10 Films That Unveil The Dark Side Of Sports

Tonya Harding, at one time, was the world's greatest figure skater and then abruptly fell from grace when Nancy Kerrigan was involved in some good old-fashioned blunt force trauma. While this deplorable act is inexcusable, the events leading to that moment are something the world of sports would rather not discuss. The film I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as the titular character, focuses heavily on the point that the odds were set against Tonya from the start, both on and off the ice.

This portrait of the American working class shows that Tonya never desires to be anything like her competition, she just wants to be the best. The judges hold it against her that her family doesn’t make a lot of money or that she comes from a broken home.

Skating is a sport, not a beauty pageant so the fact that she is cast out for being a redneck is a horrible side to something that should be open to everyone based on skill and nothing else. The dress nor the person's background have anything to do with the sport and one could easily argue having to struggle provides more character.

Either way, before the film turns into an extended cut of a Jerry Springer episode it does have a compelling story about how one little girl was denied because she wasn’t their version of pretty.