Katarina Witt completed her performances 15 years ago. Years later, the German figure skater remains the standard of sexuality and the queen of provocation on ice. Her revealing costumes forced respectable officials to rewrite the rules. The Playboy issue with Witt on the cover and a series of nude shots sold out completely. Previously, only Marilyn Monroe could do this. At the same time, publishers chased Katarina for 10 years. They say they had to pay the athlete about one million dollars.
The German grew up bold and free inside. Although coach Jutta Miller was famous for her tough parenting methods. A strict regimen, diets, drill and even physical rudeness accompanied the skater's childhood. She survived because of her character. One day, the mentor slapped Katarina in the face, and her father decided to take the future champion. Katarina herself never concealed the unpleasant details of the preparation, but treated them as normal.
Witt was not a technical monster either in jumps or compulsory figures. For a long time, she owned only a triple sheepskin coat and a salchow, only by the end of her career having mastered the rittberger and flip. But Katarina performed harmonious programs with a sense of music and a rare dignity. An effective role model for new generations, how to get high on ice.
Figure skating and politics have always gone hand in hand. Katarina was born in the GDR, therefore she became not just a bright athlete, but the face of socialism. The most beautiful, according to Time journalists. Such a cult of personality brought her not only pluses. At one of the Olympics, a judge from «unfriendly» North America gave humiliatingly low marks. However, this step did not affect the final layout.
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The popularity of the German grew along with the results. In 1984, being a four-time national champion and a two-time European champion, Witt won the first gold of the Olympics and the world championship. «Catherine» was in full swing. Every word was caught and replicated, every step was tracked, the attention of men went beyond all reasonable limits. The figure skater found the right balance and did not lose in the results. In the next four years, she lost only one start — silver at the World Championships — 1986.Katarina also influenced the costumes. Under the admiring groan and angry hiss, she tried, perhaps, all possible provocations. Body without a skirt, feathers instead of a hem, bare stomach, deep neckline, transparent mesh. While the rivals were prudent high school students, Witt created rock and roll. Prohibition followed suit. As soon as a German woman made something acceptable, going out on the ice in it, strict ladies and gentlemen introduced a new restriction. And Katarina remained one step ahead, excited the fans and became a two-time Olympic champion.
She was only 22 years old — the prime of her career without significant health problems. She could continue to skate, collecting titles and full halls at the same time. But the rebellious spirit wanted freedom, not just medals. Katharina was torn apart by the leading ice shows, which was very flattering to the figure skater who admitted to vanity. Witt put her amateur career on pause and toured, acted in films, wrote books, performed in the professional league.
Sunset for the third Olympic gold in 1994 turned into only seventh place. Katarina looked luxurious and remained a universal favorite, but technically she was already inferior to the athletes of the new generation. Then it was difficult to realize that in the face of Witt, femininity and that same sexuality are gradually losing to modern figure skating. Young technically perfect demigods, which are difficult to reach for earthly women of flesh and blood.
Katarina Witt never really spoke about her personal life, so rumors and rare official confirmations were the basis for talking about this topic. The first attributed to her the choice of Hollywood stars Richard Dean Anderson and Danny Huston, Italian skier Alberto Tomba and others. The latter revealed the details of the skater's acquaintance with the American billionaire and future US President Donald Trump. Moreover, Trump himself showed interest, and Witt sent him off. A GQ journalist witnessed their conversation, immediately publishing everything.
It is interesting how Katarina herself felt about the fact that half of the world adored or lusted for her:
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«They call me a sex symbol or even 'sex on skates',» she said, perplexed. «But what's so sexy about it?» She didn’t have to do anything special for the palpitations of the audience. She was just herself – free, passionate and confident. It is unlikely that socialism has managed to show the world something more sexual than Katarina Witt.