23 years ago skater Nancy Kerrigan was whacked in the knee by Tonya Harding's goons

Tonya Harding pumps her fists as she finishes her gold medal winning program at the women's championship on January 8, 1994 at the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, who did not compete because she was wounded in an attack on January 6, will represent the U.S. at the 1994 Winter Olympics. less Tonya Harding pumps her fists as she finishes her gold medal winning program at the women's championship on January 8, 1994 at the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, who did not ... more Photo: CHRIS WILKINS, AFP/Getty Images Photo: CHRIS WILKINS, AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close 23 years ago skater Nancy Kerrigan was whacked in the knee by Tonya Harding's goons 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

It was 23 years ago today that Nancy Kerrigan was whacked in the knee by an associate of rival skater Tonya Harding just weeks before the start of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway where they were due to compete.

Video of the aftermath of the attack at a Detroit ice rink, with Kerrigan crying "Why?" in agony, went as viral as things could go in 1994.

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The crack on the knee with a police baton forced her to drop out of the U.S. Championships on the way to the Olympics, but Kerrigan would recover in time for the games in late February.

The incident received wall-to-wall media coverage in a day and age when CNN and tabloid news shows ruled the airwaves. Songs were written about it, comedians lampooned it, and it was the subject of numerous headlines across the world. Kids recreated the attack at school.

For a few months we all cared way, way too much about figure skating and we were proud of it.

In the end, Kerrigan was able to skate well enough at the Olympic Games to score a silver medal while Harding finished eighth. Young Ukrainian skater Oksana Baiul would take the gold.

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Harding eventually admitted to some involvement in the incident via ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. She plead guilty to conspiracy to hinder the prosecution of Kerrigan’s attackers. She was fined $100,000 and sentenced to probation and 500 hours of community service. Gillooly later released a sex tape he shot with Harding which only received a lurid reception.

In 2014, ESPN aired "The Price of Gold," a "30 for 30" documentary about the attack and the fallout.

The whole strange story line -- the rivalry and subsequent media firestorm -- is set to be made into a movie starring Margot Robbie as Harding. She's been seen recently by TMZ perfecting her ice skating skills.