Let's remember Katharina Witt- figure skater from East Germany.
Katarina Witt - second and only two-time Olympic champion in women's singles*(won the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games).
Represented the German Democratic Republic - GDR. City Karl-Marx-Stadt, which does not exist now.
She was called "the most beautiful face of socialism" and, of course, hated.
So, the year is 1984. The Olympic Games in Sarajevo where there is no war yet. Katharina Witt:
A figure skater from socialist Germany went to a demonstration performance to Nazi music. No, not like that...Under .
Short program-1984. Katarina Witt and the Hungarian chardash.
An impartial American judge gave Katarina 5.5 for technique and 5.6 for artistry. The marks that skaters usually get at the Olympics are below average. Of course, no one thought that the American was trying to play along with the American figure skater Rosalyn Sumners. Well, maybe he just doesn't like Hungarian music. Despite this, Katarina Witt still received the gold medal.
Free program in Sarajevo-1984. This time the American judge gave up and gave 5.8 for artistry. And the lowest score was given by a judge from fraternal socialist Yugoslavia. And still, Katarina Witt is an Olympic champion.
I don't want to talk about bad things, but I'll say it anyway.
Since Katarina Witt was the "face of socialism", she was hated by the so-called "Soviet intelligentsia". The point is that in figure skating"intelligentsia" did not understand too much, but they knew for sure that the ideal skaters are Belousova and Protopopov. These are Olympic champions in pair skating in 1964 and 1968. (unlike women's singles, where only two women managed to win Olympic gold more than once, one of which was Katarina Witt, in pair skating, Soviet couples consistently won over and over again). Then this couple decided to betray the Soviet Motherland and fled to the West. In the West, they did not achieve success in figure skating, and therefore they became an ideal for the "intelligentsia".
The "Soviet intelligentsia" knew for sure that a real skater should escape to the West. Well, for a German figure skater to escape to West Germany is just a holy cause. Katarina Witt did not want to flee to West Germany, because the "intellectuals" hated her fiercely.
When the "liberal intelligentsia" has nothing to complain about in essence, they practice writing all sorts of vile things, especially against women.
In those distant times, i.e. in the 1980s, "intellectuals" liked to point out that Katharina had ugly legs. Well, I agree that her legs are not perfect, the muscles are visible. Well, she is an athlete, not a fashion model. Not everyone has a perfect figure, like Valeria Novodvorskaya.
Since Katarina Witt never married and has no children, "liberal journalism" throughout the 90s practiced composing all kinds of insinuations, to the point that the bloody German hell gave her some drugs, from which she generally not like a woman. (Although in the case of figure skating, there is no point in such preparations at all. After all, it is not strength that is important there, but coordination of movements).
In fact, Katarina had quite normal relationships with men (she is definitely not a lesbian). And the unwillingness to breed, unfortunately, is a typical feature of the Germans. And it's not that "there are a lot of queers among the Germans" (as the "spiritually strong" like to say). Germans and Germans are selfish and most of all value their individual comfort. In addition, the Germans are workaholics (because when Katarina says that she could not exchange work for a family, I believe her. This is typical for a German).
I note that the inhabitants of "free" West Germany have ceased to breed for a very long time. retarded East Germans from the GDR they still somehow had children, but after the reunification they stopped. It's sad, but there's nothing to be done.
Curiously, Chancellor Merkel has been married twice. However, for some reason, he does not have children. Unlike Katarina Witt, who simply did not marry. But for some reason, no one makes up insinuations about Frau Merkel. Probably because Frau Merkel likes the "liberal intelligentsia".
There was also a favorite feature of the "liberals" - to tell that Katarina Witt was a mistress Eric Honecker. Well, it is clear that the German figure skater could not win the competition in any way, if the 76-year-old general secretary did not personally "bless" her. And in general, according to the "liberals", in the GDR they did not seek to demonstrate sports success to the whole world, and did not create ideal conditions for athletes for this. No, there all the management first fucked the skaters, and only then gave them a winning pill from the secret safes of the gebni.
The fact is that a "liberal" is a creature in which everything is below the belt. He has no brain, no heart, no soul. In his head is what he has ordinary people is below the waist. And he is trying to ascribe his understanding of life to normal people.
