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When Tonya Harding begins to compete in the upcoming 26th season of “Dancing with the Stars” she’ll be the latest in a long line of figure skaters to have competed for the Mirror Ball Trophy. But how will she compare to the Olympians who have come before, like season 6 winner Kristi Yamaguchi and season 18 champ Meryl Davis? The new season begins on April 30, so before she and her competitors hit the dance floor, let’s consider her pros and cons.

Pros:

Tonya Harding spent much of her early life taking ice skating lessons. She eventually became the Us champion in 1991 and 1994, and she was the world silver medalist in 1991. In 1991 she also made history as the first American woman to successfully land a triple axel in competition, and only the second woman of any nationality to do so after Japanese skater Midori Ito. She was also a two-time Olympian,...

She did it once perfectly, but she could not do it twice.

Eight days after U.S. figure skater Mirai Nagasu made history as the first American woman to land the notoriously tricky triple axel jump in Olympic competition, she returned to the ice to try it again — but then slipped on the landing and fell hands- and knees-first to the ice.

Skating in the women’s short program at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea, Nagasu’s routine nonetheless earned her a total score of 66.93, a season’s best.

That put her in second place — just ahead of fellow Team USA skater Bradie Tennell,...

U.S. figure skater Mirai Nagasu made history Monday morning in Korea when she became the very first American female to land a triple axel at the Olympics.

The stunning feat was quickly celebrated on Twitter by numerous legends in the skating world, several of whom said they were moved to tears over the accomplishment.

“That was a sloppy cry kind of skate,” tweeted ice dancing legend Meryl Davis, who won gold at the 2014 Olympics with partner Charlie White, and silver at the 2010 Games.

That was a sloppy cry kind of skate! I’m standing in my living room! @mirai...

Figure skater Mirai Nagasu has done it again, landing the rare and incredibly difficult triple axel — this time while competing in the Winter Olympics. The feat makes her the first U.S. female figure skater to land the jump during an Olympic competition.

Completing the triple axel at the start of her free skate in the figure skating team event on Monday morning (Sunday evening stateside) already set her apart from her competitors, all before she had even left the rink: None of the other women even planned to attempt the triple axel, which requires a forward takeoff and three-and-a-half rotations in the air.