Background
Katarina Witt was born on December 3, 1965 in Staaken, East Germany (present-day locality of Berlin, Germany). She is a daughter of Manfred Witt, a farmer, and Käthe Witt, a physiotherapist. She has an elder brother, Axel.
Katarina Witt
1975
Ten-year-old Katarina Witt. Photo by Rowell/ullstein bild.
1977
Twelve-year-old Katarina Witt at the GDR championships. Photo by Thonfeld.
1979
Germany
Katarina Witt at the East German championships in Karl Marx Stadt. Photo by Christoph Höhne/ullstein bild.
1981
Germany
Katarina Witt at the GDR championships. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1981
Katarina Witt. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1982
Katarina Witt cuts across the ice at a tribute to the late Rob McCall. Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star.
1983
Germany
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller at the GDR championships. Photo by Christoph Höhne/ullstein bild.
1983
Katarina Witt. Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/TempSport/Corbis/VCG.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Katarina Witt in action at the XIV Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Photo by Harry Melchert/picture alliance.
1984
Katarina Witt during a training session. (From left to right) Simone Lang, Witt, Constanze Gensel and coach Jutta Müller. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1984
Budapest, Hungary
Katarina Witt performing in the ladies' skating event during the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1984
Katarina Witt in the ladies' figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics. Photo by Steve Fenn/Walt Disney Television.
1984
Katarina Witt in the ladies' figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics. Photo by Jacqueline Duvoisin/Walt Disney Television.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt (left) and her coach Jutta Müller (next to the right) are enthusiastically welcomed at the ice rink in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme/picture alliance.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt in a show at the ice rink in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme / picture alliance.
1987
Paris, France
Katarina Witt at the Trophée Lalique (later known as Trophée de France). Photo by Marc Francotte/TempSport/Corbis.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt portrayed in her new costume before the short freestyle at the GDR championships held at the ice rink stadium in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme/picture alliance.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt on a way to her second singles figure skating gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games. Photo by Wally McNamee/Corbis.
1988
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
1988
Paris, France
Katarina Witt at the Trophée Lalique (later known as Trophée de France). Photo by Marc Francotte/TempSport/Corbis.
1988
Prague, Czech Republic
Katarina Witt (right) pictured together with her coach Jutta Müller at the European Figure Skating Championships in Prague. Photo by Leo Mason/Popperfoto.
1988
Budapest, Hungary
Katarina Witt performs in the World Figure Championships, Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Bob Martin.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt discusses the training process with her coach Jutta Müller in Calgary, Canada, at the Olympic Games. Photo by Roland Scheidemann/picture alliance.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt gives a press conference at the Olympic Games in Calgary. Photo by Roland Scheidemann/picture alliance.
1990
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt at the premiere of "Carmen on Ice" in West Berlin (now Berlin, Germany) with her film partner Brian Orser. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1990
Seville, Spain
Katarina Witt in "Carmen on Ice" movie, Seville, Spain. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
1990
Seville, Spain
Katarina Witt in a dance film "Carmen on Ice," June 1st, Seville, Spain. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
1991
Katarina Witt performs at the Gods of Ice. Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/Corbis/VCG.
1992
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1992
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1994
Katarina Witt in action. Photo by Focus on Sport.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt and her coach Jutta Müller during the ladies' skating event at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt performing at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
Katarina Witt in action, about 1987. Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
1999
Unter den Linden 7, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt on stage at the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards) in the Berlin State Opera. Photo by Andreas Altwein/picture alliance.
1999
Halle, Westfalen, Germany
Katarina Witt in action, Halle, Westfalen. Photo by Frank Peters/Bongarts.
1999
Am Bornheimer Hang 4, 60386 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Katarina Witt in action at the first "ARD Gala on Ice" at Eissporthalle Frankfurt. Photo by Arne Dedert/picture alliance.
2001
Riesa, Germany
Katarina Witt performs in the Summer Night on Ice in Riesa, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2001
Riesa, Germany
Katarina Witt performs in the Summer Night on Ice in Riesa, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2002
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Katarina Witt at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Photo by Henri Szwarc/Bongarts.
2002
Möckernstraße 10, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt arrives at the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards) at the Tempodrom, Berlin. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2004
Estoril, Portugal
Katarina Witt arrives at the Laureus Spirit Sport Dinner at the Estoril Casino, Portugal. Photo by Getty Images for Laureus.
2004
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and former German tennis player Boris Becker attend the Laureus World Sports Award Nominations at Mercedes-Welt am Salzufer, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Laureus.
