talking about skating and saying, maybe somebody shou b can make it. Why . It makes you cringe hearing it. Because you know how much that it had to have hurt. And why someone would do this. What are they after . Reporter the attack on kerrigan would become one of the greatest scandals in sports history. The press threw me to the wolves. Pretty much everybody treated me like i was nothing. Got something to say . No, im afraid she doesnt. Out of my way. Dont touch my truck. I have no comment. Why do you think that happened . Because they think that they knew the story. And that i was bad. And i did something bad. And youve been punished for 23 years . Isnt that what you believe . Reporter harding grew up in portland, oregon. Tell me about your childhood. You grew up in portland . All over portland. We moved 13 different times before i was in fifth grade. She grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She single thing she got. She had to make her own clothes. She was poor. Reporter at a young age, she found her escape in figure skating. What was it about skating . I always thought that it was just so beautiful. Being out there and just doing your thing. I caught on very fast. And then it just became something that, you know, turned out to be a gift from god. I was working right around the clock, morning, noon and night, trying to get the money for her to skate and to have lessons. Reporter the movie starring Margot Robbie as harding tells hardings hard luck life story. It was never about altering peeps perception of her or saying, shes a victim or shes a hero. It was just about showing her as a human. Reporter but her early life was marked by often tumultuous and allegedly abusive relationships, like with her mother. How would you describe your mom as a mother . Not a good one. That she probably could. Does she get any credit for that . Oh, she gets credit. When im being a bitch, people will know where i got it from. I made you a champion. Knowing youd hate me for it. Thats the sacrifice a mother majors. Reporter Allison Janney plays hardings mother. I almost wanted to cry, i felt so bad that she had experienced that kind of mother. Youre a monster. Spilled milk, baby. There was this fantastic documentary made about Tonya Harding when she was 15 called sharp edges. Speaking very candidly, shes very vulnerable. I got half credit for it, mom. What did you make of that phone call . It does have my favorite line of the whole documentary, maybe my favorite line tonyas ever said. She hangs up the phone she goes what a bitch. Its hilarious, but its also her covering for the fact that shes so deeply hurt. Shes not a good mother. She hits me and she i remember she drug me into the bathroom. And beat me with a hairbrush. I remember distinctly one time at a competition, they called her on the ice three times and she still sitting there going like this. Im saying, stop it. I went like that with the brush and finished up her hair and said, okay, get. She says the abuse youve described never actually occurred. Really . What is your response to that . Take a lie detector, biatch. I didnt abuse any of my children. Spanked, yes. Shes lied so much, she doesnt know what isnt a lie anymore. Reporter on the ice harding was a rebel with an edge not typical in the figure skating world. I can be a tomboy and wear levis, boots, flannel shirt, then i can dress up and wear Something Like this. Tell me about the first time you met jeff. Met at the rink, he was watching me skate. I was like, oh my god, theres a how old were you . 15. You fell for the first guy who told you you were pretty. Yes. Because you were 15. Yes. Anything else about him attractive to you . He had a job. And a car. Reporter a romance took off. Just as hardings career began to flourish, thanks to that secret weapon in her arsenal. She was athletic, she could slump and do the triple axel. She could jump like nobody else could jump. What ever made you think that you could do that . What makes people think i cant . When she does those sweet half revolutions in the air and it was like, bam. I was like, yes i watched that footage a thousand times. Every time it makes me grin. Tell me what you were thinking. Holy [ bleep ], i just did it. If we could stop her story the happiest stories you could ever see. Reporter but as is so often the case with harding, her story did not stop there. It was still just the beginning. Jeff became as controlling as anyone else that had been in the picture that was trying to control tonya. After she won nationals, money started coming in. And offers and commercials and things like that. And im sure he saw dollar bills. Do you remember the first time he hit you . One that sticks out in my head, we were at the 7eleven. And i got nachos. And he said that they would make me fat. And he hit them out of my hand. And then he grabs me and says, lets go. And bam reporter hardings exhusband jeff told abc news, tonya said so many things and lied so much, its not even worth trying to respond to them. She married him, then she got separated from him. She got a court order to keep him away from her. And then she again. Tonya is a mess. Reporter back on the ice, hardings performance began to falter. Shes the only American Woman ever to land this jump in competition, a triple axel. And she cannot land that one. Reporter at the 1992 olympics, she finishes fourth, right behind Nancy Kerrigan. Harding wasnt ready to hang up