The film is a captivating portrayal of the tumultuous life of Tonya Harding, based on interviews with both Tonya and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. Tonya asserts her identity as a real person, unapologetic for her humble beginnings and upbringing. Set in 1970s Portland, Oregon, the story begins with four-year-old Tonya (played by Margot Robbie), who is coerced into ice skating by her abusive mother, LaVona Golden (Allison Janney). LaVona, the mother of five from her fourth marriage, imposes high expectations on Tonya, who quickly discovers her natural talent and wins her first competition within just six months.
As Tonya matures, LaVona pulls her out of school to devote her life to skating, ensuring she trains rigorously under the guidance of coach Diane Rawlinson (Julianne Nicholson). However, the relationship between mother and daughter is fraught with terror, as LaVona's abusive behavior continues unchecked. She frequently belittles Tonya's efforts, often resorting to violence, such as hitting her with a hairbrush. A particularly humiliating incident occurs when LaVona denies Tonya the chance to use the bathroom, leading her to embarrassingly wet her suit on the ice.
Despite the adversities, Tonya rises through the ranks to become a prominent figure skater in the United States. Against her mother's explicit wishes, she falls for Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), whose charming façade soon gives way to abusive tendencies. Tonya, having never known a healthy relationship, finds herself believing Jeff's manipulative claims that any trouble is her fault. Jeff's narrative sharply contrasts with Tonya's experience, as he denies violence ever occurring between them.
The narrative progresses to the 1986 Skate America event, where Tonya, again subjected to her mother's wrath for not winning, suffers a knife attack during an emotional confrontation. Seeking independence, she moves in with Jeff, yet despite her impressive performances, she receives only average scores due to biases regarding her appearance and costumes. This prejudice, stemming from being labeled "white trash," persists even as she becomes the first female skater to land two triple axles at the 1991 US skating nationals, marking a pivotal turnaround in her competitive journey.
As her fame grows, so too does Jeff's jealousy, leading to intensified violence against Tonya. Their tumultuous relationship forces her to leave him, only for Jeff to reel her back in during a competition in Sun Valley. However, upon returning, her performance suffers drastically, worsened by her unhealthy lifestyle choices, including binge eating and drinking.
At the 1992 Winter Olympics, Tonya’s struggles come to a head when she falters in her performances, finishing in fourth place. Amidst Jeff’s continued abuse, she finally takes the brave step of divorcing him. Following her defeat, she finds work as a waitress but is later encouraged by Diane to prepare for the 1994 Winter Olympics, a unique opportunity occurring just two years after the last games.
Despite her hard work, Tonya continues to face challenges with low scores tied to her image. In a desperate reach for help, she turns to her mother, only to face further rejection, leading her to seek support from Jeff once more. The plot thickens when Tonya receives a death threat just before a crucial competition, leading to a scheme conceived by Jeff and his friend Shawn Eckardt (Paul Walter Hauser) to mail threats to Tonya’s competitor, Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver).
The scenario escalates when Shawn, dissatisfied with the plan, hires two inept criminals to physically harm Nancy. After they carry out their attack, law enforcement quickly apprehends them, unraveling the conspiracy and leading to the spotlight being cast on Tonya as well.
Despite qualifying for the Olympic team, Tonya faces the inevitable fallout and reports the actions of Jeff and Shawn to the FBI. A heartbreaking confrontation with Jeff leads her to sever ties decisively. The subsequent events see Tonya suspended from competitive figure skating for life, while her reputation continues to disintegrate. She eventually finishes eighth in the Olympics while Nancy takes home a silver medal.
In the end, Tonya's life takes unexpected turns: she marries again, experiences further heartaches, and even ventures into professional boxing, all while struggling to reshape her identity. The film concludes on a poignant note, highlighting her current happiness with her third husband and their son, emphasizing her desire for the world to recognize her as a devoted mother. The text at the end succinctly states Tonya’s wish for others to see the good in her.