2007
Berlin, Germany
Witt attends a press conference promoting her farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Anita Bugge/WireImage.
2008
Rust, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the Stars on Ice TV show at the Europa Park Resort, Rust, Germany. Photo by Ralf Juergens.
2008
Rust, Germany
(From left to right) Actress Susanne Paetzold, Maurizio Margaglio and Katarina Witt pose after the Stars on Ice TV show at the Europa Park Resort, Rust, Germany. Photo by Ralf Juergens.
2008
Katarina Witt and Oliver Petzokat in the semifinals of the Stars on Ice show. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2009
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on stage during the Jedermann (Everyman) dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church (Berliner Dom), Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2010
Arabellastraße 6, 81925 München, Germany
Katarina Witt holds a speech during the DOSB General Meeting at the Westin Grand Hotel, Munich, Germany. Photo by Thomas Langer/Bongarts.
2010
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and Klaus Wowereit, mayor of Berlin, unveil a banner to support the Munich Winter Olympic bid at the red town hall, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts.
2011
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt, Chair of Munich 2018, during a press conference at Munich 2018 candidate city meeting, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2011
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt (center), Chair of Munich 2018, poses with IOC Vice President and Chairman of the Munich 2018 Shareholder Board Thomas Bach (left) and Munich 2018 partners prior to the Munich 2018 candidate city meeting, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2014
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt attends with Prince Leopold von Bayern on a slide the 'BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch' of the Oktoberfest at Theresienhoehe, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2014
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt attends the 'BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch' of the Oktoberfest at Theresienhoehe, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2016
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt at the press conference where she was presented as an ambassador of the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2016
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt at the premiere of the ice skating show 'Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic' in Munich, Germany. Photo by Tobias Hase/picture alliance.
2017
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt, Kai Pflaume and a kid candidate during the 'Klein Gegen Gross' TV Show at Studio Berlin Adlershof, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2018
Koenigssee, Germany
Katarina Witt (2nd left) poses with third-placed Reinhold Rainer of Italy (left), winner Armin Zoeggeler (2nd right) of Italy and second-placed Albert Demtschenko of Russia during the Luge World Cup to support the Munich 2018 Winter Olympic bid, Koenigssee, Germany. Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Katarina Witt (left) and Robin Szolkowy of Germany during the figure skating pairs short program of the Winter Olympics in the Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Peter Kneffel/picture alliance.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Katarina Witt as a TV commentator in the tribunes during the men's single skating short program of the Winter Olympics in the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Peter Kneffel/picture alliance.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(From left to right) Rosalyn Sumners of the United States (silver), Katarina Witt (gold) and Kira Ivanova of the USSR (bronze) at the medals ceremony for the Women's Figure Skating. Photo by S&G/PA Images.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gold Medalist Katarina Witt at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1995
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Katarina Witt holds her Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd/Ron Galella Collection.
Katarina Witt was honored with the Emmy Award for her performance in the 1990 movie Carmen on Ice.
1975
Ten-year-old Katarina Witt. Photo by Rowell/ullstein bild.
1977
Twelve-year-old Katarina Witt at the GDR championships. Photo by Thonfeld.
1979
Germany
Katarina Witt at the East German championships in Karl Marx Stadt. Photo by Christoph Höhne/ullstein bild.
1981
Germany
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller at the GDR championships. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1981
Germany
Katarina Witt at the GDR championships. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1981
Katarina Witt. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1982
Katarina Witt at 16. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1982
Katarina Witt cuts across the ice at a tribute to the late Rob McCall. Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star.
1983
Germany
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller at the GDR championships. Photo by Christoph Höhne/ullstein bild.
1983
Katarina Witt. Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/TempSport/Corbis/VCG.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gold Medalist Katarina Witt at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(From left to right) Rosalyn Sumners of the United States (silver), Katarina Witt (gold) and Kira Ivanova of the USSR (bronze) at the medals ceremony for the Women's Figure Skating. Photo by S&G/PA Images.
1984
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Katarina Witt in action at the XIV Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Photo by Harry Melchert/picture alliance.
1984
Katarina Witt with a bouquet of flowers. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1984
Katarina Witt. Photo by Christoph Höhne/ullstein bild.
1984
Katarina Witt during a training session. (From left to right) Simone Lang, Witt, Constanze Gensel and coach Jutta Müller. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1984
Budapest, Hungary
Katarina Witt performing in the ladies' skating event during the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1984
Katarina Witt in the ladies' figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics. Photo by Steve Fenn/Walt Disney Television.
