Nordic Saga Ends : Kerrigan and Harding Head Home; Baiul to Connecticut

Nancy Kerrigan returned to the United States Sunday for a ticker tape parade at Disney World. Tonya Harding returns today to an uncertain future, which is the story of her life.

Despite her disappointing eighth place, Harding seemed liberated after finishing the Winter Olympic women’s figure skating competition Friday night. She went bowling immediately afterward, skied Saturday and dined at a table next to reporters in a downtown restaurant the next night without being asked a question.

That brief respite is likely to end, however, when she arrives home in Portland, Ore., where law enforcement authorities continue to investigate whether she played a role in the Jan. 6 assault on Kerrigan.

Also, the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. has scheduled a disciplinary hearing to begin on March 10 in Colorado Springs, Colo., to determine whether Harding can remain a member of the association. A USFSA hearing panel concluded last month that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that she was involved with her former husband and her bodyguard in the plot against Kerrigan.

If Harding, 23, loses her eligibility, she would be replaced in the World Championships March 22-27 at Chiba, Japan, by first alternate Michelle Kwan, 13, of Torrance.

Kerrigan, 24, might also skip the World Championships, although for decidedly different reasons. She has so many commitments, including the role as host of next week’s “Saturday Night Live,” that she might not have time to train.

U.S. Figure Skating Assn. officials said last week that they believe Kerrigan will retire from competition. She does not need to compete to enhance her commercial value, which has been estimated at between $10 million and $20 million.

Even before the Olympics, she had deals with Campbell’s Soup, Reebok, Xerox, Seiko, Evian, Chrysler, Northwest Airlines and Cosmopolitan magazine. Since, she has signed with Revlon and Disney, the latter agreeing to pay her a reported $2 million for theme park appearances, a made-for-television movie, a TV special and perhaps even a Nancy doll.

Starting on April 10, Kerrigan will headline a 67-city tour that includes other medalists from the Olympics and World Championships and, according to her agent, Jerry Solomon of ProServ, she is negotiating for her own tour.

“She never has to compete again,” said Michael Rosenberg, an agent from Palm Desert who represents numerous figure skaters. “She’s already Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill and Snow White rolled into one. Of course, she’s also the silver medalist.”

Translation: There will be money left over for his client, gold medalist Oksana Baiul of the Ukraine. Rosenberg said he believes she will have more impact on the U.S. market after she relocates. Monday night, Hartford’s city council approved construction of a $5-million world-class skating center, where Baiul will train.

Baiul, who had also considered Lake Arrowhead, will be joined by her coach Galina Zmievskaya, and 1992 Olympic gold medalist Viktor Petrenko.

“It is fantastic,” Hartford Mayor Michael Peters said. “It will put us on the map again--not just as the insurance capital and home of the Hartford Whalers, but home of some of the world’s best skaters.”