Katarina Witt's Career and Life

Katarina Witt’s Profile

Born on December 3, 1965 in Germany.

Two-time Gold Medal Winner at the Olympics

Four-time World Figure-Skating Champion

Six-time European Figure-Skating Champion

1990: an Emmy Award in the film "Carmen on Ice"

1994: the "Golden Camera" for her Olympic come-back.

1995: the Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award – First German to Receive the award

Today, she has established herself as a businesswoman with her own company "With Witt Sports & Entertainment GmbH 

Katarina Witt’s Athletic Life 

Olympic Gold: 1984, 1988
World Champion: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988
Vice World Champion: 1982, 1986
European Champion: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987,1988

In the course of a truly unique career, she's won more titles than anyone else before her and become the most successful figure-skater of all time. 

Witt began skating at the age of five and her inherent ability was evident immediately. She was quickly recruited for the skating program of the Chemnitz sports club and school, one of the four most prestigious government-supported sports institutes in East Germany (now part of the united Federal Republic of Germany). By the age of nine, Witt's gifts were acknowledged by Jutta Müller, East Germany's premier skating coach. Under Müller's coaching, Witt's talents expanded, and at age 11 she landed her first triple jump. At age 14 she finished tenth in the 1980 world championships and, after winning two European titles, she burst into international stardom by taking the gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina). Witt dominated the figure skating world for the next several years, winning the world titles in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, she became the first figure skater since Sonja Henie (in 1932) to win a second Olympic gold medal. She turned professional in the summer of 1988 and could not participate in the 1992 Winter Olympics; Witt maintained her place in the public eye as a CBS television commentator for the figure skating competition. After professional skaters were admitted into Olympic competition, she returned to skate in the 1994 Olympic Games at Lillehammer, Norway. Although Witt placed seventh, she was a sentimental favorite of the crowd.). Though Witt was a top-flight skater before the Olympics, the Games, as they so often are, were her "coming out" as a performer.

Katarina Witt’s Life in Entertainment

During the past four years, Katarina has been part of America's most prestigious ice show "Stars on Ice" as well as taking part in international professional competitions. She's appeared in more than 60 American cities and at the same time has worked hard to bring ice shows of this quality to Europe as well.

In 1990 she was given an Emmy Award for her "outstanding performance" in Carmen on Ice. In 1995 she played the lead in The Ice Princess. This second television film was broadcast internationally and nominated for an Emmy.
In 1996 she had a cameo role in
Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise.
Other guest roles, such as in
Arliss (1997 and 1998) and in Ronin (1998, together with Robert De Niro) have shown that she is an artist who can perform off the ice as well. A third television film is being planned.
She's also been a television success sitting at the microphone.
 

She was guest commentator for Germany's ZDF at the World Figure-Skating Championships in Munich (1991) and for CBS Sports at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville. She was also a commentator for NBC Sports at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague (1993). She was guest commentator for Germany's ZDF in Prague 1992 and co-hosted the World Figures Skating Championships in Helsinki 1999 for ARD network. 

With her special feature in Vogue (1991), her choice as one of the "Fifty Most Beautiful People in the World" in People magazine, the phenomenal, world-wide sales of her appearance in Playboy together with her performances both on and off the ice, you might think that would be enough. What's more, her schedule is full of public relations appearances and endorsements all over the world.
1991 Colour commentator for the leading German Network ZDF at the World Figure Skating Championships in Munich
1991 Special-feature in the American issue of "Vogue"
1991 "Emmy Award" for her role Carmen in "Carmen on Ice" (for outstanding performance)
1992 Starring role in the TV-special "Night Moves", CBC nominated for "Emmy"
1991 Among "The 50 Most Beautyful People of the World" and 1992 People Magazine
1992 Guest commentating CBS Sports at the Olympic Winter Games, Albertville
1993 Guest commentating for the NBC Sports at the World Figure Skating Championships, Prague
1993 Re-Instatement and participation in the Olympic Winter Games, Lillehammer
1995 "Jim Thorpe Pro Sport Award"
1994 Second own TV Special Production "The Ice Princess", aired in more than 20 countries (USA:HBO)
1995 Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement
1997 TV Series ARLISS /Guest Appearance
1998 Theater Movie RONINì starring the role of Natascha Kyrilova
1998 TV Series ARLISS /Guest Appearance
1998 American Opinion Research Institute: Most favorite female athlete in the United States (besides Michael Jordan in the male category)
1999 Co-Host at the World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki for ARD network
1988 Carmen on Ice (main character)
1995 The Ice Princess (Main Character)
1996 Jerry Maguire (with Tom Cruise, Guest Appearance)
1997 ARLISS (1 Episode)
1998 RONIN (with Robert DeNiro) GUEST APPEARANCE)
1998 ARLISS (1 episode)