PORTLAND, Ore. -- Olympian Tonya Harding skated publicly Thursday for the first time since the U.S. Figure Skating Championships Jan. 8.
As hundreds watched at a suburban shopping mall, she practiced her long program to the Jurassic Park soundtrack. She performed triple axels, flips and spins. She had jumping competitions with another skater, Angela Meduna.
Afterward, Harding, the 1994 national champion who is being investigated in the plot to injure rival Nancy Kerrigan, spoke with reporters.
She said she'd talk skating but, at the advice of her lawyers, no legal questions.
"I did five triple axels, missed two of them," she said. "But, hey, nobody's perfect. I just hope this ends soon. I want to get my life back."
It was Harding's third practice since missing a week of training. To keep her privacy, she was sneaking onto the ice at midnight. Now, her plans are to practice at 10 each morning.
"Tonya is skating great, and I'm thrilled," coach Diane Rawlinson said. "She's feeling better about things. Tonya always skates better under pressure."
Harding, 23, the only U.S. woman to land a triple axel in competition, had plenty of offers to move to another part of the country to relax and get productive practice sessions. She wanted to stay at home.
Home is a rink tucked away in Clackamas Town Center. Fast-food restaurants like the Neon Pretzel Co. and Dilly Deli rise above the rink.
On one end, there's a public library. On the other, there's a banner proclaiming the home of Harding, the national champion, world silver medalist and Olympian.
The mall was business-as-usual when Harding skated, but a couple hundred fans cheered her moves. In November, Harding received a death threat at the rink, but that wasn't going to stop her.
"I'm not going to let someone else run my life," she said. "I have to do what I have to do. Skating is my life. I'm not going to get away from skating."
Harding said she's tired and not sleeping well. She said her parents and family have been helpful. She said it was relaxing to hear her hometown fans' cheers. She received sacks of letters encouraging her.
"My life is on the ice," Harding said. "My life away from the ice - I don't think I'll see it for a while."
After the meeting with reporters, Harding and Meduna went shopping. They were surrounded by security as they walked into a department store.