Sorry for ruining the mood. Yes, the world is not perfect.
Calgary-1988. Carmen and the second Olympic gold:
*Someone may ask: "How can this be second and the only? Is comrade Machine gun talking now?" Yes, everything is simple :) The first was Sonya Henie. But in 1936, she won the Olympic Games in Nazi Berlin and became a three-time champion.
By nature, she is an athlete, and the most successful figure skater of all time. Known as "fire on ice", Katarina Witt represented the former East Germany in figure skating. Having won the title of European champion for the first time in 1983, Katarina became her six times in a row. She has four world champion gold medals and two Olympic gold medals in her arsenal. Fans are always interested in what their favorite is doing now. We will talk about this in the article.
How did it all start?
The future figure skater Katarina Witt was born in an ordinary average family of the times of socialism, on December 3, 1965 in the city of Karl Marx. Now it is the city of Khimnitz, its historical name was returned to it. Katya's father, Manfred, ran an agricultural plant, and her mother was a physiotherapist. Katharina has an older brother, Axel.
Figure skating, which Katarina was fascinated with as a baby, began for her at the age of 6. The talented girl was just lucky, she got into the group of the famous coach Ute Muller, who worked in the best dictatorial traditions of the coaching school of the GDR. This is a man of iron will and harsh requirements, whose skaters cried in the locker room. But this is the kind of sport where you either give your best and win, or leave. Frau Müller turned Katharina Witt into a winning figure skater who, throughout her career in figure skating, deservedly took only the highest awards.
Preparing for the 1988 Olympics, Katarina realized that her ice career was coming to an end, that this would probably be the last Olympics. She was only 22, but she was already "old" enough to compete as a figure skater. She understood that there was no future in professional sports in the GDR. The country did not have the ice shows that she dreamed of. It was then that she entered into a contract with sports officials: if she wins a second Olympic gold, they give her the opportunity to participate in several concert programs abroad.
Retirement and return...
Having ended her career in amateur figure skating in 1988, Katarina does not leave figure skating. Now it is professional: ice shows, movies, major US tours. She tries herself as a TV presenter. Since 1991 Katarina has worked for both German and American television as a figure skating specialist.
But Katarina still felt too young to simply lead and observe. The ice continued to beckon her, and she believed that she could still prove herself. And she succeeded, it would seem, impossible, namely the return from professional skating to the amateur figure skater camp. At the German Championships in 1992 she came in second, in 1994 she placed eighth at the European Championships and seventh at the Lillehammer Olympics. She was not on the winner's podium, but she did it once again in the pros. As a professional, she won the world title in 1992 in Paris.
In addition to sports achievements
In addition to sporting achievements, Katharina Witt's biography states that in 1995 she founded her own production company with WITT Sports & Entertainment GmbH for skating shows such as "Stars on Ice", "Champions on Ice" and Winter Magic. Katarina founded the Snezhinka ice exhibition, created the sports and entertainment company S Witt Sports and Entertainment, and presented her own jewelry collection.
In 1998, she posed for Playboy. With her as Covergirl, the entire issue of the magazine was sold to the last copy all over the world. For the magazine, this was the second record issue after a photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe. Katarina has been actively involved since 2005 in the Katarina Witt Foundation, which she founded, which supports children and adolescents with physical disabilities.
farewell tour
In March 2008, she finally ended her career. All tickets in nine cities were sold for the performances of the ageless Ice Princess on her farewell tour of Germany. This was her last appearance as an "active" figure skater on the ice. Once again at 43, she confidently glided across the glistening surface of the ice, in the spotlight, enjoying the applause. Now that moment is over. Her performances on the tour were accompanied by video screens of rinks showing important moments of her world career, and she again impressively demonstrated her skills and charisma. This time, as Katarina Witt herself said, she "wants to hang up her skates" at last, after nine shows in eight cities.
“I have to tell you honestly that I was preparing such a tour and thinking about everything, and then I completely forgot what I should say at the end. Maybe just thank you,” said Kati Witt, holding her breath and beaming.
What is Katarina Witt doing now?
