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Olympic star comes to Lynn

Deyscha Smith

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LYNN — Holding her 1992 Olympic bronze medal, former figure skater Nancy Kerrigan stood in front of members of the Rotary Club of Lynn on Thursday night and explained details about the medals that only an Olympic athlete would know.

The medals, she said, are quite heavy and actually detach from the ribbon. The world saw this happen recently to U.S. Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu, who broke hers and needed to get it replaced. Kerrigan was also surprised when she discovered that hers could unclip.

“I don’t know if they’re supposed to,” Kerrigan said while simultaneously re-attaching the bronze medal back to the ribbon, “but it really surprised me.”

Those in attendance got the chance to not only see Kerrigan’s bronze and 1994 silver Olympic medal up close, but were also able to meet and talk with the decorated athlete. The event, held at Old Tyme Italian Restaurant on Boston Street, featured a sit-down interview with Kerrigan, led by Rotary Club President Marnie Moore. Then, members got to ask her questions about her career and hear her thoughts on this year’s Olympians, including Liu, who was competing in the free skate competition right before Kerrigan was set to arrive in Lynn for the event.

Liu had just won gold, making her the first American to do so in women’s figure skating in 24 years. The joy that she competes with is something that’s also caught the attention of Kerrigan. “Alysa Liu is an example for all of us right now because she’s like, I get to do this every day. She goes out there like, I’m having so much fun, I get to skate, and she’s not worried.”

At one point during the interview, Kerrigan opened up about the importance of mental health in sports, as well as her own experience while she was competing. After winning bronze at the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France, Kerrigan worked with a sports psychologist to learn how to mentally prepare to continue competing, even after winning her first Olympic medal. One thing she found that helped her most was listening to comedy beforehand.

“The press would be like, ‘What is she listening to?’ because I’m not, like, jamming out to music, I was laughing and keeping things light because I found, through trial and error with the sports psychologist, I would skate best when I just watched some TV show while I was doing my makeup that would make me laugh and feel light and almost like loose and not emotional,” said Kerrigan, who, in 1994 after a practice session, was struck in the legs with a metal baton at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Kerrigan also shared special memories and stories from throughout her time competing in the Olympics, including having her dress designed by Vera Wang at the 1992 Olympics and her ultimate favorite moment of walking in the Opening Ceremony that same year.

“The best part of the Olympics for me definitely was marching in the opening ceremony, by far,” she said. “It beats being on the ice — it was an amazing feeling to be behind someone holding the flag and with all these athletes from all the other sports… So, it was so cool to be with all the best of the best of hockey players and ski jumpers and bobsledders, and everybody’s like, they’re cheering. It was super exciting.”

Kerrigan also opened up about how she’s navigating life off the ice, including as a mother. In fact, it was through their daughters that she and Moore got connected at ballet recitals. “I remember being backstage at Nutcracker, and she was there with her baby, and I’m there with my baby and just getting to know her as a mom,” Moore told The Daily Item. 

Moore said Kerrigan’s connection with the Rotary Club goes back to when she was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Stoneham when she was younger. She’s continued to remain involved in the Rotary Club over the years, even attending events like bowling.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics going on, the Rotary Club felt like it was the perfect time to see if Kerrigan was available to come to Lynn and speak. It was Moore who then checked with Kerrigan’s husband, Jerry Solomon, to see if she could fit a trip to Lynn in her schedule.

The goal was for people to learn more about Kerrigan beyond what the world already knows of her, as well as hear about her ventures off the ice, which includes releasing her first children’s book, “Stronger Than She Thinks.”

As the event concluded, two students from Lynn English High School presented Kerrigan with a bouquet of flowers to thank her for coming. “We want to thank you for showing up, taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today, and thank you for your inspirational and motivational words.” Kerrigan was all smiles afterwards and even stayed to meet members personally and take photos with them, marking the perfect ending to a special evening with the two-time Olympian.

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