her skates and desperately wanted to make the 94 olympic team. She needed to secure one of the two slots at the u. S. Nationals. Her main competition, Nancy Kerrigan. Theres been a violent attack on an american athlete, Nancy Kerrigan struck several times about the legs with an instrument which was described as a billy club or a tie iron i was scared. For your own safety . Yes. And anybody elses. I mean, this had never happened. Reporter by the next day, Nancy Kerrigan was out of the competition. I really want to skate today. But the doctors all sai shouldnt. Sad. But she was 84 competition. Competitors, yes. Rivals, no. Was there any part of you that felt relief that you wouldnt have to compete against her to get on the team . Absolutely not. So you didnt think, with her out of the competition, victory was yours . No. Its not. Any of us could have won. Any of us could have failed. Reporter with kerrigan on the sidelines, Tonya Harding soared to victory, clinching a spot on the olympic team. Yeah, i won. But thats because nobody else did what i did. And as good as i did. So i deserved to win. Reporter but her celebration would be shortlived, as the mystery of who was behind Nancy Kerrigans brazen attack quickly unraveled. When we come back. Okay, i never thought id say this, but i found bladder leak underwear thats actually pretty. Surprised . Its called always discreet boutique. It looks and fits like my underwear. How can something this pretty protect . Hidden inside is a super absorbent core that quickly turns liquid to gel. For incredible protection. So i feel protected. And pretty. New always discreet boutique. With advils fast relief, youll ask, what pulled muscle . What headache . Nothing works faster to make pain a distant memory. Advil liquigels and advil liquigels minis. What pain . But their nutritional needs a vremain instinctual. D,is. Thats why theres purina one true instinct. Nutrientdense, proteinrich, real meat number one. This is a different breed of natural nutrition. Searching for answers may feel overwhelming. So start your search with our teams of specialists at Cancer Treatment centers of america. The evolution of cancer care is here. Learn more at cancercenter. Com experts mom stuffynosecold nosleep mouthbreather just put on a breathe right strip it instantly opens your nose. Up to 38 more than Cold Medicine alone go to breatheright. Com today to request a free sample. Nightline continues with amy robach. Reporter even as Tonya Harding basked in the glory of being the National Champion congratulations. Thank you. Reporter rumors swirled around the 23yearolds possible involvement in kerrigans attack. Someone in oregon may have ties to the assault on kerrigan. Reporter Law Enforcement started questioning sean eckert, who called him hardings bodyguard, who quickly admitted he hired the man who clubbed kerrigans knee. No bodyguard, are you kidding me . Hes dumb as a post. Reporter he implicates jeff galuli, hardings exhusband, claiming he was the one who orchestrated the whole thing. Tell me whether or not you had anything to do with this whole thing. No, no i didnt. You werent suspicious at all . Not at that time. It was like within like that next five days or something. He started acting funny. And i remember asking him, what is going on . Do you know something that youre not saying . It is a crazy time. They are ostensibly keeping in front. How are you feeling . Been a long week. Do you know how to deal with these guys . Reporter under pressure he accepts a plea bargain claiming hard cag new about the attack and gave the final signoff. For several weeks the skater Tonya Harding has denied she knew anything at all about the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. Today ms. Harding admitted that was not quite true. Id like to begin by saying how sorry i am. I had no prior knowledge of the planned assault. I am responsible, however, for failing to report things i learned about the assault when i returned home from nationals. Reporter despite her admission just before the olympics, harding is still allowed to skate and so is kerrigan. The United States figure Skating Association holding a spot for her. I didnt want to think about anything except my skating. I just wanted people to leave me the hell alone. Reporter when the two women finally meet in lillehammer, it had become a media frenzy unlike anything in the history of the olympics. Kerrigan, after suffering that potentially careerending injury, delivers a stunning performance. Beautifully done reporter harding falls apart. No. Reporter kerrigan goes on to win silver, harding finishes a disappointing eighth. I went out, i did the best that i could under all circumstances. And you know what . I did well. I did great. I did all the jumps they did. At least i got to go skate one last time. For myself and for my co back up, guys that big luge balloon of olympic fever, it busts. Is it true youre not going to skate in japan . Now youve got to come home and face the music. And the courts are coming at you. Reporter authorities discovered a note with the name of the arena where kerrigan practiced. They say written in hardings handwriting. Evidence, they say, harding was involved in the plot. So that note they found in the dumpster . My writing was on a piece of paper. I did not write, what did you say it was . The rink where she was skating and her practice times. I did not write that. Nobody wanted to