Harding Falling Victim to Tension? : Figure skating: She stumbles twice in practice. Second report says her ex-husband is linking her to Kerrigan attack.

Is the tension beginning to show on Tonya Harding?

On Tuesday, the beleaguered ice skater took to the practice rink again--this time shouldering a video camera. Her subjects: the news reporters who mob her at every step and have ever since men around her became suspects in the assault on her Olympic rival, Nancy Kerrigan.

“How do you like it?” she asked reporters, tauntingly.

During her practice, Harding fell twice, not a big deal for an ordinary skater readying herself for the upcoming Olympics. But in Harding’s case, the missteps raised the inevitable question of whether the pressure of the continuing investigation and repeated accusations are getting to her.

Various friends have told reporters that Harding is having trouble eating, that she is tired, that her spirits are low. Some skating experts noticed this week that she was not as animated or focused as she was last week.

On Tuesday, a second news organization, citing unidentified sources, said Harding’s former husband, Jeff Gillooly, is implicating her in at least the attempted cover-up of the case. NBC reported that Gillooly, who has been arrested and charged in the plot, is seeking a plea bargain.

The Detroit Free Press reported on Tuesday that Gillooly was ready to implicate Harding.

Gillooly, one of four men charged so far, previously denied wrongdoing. And his attorney, through Monday, also denied suggestions that Gillooly was ready to turn against Harding, with whom he has broken up and reconciled repeatedly. On Tuesday, Gillooly’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

NBC said Harding might be preparing a legal strategy that would maintain she found out about the plot only after the fact and maintained her silence out of fear. Harding has previously accused Gillooly of spousal violence.

Harding has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The skater’s attorney released a statement saying it would be unjust for Harding to be removed from the Olympic team.

“We are pleased that many representatives of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. continue to view the allegations against Tonya with an open mind,” said the statement, issued by attorney Dennis Rawlinson.

“Tonya has done nothing that would warrant her removal from the team. It would be manifestly unjust and contrary to well-established legal principles to remove Tonya from the team on the basis of unproven charges.”