1984
Katarina Witt in the ladies' figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics. Photo by Jacqueline Duvoisin/Walt Disney Television.
1984
Katarina Witt with Manfred Ewald, then German Democratic Republic's Minister of Sport. Photo by Schlage/ullstein bild.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt (left) and her coach Jutta Müller (next to the right) are enthusiastically welcomed at the ice rink in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme/picture alliance.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt in a show at the ice rink in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme / picture alliance.
1987
Paris, France
Katarina Witt at the Trophée Lalique (later known as Trophée de France). Photo by Marc Francotte/TempSport/Corbis.
1987
Chemnitz, Germany
Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt portrayed in her new costume before the short freestyle at the GDR championships held at the ice rink stadium in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Wolfgang Thieme/picture alliance.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt on a way to her second singles figure skating gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games. Photo by Wally McNamee/Corbis.
1988
Katarina Witt. Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
1988
Chemnitz, Germany
Katarina Witt with a bouquet of roses in front of the Karl Marx Monument in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz). Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
1988
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
1988
Katarina Witt in training jacket. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt in Calgary. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1988
Paris, France
Katarina Witt at the Trophée Lalique (later known as Trophée de France). Photo by Marc Francotte/TempSport/Corbis.
1988
Prague, Czech Republic
Katarina Witt (right) pictured together with her coach Jutta Müller at the European Figure Skating Championships in Prague. Photo by Leo Mason/Popperfoto.
1988
Katarina Witt shows off the gold medal won at the European Championships. Photo by Universal/Corbis/VCG.
1988
Budapest, Hungary
Katarina Witt performs in the World Figure Championships, Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Bob Martin.
1988
555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2W1, Canada
Katarina Witt uses a video camera while visiting a speed skating event of the Winter Olympic Games at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Photo by David Madison.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt discusses the training process with her coach Jutta Müller in Calgary, Canada, at the Olympic Games. Photo by Roland Scheidemann/picture alliance.
1988
Calgary, Canada
Katarina Witt gives a press conference at the Olympic Games in Calgary. Photo by Roland Scheidemann/picture alliance.
1990
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt at the premiere of "Carmen on Ice" in West Berlin (now Berlin, Germany) with her film partner Brian Orser. Photo by ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild.
1990
Dresden, Germany
Katarina Witt gives a press conference in Dresden on the occasion of the world premiere of "Carmen on Ice." Photo by Wolfgang Kumm/picture alliance.
1990
Germany
Katarina Witt at the Sports Club Dynamo Berlin. Photo by Terry Smith/The LIFE Images Collection.
1990
Seville, Spain
Katarina Witt in "Carmen on Ice" movie, Seville, Spain. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
1990
Seville, Spain
Katarina Witt in a dance film "Carmen on Ice," June 1st, Seville, Spain. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
1991
Katarina Witt performs at the Gods of Ice. Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/Corbis/VCG.
1991
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt (right) and her manager Diether Dehm in Berlin. Photo by Frederike von Stackelberg/picture alliance.
1992
Katarina Witt. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1992
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1992
Katarina Witt with her coach Jutta Müller. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1993
Katarina Witt at "Wetten, dass..?" night show with its presenter Wolfang Lippert. Photo by Frank Hempel/United Archives.
1993
301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Katarina Witt attends the Chesebrough-Pond's Fifth Annual National Hero Awards at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection.
1993
301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Katarina Witt attends the Chesebrough-Pond's Fifth Annual National Hero Awards at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt in action at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1994
Katarina Witt. Photo by Weychardt/ullstein bild.
1994
Katarina Witt in action. Photo by Focus on Sport.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt and her coach Jutta Müller during the ladies' skating event at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1994
Lillehammer, Norway
Katarina Witt performing at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1995
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States
Katarina Witt holds her Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd/Ron Galella Collection.
1999
Unter den Linden 7, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt on stage at the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards) in the Berlin State Opera. Photo by Andreas Altwein/picture alliance.
1999
Halle, Westfalen, Germany
Katarina Witt in action, Halle, Westfalen. Photo by Frank Peters/Bongarts.
1999
Am Bornheimer Hang 4, 60386 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Katarina Witt in action at the first "ARD Gala on Ice" at Eissporthalle Frankfurt. Photo by Arne Dedert/picture alliance.
1999
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Wiitt at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin. Photo by XAMAX/ullstein bild.
2000
Monaco City, Monaco
Katarina Witt attends the Laureus Sports Awards in Monaco City, Monaco, with a friend. Photo by Pool Benainous/Scorcelletti/Gamma-Rapho.
2000
Katarina Witt. Photo by Ronald Siemoneit/Sygma/Sygma.
