Are you interested in learning more about world class skater Nancy Kerrigan? Here are facts about her championships, net worth, and more.
Nancy Kerrigan: Biography of the Skater
Nancy Kerrigan is famous for her talent as a figure skater, winning several medals and world championships. Kerrigan has also featured in small roles in several movie and television series. Nancy Kerrigan was born on October 13, 1969, in Stoneham, Massachusetts. She is the youngest child and only daughter of Daniel Kerrigan, who was a welder and Brenda Kerrigan, a housewife and homemaker. She is of English, Irish, and German ancestry. Kerrigan has two older brothers, named Michael and Mark, who both played hockey growing up. She started becoming involved in figure skating at the age of six, although she did not start private lessons until she was eight. Kerrigan clearly had a natural talent; she won her first competition, the Boston Open, by the young age of nine. Nancy Kerrigan’s family was of modest means. Her father sometimes worked up to three jobs to be able to support her in her skating career. He also drove the ice resurfacer at the local rink in exchange for her lessons. Kerrigan’s first coach was Theresa Martin. Then, at age 16, she began working with Evy and Mary Scotvold, who remained her coaches throughout the rest of her competitive career. Nancy Kerrigan attended high school at Stoneham High School in Massachusetts and later attended Emmanuel College in Boston, studying business. Kerrigan is married to her former agent, Jerry Solomon. Their wedding took place on September 9, 1995. The couple has three children together – two boys named Matthew and Brian and a daughter named Nicole.
Meet Nancy Kerrigan, figure skating star and actress with small roles in The Easter Egg Adventure and Blades of Glory.
Nancy Kerrigan’s Skating Career
Nancy Kerrigan began to gain recognition at the national level when she placed fourth at the 1987 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was known for her strong jumping skills but Kerrigan lacked the same strength in compulsory figures. Kerrigan continued her rise to fame at the national level when she placed 3rd at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She qualified for the 1991 World Championships, where she took home the bronze medal. This win was part of the first-ever sweep of the women’s podium by a single country at the World Championships, with her teammates Kristi Yamaguchi and Tonya Harding winning the gold and silver medals. Then, in the 1992 season, Kerrigan moved up in her placement by finishing second at the national championships. She won a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics and the silver medal at the 1992 World Championships. The following season, Yamaguchi retired from competitive skating and Nancy Kerrigan became the United States champion. Nancy Kerrigan’s fame extended outside of the skating arena when she was attacked by a man hired by Tonya Harding’s ex-husband with a police baton on January 6, 1994, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit. The aim of the attack was to put Kerrigan out of commission so that Tonya Harding could take first place. Tonya Harding denied knowing anything about the attack beforehand. Nancy Kerrigan retired from competitive skating in 1994. The same year, she was also inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Since ending her competitive skating career, Kerrigan has appeared on several television programs and movies, including Dancing With The Stars, Blades of Glory and Skating With Celebrities. She also was the voice of Bernadette Baker and Helen Hen in the 2004 animated film, The Easter Egg Adventure.
Nancy Kerrigan: Fun Facts & Net Worth
Nancy Kerrigan is the founder of The Nancy Kerrigan Foundation, which aims to raise awareness and support for the visually impaired. Her passion for aiding the visually impaired stems from her mother Brenda, who is legally blind. Nancy Kerrigan suffered through six miscarriages in addition to having her three children. She has stated that it was devastating to experience and definitely put a strain on her marriage to Jerry Solomon. Nancy Kerrigan’s father died at the age of 70 on January 24, 2010. Her brother Mark was charged with manslaughter for this, with prosecutors alleging that the death happened because of a fight between the two. Kerrigan supported her brother during this time, insisting that her father’s death was really caused by a long-standing heart condition. Mark was ultimately acquitted of those charges, but was found guilty of assault and battery and sentenced to 2½ years in prison. Thanks to her skating career, movie, and television appearances, including Dancing With The Stars and Skating With Celebrities, Nancy Kerrigan has amassed a net worth of about $8 million.
Nancy Kerrigan: Final Thoughts
Nancy Kerrigan has been through a lot in both her personal and professional life and has always managed to come out on top. Her talent as a skater is phenomenal, contributing to her hugely successful career and high net worth. Kerrigan has also built a lovely family with her husband and is now enjoying the fruits of her labor with them. She is a role model not just for figure skaters, but for women in general.