The most successful German figure skater has ended her career. In her interview for one of the German magazines, she said: "For the first time in my career, I have no plan, I just want to have free time." She decided to stop the daily hard work, the eternal icy cold and sports nutrition. This freedom will mean a major change for the two-time Olympian. In addition to her work in funds, production work, filming in television shows and films, Katarina Witt writes books. Of those published: "So much life", "Easy in shape", "My years between duty and freestyle".
As an ARD Olympic expert, Katharina Witt has worked alongside broadcasters from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea. But she keeps her personal life largely out of the public eye.
A month before the start of the Sochi Olympics, we publish a series of articles dedicated to the legendary German champions. And our first heroine - famous figure skater for the GDR.
“Every day I minced in the company of my girlfriends from kindergarten to the skating rink and knew: this is mine - to skate and jump when others look at you. I want exactly this. And I know for a fact that I can do it,” wrote Katarina Witt in her 1994 autobiography, My Years Between Compulsory and Free Skating.
Early success
Katarina Witt was born on December 3, 1965 near Berlin. She took her first steps in figure skating at the age of five at the sports school in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz). There, the famous coach Jutta Müller drew attention to her. She quickly recognized the future champion in the little girl.
Witt achieved her first major success in 1983 at the European Championships in Dortmund, and a year later she became the champion of the Olympic Games in Sarajevo. We can safely say that in the 1980s, Katarina Witt had no equal in women's figure skating. From 1983 to 1988, she was the European champion, four times climbed to the top step of the podium at the world championships, and in 1988 in Calgary she became the Olympic champion for the second time.
Socialism or capitalism?
Together with fame, all the pompous attributes of the “official” sport, which in the GDR has always been inseparable from politics, entered the life of an athlete. Katharina Witt often had to be photographed with members of the Politburo, to be a participant in congresses and other official ceremonies. She did this extremely reluctantly, since she already belonged to a new generation of East German youth - free and oriented towards democratic values.
After the Olympic Games in Calgary in 1988, it finally became clear that the "beautiful granddaughter of Marx's grandfather" turned into an all-German sports idol, who was equally worshiped both in the GDR and in the FRG. It tore down the Berlin Wall that existed in the minds of West and East Germans.
Katarina Witt enjoyed the freedom of movement due to her work. In November 1988, Witt decided to give up her sports career and broke one of the main taboos of "socialist sport" by signing a contract with the American ice ballet Holiday on Ice. Thus, she took another step in the direction of show business, from which, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, she will become inseparable. In the GDR, her participation in the American show became a sensation. Katarina's success as a professional figure skater has surpassed all expectations.
After the Wall
Thanks to the changed rules, in 1994 she returned to big sport and took part in the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer. And although there she failed to win the champion title for the third time (she took seventh place), Katharina's fans rejoiced at her performance.
In 1998, Witt posed nude for Playboy. This issue has become one of the most successful in the history of the men's magazine. Only twice did its circulation sell out completely, to a single copy: when the cover featured a portrait of Marilyn Monroe and when photographs of Katarina Witt were published in the magazine.
From "the most beautiful face of socialism" to "the goat of the SED"
For many years, the GDR bathed in the glory and sporting success of the figure skater. And not only that: the ice princess also replenished the state treasury, giving 80 percent of her proceeds. At the same time, the favorite of the functionaries enjoyed some privileges: a car and a dishwasher donated to her by the state caused numerous reproaches brought against the figure skater by her compatriots after the peaceful revolution in the GDR. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Katarina Witt became the object of harsh criticism. If earlier the media called her nothing more than “the most beautiful face of socialism”, now the tabloid press has nicknamed the skater “the SED goat”.
Since 1992, accusations have appeared in the press that the athlete worked for the state security services of the GDR. Witt is seeking a court decision to stop exaggerating such rumors by a number of publishers. In 2001, she applied to a Berlin court in an attempt to prevent the publication of a secret dossier filed on her by the East German secret police. Subsequently, the skater was forced to agree to this, but stated that such a publication is an invasion of her personal life.