ever believe me. The idea that she wasnt a willing and able participant in this conspiracy is simply nonsense. Reporter ultimately, she would plead guilty to hindering the prosecution. A dramatic deal com a Late AfternoonCourt Hearing today id just like to say that im really sorry i interfered. What specifically legally did you admit to . Hindering prosecution. Hindering prosecution was basically admission that she had conspired to cover up the crime after it occurred. The case against her, while good, was not as good as it was against the other members of the conspiracy. Reporter she is sentenced to three years probation, a fine, community service, and most painfully, the United States figure Skating Association stripped harding of one of her two championship titles and then banned her for life from skating. What would have been justice, do you think . I dont know. Have no idea. All i wanted to do was skate. Youd be surprised how tough i really am. Reporter in the years that follow she lands a small part in the movie breakaway. And became a celebrity boxer. I did that for money, to help pay my bills, stay in shape. I like boxing. Its interesting. But oh, man. Its brutal. Reporter kerrigan returned to the spotlight on season 24 of dancing with the stars in 2017. Last year kerrigan spoke with nightline anchor juju chang about the incident 24 years ago. Do you feel like there has been an apology . We were at an event four years after i was attacked. And we both spoke with james brown. Nancy, i want to apologize again for being in the wrong place at the wrong time around the wrong people. It was very awkward and strange. I mean, its so old. It doesnt matter. At this point. Enough apologizing. Shes got her life, ive got my life. We both have won and that should be all that matters. Reporter harding is now happily remarried and has a 6yearold son. Ive been with my husband for seven years. With my husband and my son, i get my Second Chance in life to be loved and be happy. Reporter shes back on the ice, her sanctuary as she calls it, and says she mostly has no regrets. I dont look back anymore, unless im forced to. Im very blessed. Because my whole life, i would not change anything. Not one thing . Well, i mean one thing. But from my point of view, i wouldnt change anything. Because i wouldnt be where i am today. Ive been through hell and back. And i can go there many times and ill always make it back. Reporter for nightline, im amy robach in portland, oregon. Our thanks to amy robach and her brilliant team. Up next, a 6yearold shot in the Texas Church Massacre finally leaving the hospital today and doing it in style. Ugh man, my sinuses. Its like my heads in a fog. I mean, could you be any more dramatic . Ive had it. Im taking mucinex sinusmax. Eh, that stuffs all the same. This is different. It fights pressure, pain, and congestion. Athank you. Those are my 3 best qualities. Get the straps. Carl . You know that i get carsick carl mucinex sinusmax. With a tripleaction formula that fights pain, congestion, pressure. Start the relief. Ditch the misery. Lets end this. Are cream conditioners bringing your hair down . Switch to new pantene light as air foam conditioner, full of rich prov nutrients. 0 weight. New pantene. Foam conditioner. Lackluster lips . Dont think so. Lips lose natural color over time. Chapstick total hydration moisture tint. Our 100 natural moisturizing formulas enhance your natural lip color. Chapstick. Put your lips first. But when we brought our daughter home, that was it. Now i have nicoderm cq. The nicoderm cq patch with unique extended release Technology Helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. Its the best thing that ever happened to me. Every great why needs a great how. Finally tonight, a truly heartwarming moment in sutherland springs, texas. 6yearold ryland ward, a survivor of the devastating mass shooting at the church there, finally returning home. Giving him a lift,us the First Responder who pulled ryland to safety back in november. U. S. Y and ryland forging a bond in the hospital where ryland spent two long months, including his birthday, recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. Today it seems the entire town came out to welcome him. Welcome home. Thanks for watching nightline. As always, were online at our Nightline Facebook page. Good night, america. When i tell people i host this show, they always ask me, whats my favorite question . Well, its one i hope i get a chance to ask someone today hows it feel to win 1 million . Its time to play who wants to be a millionaire. [dramati i hope i ask this guy that question in just a little bit. So do i. Welcome to the show. Are you guys ready to go today . [cheers and applause] good. Were in the middle of a great game. Im here with christian sorge, our returning contestant, whos a bit of a gambler. Took some chances in our last game and he has gambled his way to 20,000. Lots in the bank. Not bad. That puts you six questions away from 1 million. Wow. And even closer, youre just two questions away from that 50,000 threshold, so couple big stops along the way. The only downside, if there is one, no lifelines. Right. So no net. Nope. Just you and i out here. You, me, and that board. And the beard. Yes, and the beard, course. Just you, me, and beard. And 1 million. Coming to cinema this summer. [laughter] all right, lets get back to your game. You ready to go . Im ready, lets do this