Phil Sandlin | AP

The U.S. Olympic Skating Team, women's singles, pose at the 1992 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 12, 1992, Orlando, Fla. Tonya Harding, left, is pictured with Nancy Kerrigan.

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Tonya Harding admits she 'knew' about Nancy Kerrigan attack

by Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com

More than two decades later, Tonya Harding is finally admitting she "knew" more about the Nancy Kerrigan attack than she previously let on.

The 1994 attack on Kerrigan, also known as the Whack Heard 'Round the World, is back in the spotlight with the release of a new biopic, "I, Tonya," starring Margot Robbie as the disgraced U.S. figure skater. Harding is now sharing more of her side of the story in an upcoming two-hour special, "Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story."

"I knew that something was up," Harding tells ABC in a preview video.

She denies telling ex-husband Jeff Gillooly to orchestrate an attack on Kerrigan, but says she knew he was planning something.

"I did... hear them talking about stuff. 'Well, maybe we should take somebody out so we can make sure she gets on the team.' I go, 'What the hell are you talking about? I can skate,'" she recalled.

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Gillooly hired Shane Stant to attack Kerrigan, hitting her on her landing knee with a police baton after she walked off the ice January 6, 1994. Kerrigan, who was famously captured on video crying "Why me?" immediately afterwards, suffered bruising and swelling that forced her to withdraw from the next day's qualifiers for the 1994 Winter Olympics.

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Gilooly, who was sentenced to prison with three other men, alleged Harding knew about the attack. She denied it at the time, but now says she believes she was a "pawn" in the incident.

Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution, paid a $160,000 fine, and was sentenced to three years' probation and 500 hours community service. She was also banned for life from the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

Kerrigan, who appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" last year, told ABC recently that she's still never received a "direct" apology from Harding.

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Harding, now 47, says she's happily married today with a 6-year-old son named Gordon.

"I get my second chance on life to be loved and happy," she told ABC.

Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story," also featuring interviews with Connie Chung, Robbie and Allison Janney, will air Thursday, Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. ET.

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Jordan Strauss | AP

Tonya Harding, left, and Margot Robbie arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "I, Tonya" at the Egyptian Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.

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"I, Tonya," nominated for three Golden Globes, was released in theaters last month.

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