Tonya Harding

became the first U.S. woman to land the triple Axel in competition when she completed it 45 seconds into her free skate at the 1991 U.S. championships. The second was 15 year old Kimmie Meissner in 2005. She finished in third place during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Portland, Oregon.

The triple Axel is the Everest of women's figure skating, both terrifying and compelling. The only jump that starts on the forward foot, it explodes in 31/2 revolutions -- yet demands a delicate touch on takeoff and iron strength on landing.

From The Oregonian:

"I really do believe," says Christine Brennan, best known skating author, "that the boom that figure skating has experienced for a decade really started with what we know as 'the whack heard 'round the world.' . . . Everyone in figure skating, to this day, should be sending a thank-you note to Tonya Harding."

If she hasn't already, Brennan might consider dropping the two-time Olympian a card, too. The story launched Brennan's career on such a rocket ride that she calls her condominium in an upscale Washington, D.C., neighborhood "the house that Tonya built."