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Katarina Witt

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Katarina Witt is one of the most famous figure skaters in history.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1127-021, Katarina Witt
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1127-021, Katarina Witt

She was a champion from Germany who performed with great skill. People remember her for her strong athleticism and her charm on the ice. She was also known for her glamorous image during her many performances. Witt won two Olympic gold medals during her amazing career.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0227-128, Calgary, Olympiade, Kati Witt
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0227-128, Calgary, Olympiade, Kati Witt

She is only the second woman ever to defend an Olympic title. This means she won gold medals in two Olympic Games in a row.

To become a champion, Witt had to train very hard every single day. She practiced her skating six days every week. Sometimes she practiced for seven hours in one day.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-1225-010, Jutta Müller, Katarina Witt, Simone Lang, Constanze Gensel
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-1225-010, Jutta Müller, Katarina Witt, Simone Lang, Constanze Gensel

A large part of her training was spent on compulsory figures. These are specific patterns skaters must trace on the ice. Her coach, Jutta Müller, helped her train at the SC Karl-Marx-Stadt club. This hard work helped her master very difficult moves. She was even the first woman to land a triple flip jump.

Witt's journey began in East Germany, which was near West Berlin. She was born in a place called Staaken in 1965. Her father worked as a farmer on a farm. Her mother worked as a physiotherapist in a hospital.

As a child, she went to a special school for talented athletes. This school helped her focus on her dream of skating. She started competing in big international events when she was very young.

Her career was full of many important wins and famous moments. In 1984, she won her first Olympic gold medal in Sarajevo. She was only 18 years and 77 days old then.

Katarina Witt @ Geneva 1986
Katarina Witt @ Geneva 1986

In 1988, she won her second gold medal in Calgary, Alberta. This event featured a famous rivalry called the "Battle of the Carmens." Both Witt and Debi Thomas skated to music from the opera Carmen. She also won four World Championship titles during her time as an amateur. She even won six European Championships in a row.

After she stopped competing, Witt found new ways to share her talent. She worked in movies and on television shows.

Stamp of Azerbaijan - 1998 - Colnect 289123 - Figure skating
Stamp of Azerbaijan - 1998 - Colnect 289123 - Figure skating

She even won an Emmy Award for her acting in a film. In 1994, she made a special comeback to the Olympics. She skated a program themed after Robin Hood for a reunified Germany. Her many talents helped her move from the ice to the screen. She remains a beloved figure in the world of sports.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1127-021, Katarina Witt.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1127-021,...
File:Katarina Witt @ Geneva 1986.jpg
Katarina Witt @ Geneva 1986.jpg
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0105-018, Katarina Witt.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0105-018,...
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0227-128, Calgary, Olympiade, Kati Witt.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0227-128,...
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-1225-010, Jutta Müller, Katarina Witt, Simone Lang, Constanze Gensel.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-1225-010,...
File:Stamp of Azerbaijan - 1998 - Colnect 289123 - Figure skating.jpeg
Stamp of Azerbaijan - 1998 - Colnect...
File:Gala-Nacht des Sports 2013 Wien red carpet Hermann Kröll Theresa Breuer Katarina Witt.jpg
Gala-Nacht des Sports 2013 Wien red...
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