Katharina Witt is a famous athlete, the most successful single skater. She represented East Germany. Six times in a row, Witt became the European champion, four times was the first in the world, has two Olympic "gold".
Katarina Witt was called "the princess of figure skating" and "fire on ice". For the first time Katarina, a native of Chemnitz (Karl Marx Stadt), became champion in 1983. Katarina took the top step of the podium at the GDR championship eight times.
The path to the top of success
The future celebrity was born in an ordinary German family. She was born in 1965 on December 3rd. She was headed by an agricultural enterprise, her mother worked as a physiotherapist. Katya became the second child: she has an older brother Axel.
Figure skating attracted the girl from an early age. The six-year-old was sent to practice her favorite sport. She got to the coach Jutta Müller. The mentor turned out to be very tough, distinguished by an iron will and harsh requirements. Often, her students could not stand such a dictatorship.
Katarina quickly realized that either it was necessary to give all the best, or there were only losses ahead. Thanks to Jutta, Witt became the winner, who throughout her career took only the highest awards.
For the first time, Katya performed at the national championship in 1977. A couple of years later, Witt became the bronze medalist of the competition and made her debut at the world championship. Surprisingly harmonious free and short programs have become her hallmark.
She was one of the first in championship history to perform a triple flip in 1981. In 1987, at the world championship, Katarina performed a triple rittberger. Until this moment, the jump did not want to submit to the magnificent Katya.
In honor of the victories of the princess on ice at the Olympics in the DPRK in 1988, a block of stamps was issued on November 1. Katarina thought about the approaching end of her ice career even in preparation for the Olympics.
Moving to the next level
Witt understood that she had no future in the professional category. In the GDR, and the athlete dreamed of continuing to join them. Then an agreement was concluded with the country's sports officials.
The famous figure skater in exchange for the second "gold" could perform in concert tours abroad. After completing performances in the amateur category, Witt did not leave figure skating in 1988. She professionally participated in ice shows, major tours in the United States, and starred in films.
Katya tried her hand at being a TV presenter. Since 1991, Witt has worked as a figure skating specialist for television in America and Germany. However, in the role of a leader and an observer, the athlete felt uncomfortable. She was attracted by ice, she believed that she would be able to return.
In 1996, Katarina starred in the autobiographical film The Ice Princess, where she played herself. In 1998, in the film "Ronin" she got the cameo role of a figure skater.
The impossible succeeded. From the professional category, Witt returned to the amateur category. At the national championship in 1992, she became the second.
In 1998 she took eighth place in European competitions. The Lillehammer Games brought the athlete the seventh position. She did not climb to the top of the podium as an amateur, but she did it as a professional. It was then in Paris that she became the European champion.
Life after sports
In 1995, Katarina, together with WITT Sports & Entertainment GmbH, organized a production company for ice shows similar to Winter Magic and Champions on Ice. The creative person initiated the creation of the Snowflake ice exhibition, the creator of the sports and entertainment company S Witt Sport and Entertainment.
Katarina presented her own jewelry collection. In 1998 she participated in a photo shoot for Playboy. The release became a record: the circulation was sold out completely, copies were sold out all over the world. Only Marilyn Monroe achieved the same success before her.
She has been participating in the work of the Katarina Witt Foundation founded by the athlete since 2005. The organization helps children with physical problems. The famous figure skater completely finished her career in March 2008. All tickets for her performances in the cities of Germany, where the tour took place, were sold out.
For the last time, the brilliant Witt appeared as an active performer. Forty-three-year-old Katarina glided confidently across the sparkling ice surface, enjoyed the applause and was once again in the spotlight.
All the most important moments of her ice career were shown during the tour on the video screens of the ice rinks. Once again, Katarina has brilliantly demonstrated both charisma and skills. The shining athlete admitted that she now wants to part with the skates and sincerely thanks the fans. The career of the most successful German figure skater was over.
The private life of a star
Witt was surprised to realize that she did not have a plan for the first time in all her performances. She just got free time at her disposal. Katarina said goodbye to the everyday icy cold and hard work, as well as to the sports diet.
However, freedom has become a major life change for the two-time Olympic champion. Witt participates in the work of his own funds, is engaged in producing, filming in films and on television, and writes books.
She has already released several works: "My years between duty and freestyle", "So much life", "With ease in shape." As an Olympic expert, Witt collaborated with the hosts of programs broadcast from Pyeongchang, where the 2018 Winter Olympics took place,
Accustomed to the fact that it is always in sight, Katarina carefully hides her personal life.
However, it is known that the famous athlete is not married, she has no children. Katarina admitted to the press that she cannot sacrifice her profession and part with her beloved work for the sake of marriage.
The legendary figure skater travels a lot, is a judge in the German version of the Stars on Ice program.
In 2015, Witt starred in Jerry Maguire opposite Tom Cruise.