Secret Stasi files filed on Katarina Witt indicate that since 1973 she has been under continuous surveillance. Part of the dossier is now available to the public. The content of these documents was a shock for the athlete herself. “Some things I would rather never know. I was not a scammer, just as I was not a member of the resistance movement,” Witt wrote in her autobiography.
Outside the rink
She starred in films and television films, playing either herself or athletes with a similar fate, became the host of several popular television shows, including an analogue of the Russian Ice Age, and developed a series of jewelry named after the champion. In 2005, the skater created the charitable foundation Katarina Witt Stiftung. Its tasks include helping children living in regions affected by natural disasters, supporting children with disabilities and much more.
Katarina Witt actively lobbied for Munich to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, officially representing the city at various events. But, as is now known, this enterprise was not crowned with success. The Munich residents themselves opposed the holding of the Olympics in their city, and the competition will eventually be held in South Korean Pyeongchang.
There have always been many rumors about the personal life of Katarina Witt. She was even credited with an affair with Erich Honecker, the state leader of the GDR. She has never been married and has no children. Among the more or less "official" boyfriends were seen German musicians Ingo Politz (Ingo Politz) and Rolf Brandel (Rolf Brendel), as well as American actors Richard Dean Anderson and Danny Huston.
By nature, she is an athlete, and the most successful figure skater of all time. Known as "fire on ice", Katarina Witt represented the former East Germany in figure skating. Having won the title of European champion for the first time in 1983, Katarina became her six times in a row. She has four world champion gold medals and two Olympic gold medals in her arsenal. Fans are always interested in what their favorite is doing now. We will talk about this in the article.
How did it all start?
The future figure skater Katarina Witt was born in an ordinary average family of the times of socialism, on December 3, 1965 in the city of Karl Marx. Now it is the city of Khimnitz, its historical name was returned to it. Katya's father, Manfred, ran an agricultural plant, and her mother was a physiotherapist. Katharina has an older brother, Axel.
Figure skating, which Katarina was fascinated with as a baby, began for her at the age of 6. The talented girl was just lucky, she got into the group of the famous coach Ute Muller, who worked in the best dictatorial traditions of the coaching school of the GDR. This is a man of iron will and harsh requirements, whose skaters cried in the locker room. But this is the kind of sport where you either give your best and win, or leave. Frau Müller turned Katharina Witt into a winning figure skater who, throughout her career in figure skating, deservedly took only the highest awards.
Preparing for the 1988 Olympics, Katarina realized that her ice career was coming to an end, that this would probably be the last Olympics. She was only 22, but she was already "old" enough to compete as a figure skater. She understood that there was no future in professional sports in the GDR. The country did not have the ice shows that she dreamed of. It was then that she entered into a contract with sports officials: if she wins a second Olympic gold, they give her the opportunity to participate in several concert programs abroad.
Retirement and return...
Having ended her career in amateur figure skating in 1988, Katarina does not leave figure skating. Now it is professional: ice shows, movies, major US tours. She tries herself as a TV presenter. Since 1991 Katarina has worked for both German and American television as a figure skating specialist.
But Katarina still felt too young to simply lead and observe. The ice continued to beckon her, and she believed that she could still prove herself. And she succeeded, it would seem, impossible, namely the return from professional skating to the amateur figure skater camp. At the German Championships in 1992 she came in second, in 1994 she placed eighth at the European Championships and seventh at the Lillehammer Olympics. She was not on the winner's podium, but she did it once again in the pros. As a professional, she won the world title in 1992 in Paris.
In addition to sports achievements
In addition to sporting achievements, Katharina Witt's biography states that in 1995 she founded her own production company with WITT Sports & Entertainment GmbH for skating shows such as "Stars on Ice", "Champions on Ice" and Winter Magic. Katarina founded the Snezhinka ice exhibition, created the sports and entertainment company S Witt Sports and Entertainment, and presented her own jewelry collection.
