The archival footage you need to see before watching I Tonya

Tonya Harding is one of the most infamous figure skaters of all time and her story is hitting the big screen in the Margot Robbie-led, I, Tonya.

The film obviously tackles the scandal that led to Harding's ban from the sport — her ex-husband hired two men to attack Harding's opponent, Nancy Kerrigan, shortly before the 1994 Olympics — but it also reveals another story that many might not have known. Harding grew up with an abusive mother and went on to marry an abusive man, the same one who would go on to orchestrate this attack. It's a backstory that sheds a different light on the moment that rocked the figure skating world, one that doesn't paint Harding as innocent by any means, but gives context to her character, which has been abridged over the years as just a villainous caricature.

The film does focus on and recreate a lot of famous real-life moments, though. From skating competitions to TV interviews, some of I, Tonya's most pivotal moments were drawn from footage many of us will remember from the early '90s. Below, we've taken some old clips of the Harding and the Kerrigan controversy that are going to be required viewing for those planning to see the film.

1991 U.S Figure Skating Championships

One of Harding's biggest achievements in figure skating was her ability to execute a triple axel, a jump that, to this day, is still a rarity in women's figure skating. (Only eight women have ever successfully completed a triple axel in competition.) While Harding wasn't the first to do this jump — Japanese skater Midori Ito first did it first in 1988 — she was the first American woman to perform it in competition. It was at the 1991 U.S. Championships, giving Harding the edge over competitors Kristi Yamaguchi and Kerrigan. This moment was definitely a highlight in Harding's career, and a pinnacle moment that's featured in I, Tonya.

The Nancy Kerrigan attack (1994)

It was the cry heard around the world: "Why? Why? Why?" Cameras caught it all, shortly after Kerrigan was attacked during a practice session in Detroit. Sitting on floor of the Cobo Arena, one of Harding's biggest rivals is seen holding onto her leg, in immense pain, distraught by the random attack that was later on revealed to be a planned assault. It's a tough moment to watch, but it's the image that many go back to when thinking about this moment in sports history.

1994 Winter Olympics

The 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway serve as the climax to both Harding's skating career and I, Tonya. After Kerrigan's attack earlier that year, the stakes were higher than ever for both skaters and, to the people watching, it appeared that the pressure had gotten to Harding. Leading up to the ladies free skate, Harding had trouble with her laces and almost missed her opportunity to perform because of that. It's a dramatic moment that had many glued to their television screens and the film gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at that moment, providing much more context to the whirlwind of events.

Shawn Eckardt interview (1994)

Eckardt played an instrumental role in the planned Kerrigan attack. He allegedly helped Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly hire the assailants and went on to detail the plans to Diane Sawyer in an exclusive post-scandal interview. The film portrays Eckardt as a bit of a goof who fancied himself an evil genius of sorts, and this interview hints at that with the ease of which he divulges information, including his willing participation in the crime and alternative plans of attack, such as going to Kerrigan's hotel room and tying her up.

Oprah interview (2016)

While this interview wasn't recreated in I, Tonya, Harding's 2016 interview with Oprah does give us a clear idea of Harding's personality, her tough childhood and the deep regrets she has all these years later. All of this helps inform the character we see on the big screen, giving Harding a sympathetic side that many didn't get to see in the thick of it all, back in the '90s.