Lavona Golden

Living… in Portland, Oregon, where she has raised her daughter Tonya as a single mother after her husband abandoned her. Lavona knew from an early age that Tonya had special talents on the ice, and she used the little money they had to pay for ice skating lessons. She pushed Tonya so much that she even denied her bathroom breaks on the ice and insisted that she “skate wet”.

Profession… manager of her daughter and waitress. Working at night as a waitress, Lavona invests any money she has into preparing Tonya to become an Olympic champion ice skater. She knows what makes Tonya tick, and also what helps Tonya perform, even if it can be harsh. Lavona doesn’t seem to mind if her daughter is unhappy, as long as she skates well. As she tells Tonya, “I made you a champion, knowing you'd hate me for it. That’s the sacrifice a mother makes. I wish I'd had a mother like me instead of nice.” 

Interests… anything that helps her escape. Lavona can’t turn down a cigarette, and she drinks brandy with her coffee in the morning. 

Relationship status… single. Lavona’s aggression drove her husband away a long time ago, much to the dismay of Tonya. Lavona has a hard time thinking of anyone but herself. 

Challenge… losing Tonya. Lavona never really had Tonya to begin with. Tonya’s heart was with her father from the beginning, and Lavona resents that. Even though Lavona might not admit it, there is pain from being rejected by the daughter she brought into the world.  

Personality… stubborn, opinionated, and angry. Lavona doesn’t just resent Tonya, she resents just about everything. Lavona hasn’t had the easiest life, and she has grown a tough exterior in order to survive. She can be loud and obnoxious, even abusive at times, but it’s important to remember that Lavona has her own side of the story. It can be summed up fairly quickly: Lavona didn’t want her daughter to end up like her.