In 1998, she posed for Playboy. With her as Covergirl, the entire issue of the magazine was sold to the last copy all over the world. For the magazine, this was the second record issue after a photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe. Katarina has been actively involved since 2005 in the Katarina Witt Foundation, which she founded, which supports children and adolescents with physical disabilities.
farewell tour
In March 2008, she finally ended her career. All tickets in nine cities were sold for the performances of the ageless Ice Princess on her farewell tour of Germany. This was her last appearance as an "active" figure skater on the ice. Once again at 43, she confidently glided across the glistening surface of the ice, in the spotlight, enjoying the applause. Now that moment is over. Her performances on the tour were accompanied by video screens of rinks showing important moments of her world career, and she again impressively demonstrated her skills and charisma. This time, as Katarina Witt herself said, she "wants to hang up her skates" at last, after nine shows in eight cities.
“I have to tell you honestly that I prepared such a tour and thought about everything, and then completely forgot what I should say at the end. Maybe just thank you,” said Kati Witt, breathless and beaming.
What is Katarina Witt doing now?
The most successful German figure skater has ended her career. In her interview for one of the German magazines, she said: "For the first time in my career, I have no plan, I just want to have free time." She decided to stop the daily hard work, the eternal icy cold and sports nutrition. This freedom will mean a major change for the two-time Olympian. In addition to her work in funds, production work, filming in television shows and films, Katarina Witt writes books. Of those published: "So much life", "Easy in shape", "My years between duty and freestyle".
As an ARD Olympic expert, Katharina Witt has worked alongside broadcasters from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea. But she keeps her personal life largely out of the public eye.
WE MET at her favorite cafe Oranium in the center of East Berlin. Every now and then Katarina was approached for autographs ...
During my last trip to Moscow, when I went through passport control at the airport, a border guard asked: Are you that famous figure skater? I am still haunted by my sports career. However, even though I do other things in parallel, with the greatest joy I do what I did when I was a little girl - I skate. In Germany, unfortunately, today there are no well-known names, such with which the country would identify itself.
- WHY do you think why?
During my youth, our entire system supported young athletes, allowed them to achieve great success. Living conditions in the GDR were the same for everyone, and everyone received the same. But not in sports. In this sense, big sport in our socialist system was oriented towards capitalism. I went to sports school and school program was consistent with my individual training plan. I could afford to train seven hours a day. And today, a young athlete must choose between school and sports. Three hours a day for training after school is very little. In addition, young people now have many other opportunities through which they can advance.
- 7 hours a day - for training, while others - in the cinema or with friends ... Was it a conscious sacrifice or did your parents force you?
When I was very young, I often watched what was happening at the skating rink, which was located next to my kindergarten. At the age of five, I began to ask my parents to send me to the figure skating section. I begged until my mother took me there. I can't say that hours of training were a sacrifice. I received a lot in return and only benefited from it.
- How did your relationship develop with your coach Jutta Müller?
She discovered me at the age of 9. And she worked with me until I was 28. Our relationship changed. Sometimes we were like two friends, sometimes she was my mentor, sometimes she replaced my parents. She was very strict. Yes, the coach and can not be a friend. I respected her and was a little afraid. I had a feeling for her, similar to love ... turning into hatred and vice versa. But if she had not been so strict, without her knowledge, without her passionate energy, I would not have achieved what I have achieved. Often you come to high results through pain ... We now regularly call each other, she is dedicated to my personal life. I learned a lot from Jutta Müller. She lives deep in my heart, but at the same time, we are still with you.
Best of the day
- Be famous person in the GDR - meant that the close attention of the special services to their person could not be avoided ...
The secret services began to follow me from the age of nine, as soon as my talent was noticed. I didn't know then that I was being followed. For the first time, I discovered surveillance at the age of 18. But I naively believed that I was being guarded so that nothing would happen to me. And I found out that they were employees of the internal intelligence services much later, when I had the opportunity to get acquainted with my personal file from the Stasi archives. Then it could not have occurred to me that they were purposefully following me so that I would not run away to the West.
By the way, why didn't you do it?
I was so grateful to my country and people. I understood that nowhere would I have had such success as I had in the GDR. Besides, if I ended up in the West, I wouldn't be able to see my parents. And you know, there is no such check and no such amount that would outweigh this. Even freedom was not a good enough reason for me.
Now I already understand that my state used me. At that time, we did not have access to other ideologies. I couldn't appreciate freedom because I didn't know it. But I passionately stood for our system. I was proud to come abroad, where I was supposed to represent my country.
