Sonja Henie is considered a figure skating legend and is also considered the first ice skating celebrity. She is also known for bringing ballet to the ice. She was the "Queen of the Ice."
Sonja Henie Books, DVDs, Videos
Henie took part in four different Winter Olympic games. She participated in her first Olympics in 1924 when she was only eleven years old. She won the figure skating title in 1928, 1932, and in 1936.
Sonja Henie won ten world figure skating titles. She won gold in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and in 1936.
Sonja Henie was from Norway. She was born on April 8, 1912. Her parents were Wilhelm Henie and Selma Lochmann-Nielsen. She had one brother.
Before Sonja Henie appeared in the figure skating world, female ice skaters wore black figure skates. Henie introduced the idea that women and girls should wear white ice skating boots.
Ice skating attire until Sonja Henie's time was similar to street clothing. Sonja introduced the idea of short and beautiful figure skating skirts and dresses.
After winning the Olympics in 1936, Sonja Henie became a movie star. She was one of Hollywood's most popular stars. She appeared in ten films.
Sonja Henie produced her own ice shows. Her shows toured all over the world. The Sonja Henie shows and movies were known for having huge production numbers.
Henie's figure skating movies and ice shows increased the popularity of figure skating throughout the world. She was and is considered the first figure skating celebrity in history.
On October 12, 1969, Sonja Henie passed away. She died on a plane on the way to Oslo, Norway. She had been diagnosed with leukemia.
