Ice skating: Harding suffers in practice

TONYA HARDING and Nancy Kerrigan join in competition today for the first time since the hammer attack on Kerrigan as they take part in the technical programme of the women's event, writes Mike Rowbottom.

The Americans had differing experiences in their practice session at the Hamar Amphitheatre yesterday. Harding, who faces charges of involvement with last month's assault on Kerrigan, fell heavily during practice as she attempted a triple flip, and slid into the barrier before cutting short her routine and walking back, pale and upset, to her coach, Diane Rawlinson.

Kerrigan, who studiously ignored Harding's activities, was troubled only by a trailing lace on her right boot.