Yes, I grew up in the GDR and naturally believed in those ideals. But I also learned the things that shaped me. And then, my life was not the same as that of most people from the GDR. I had many privileges. Sometimes it seems to me that now I live on some other planet.
- In the Soviet Union, athletes were forced to give cash bonuses to the state, but how was this in the GDR?
We had cash prizes, for example, for winning the Olympics, but there was no access to them. The funds were transferred to the account of the federation, the athlete could receive them partially, that is, a certain percentage of this money when he left the big sport. Once I was rewarded with a small gold coin I was allowed to keep her. Thanks to the awards, the federation had the opportunity to influence athletes. For example, they could freeze bonuses if an athlete wanted to leave big sport ahead of time. He was allowed to leave only when he had a replacement. Therefore, sometimes athletes stayed in big-time sports longer than they wanted. However, it didn't affect me.
- How do you assess the current level of figure skating? Where do you see weaknesses?
The disadvantage that I see in figure skating is the desire of many athletes to achieve technical super-perfection. I mean combinations of jumps in three and four turns. I think that for a young organism this can be fraught with serious consequences, it can lead to serious injuries, like Evgeni Plushenko, because of this he could not continue to fight in the last world championship.
- They say you are lucky in everything except love ...
You can't have everything you want, although, of course, you often want to have everything. I already had a happy love, and a serious relationship with men, I can’t complain. I am currently single and live alone. Last year and a half for the most part in Berlin, where I have an apartment. I travel a lot. And I can’t sacrifice my profession for the sake of a man, stop working. But I'm happy with what I have. I have many friends. Favorite work. And I'm vain. Money plays a secondary role for me, the main thing is that I burn with the work that I do.
- No desire to have a family, children?
Children? Don't know. So far, this question has not arisen before me. As I said, it is difficult for me to lead a normal life. If there was a child, I would have to stop working. And I'm a workaholic. Besides, in this moment there is no suitable candidate for the role of pope.
- In the 80s, you were a sex symbol for many Russian men, do you know about it?
It's a compliment. I think this was due to the ability to show oneself beautifully on the ice, with choreography, with plasticity of movements and, of course, with sexy costumes. I have never had a serious relationship with a Russian man. Your men are different from European and American. I will never forget how I myself dragged heavy bags with skates, while Russian athletes were helped by their partners. In this sense, I am closer to Eastern women.
By the way, not so long ago in Moscow I was in a dance club. I noticed how many beautiful and attractive women there are. But the right man it wasn't there for me either. But I'm not looking, believe me ...
- Is it true that Garry Kasparov wooed you?
What are you talking about, I didn't even know! I once received a telegram from Kasparov - congratulations on winning the Olympic Games. Although it is customary among athletes to congratulate each other on a victory, it was unusual for me and even ... honorable.
- You starred in Playboy magazine. Did you really get paid a million?
10 years - from the moment of winning the Calgary Olympics - Playboy tried to get my consent to shoot, they followed me on their heels. But while I was performing, being photographed naked was unthinkable for me. Only after I left the big sport, I decided to try to work with them. Besides, I was already famous - compared to those models who became famous thanks to their pictures in Playboy. Filming took place in nature. Everything was natural. I remember standing naked under a waterfall. And I wanted to be not only erotic, but also feminine. I will not give out a secret and therefore I will not answer what fee I received. I can only say that it was a decent amount.
Personally, I regularly go in for sports and limit myself in food, though not always. Because I love chocolate and sweets. If it happens to give myself pleasure - to eat what I want, then I usually train more.
No plastic surgery, not done yet. I don't know what will happen in ten years - maybe I'll have to. In Moscow, I saw many young girls with chipped lips. I think that there is nothing like that when narrow lips are made more plump, but this should not be noticeable. And silicone breasts in teenagers look terrible.
- How would you like to celebrate your anniversary?
Most of all on this day I would like to arrange a show on ice. And celebrate with the audience. I would also like to come to Russia and perform again - on ice, of course - and win hearts. The people there are completely different, I feel it, and the living conditions are different. In Russia, a person will give his neighbor his last shirt, there is still solidarity between people. Apparently, Russians have it in their blood...
