Tanya Victoria Harding (born 23 January 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian softball player, who has competed for Australia at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996. Three times she claimed a bronze medal (1996, 2000, 2008), and once a silver medal (2004).
In 1995, Harding enrolled at UCLA for one trimester. She played on the squad that won the NCAA women's softball championships, defeating Arizona. She left the school after the tournament. She was named most valuable player for the championship tournament.
However, in 1997 UCLA was stripped of its 1995 title for scholarship violations. Three softball players had been granted soccer scholarships, putting the Bruins three over the limit for softball. Although the three players involved were not identified, it was believed that one of them was Harding. Runner-up Arizona was not declared the champion, as there was no way to determine if Arizona would have won had Harding not been involved. Officially, there is no champion for 1995.
Famous quotes containing the words tanya and/or harding:
“Joseph, when I had jewels and lands and palaces, I was often weary and discontent. When everything was taken away, except my life, I learned that the way to be really happy is to serve others, to be needed.”
—Adele Comandini. Edward Sutherland. Madam Tanya (Maria Ouspenskaya)
“To be perfectly honest, what I’m really thinking about are dollar signs.”
—Tonya Harding (b. 1970)