2001
Vancouver, Canada
Katarina Witt and Jurgen Emig as commentators for ARD at the Figure Skating World Cup (men's short program), Vancouver. Photo by Lutz Bongarts/Bongarts.
2001
Katarina Witt. Photo by Toni Anne Barson/WireImage.
2001
Riesa, Germany
Katarina Witt performs in the Summer Night on Ice in Riesa, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2001
Riesa, Germany
Katarina Witt performs in the Summer Night on Ice in Riesa, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2002
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Katarina Witt at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Photo by Henri Szwarc/Bongarts.
2002
Möckernstraße 10, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt arrives at the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards) at the Tempodrom, Berlin. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2002
Katarina Witt with Till Lindemann of Rammstein. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2003
Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt with her parents Manfred und Käthe at an award ceremony in Berlin's Friedrichstadt-Palast. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2004
Dortmund, Germany
Katarina WItt (right) at the Figure Skating World Cup in Dortmund. Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts.
2004
Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt arrives at the ZDF show "Welcome Europe" held at the Konzerthaus, Berlin. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2004
Estoril, Portugal
Katarina Witt arrives at the Laureus Spirit Sport Dinner at the Estoril Casino, Portugal. Photo by Getty Images for Laureus.
2004
Estoril, Portugal
Katarina Witt arrives at the Laureus World Sports Awards, Estoril, Portugal. Photo by Steve Finn.
2004
Am Dammtor, Marseiller Str., 20355 Hamburg, Germany
Katarina Witt holds her World Business Award at the Women's World Award at Congress Center, Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Sean Gallup.
2004
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt as torchbearer runs with the Olympic Flame during Day 26 of the Athens Olympic Torch Relay in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Todd Warshaw.
2004
Am Falkpl. 1, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt (left) and German television sports host Hagen Bossdorf (right) attend an exhibition match between Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini at the Max Schmeling Hall, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Sean Gallup.
2004
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and former German tennis player Boris Becker attend the Laureus World Sports Award Nominations at Mercedes-Welt am Salzufer, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Laureus.
2004
Norderelbstraße 6, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
Katarina Witt arrives at the Bambi Awards in the Theater im Hafen, Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Sean Gallup
2005
Messering 6, 01067 Dresden, Germany
Television host Thomas Gottschalk welcomes Olympic figure skating gold medalist Katarina Witt to the live broadcast of "Wetten, dass..?" on ZDF television at the Messehalle, Dresden, Germany. Photo by Sean Gallup.
2007
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt (left) and Peter Maffay attend the 'Night of the Stars, Paralympic Sports Ball,' Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2007
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and Walter Mueller, director of Mercedes-Benz Berlin, attend the 'Night of the Stars, Paralympic Sports Ball,' Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2007
Berlin, Germany
Witt attends a press conference promoting her farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Anita Bugge/WireImage.
2008
Rust, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the Stars on Ice TV show at the Europa Park Resort, Rust, Germany. Photo by Ralf Juergens.
2008
Rust, Germany
(From left to right) Actress Susanne Paetzold, Maurizio Margaglio and Katarina Witt pose after the Stars on Ice TV show at the Europa Park Resort, Rust, Germany. Photo by Ralf Juergens.
2008
Katarina Witt and Oliver Petzokat in the semifinals of the Stars on Ice show. Photo by Peter Bischoff.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2008
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on the ice during the first show of Katarina Witt's farewell tour, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts.
2009
Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and actress Suzanne von Borsody (right) attend the Goldene Henne awards at the Friedrichstadt-Palast, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Sean Gallup.
2009
Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and Thomas Bartels attend their presentation as new Bambi Hosts at Sky Lounge at Side Hotel, Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Florian Seefried.
2009
Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and Thomas Bartels attend their presentation as new Bambi Hosts at Sky Lounge at Side Hotel, Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Florian Seefried.
2009
Luckenwalder Str. 4-6, 10963 Berlin, Germany
(From left to right) Vladimir Klitschko, Katarina Witt, Countess Mariella von Faber-Castell Ahrens and Henry Maske attend the after-show party to Tribute to Bambi at The Station, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2009
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt performs on stage during the Jedermann (Everyman) dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church (Berliner Dom), Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2010
Unter den Linden 77, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt poses with then Minister President of Brandenburg Matthias Platzeck and the Goldene Sportpyramide Award at the Adlon Hotel, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2010
Behrenstraße 37, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt attends the Vodafone Night at Hotel De Rome, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Steffen Kugler.
2010
Arabellastraße 6, 81925 München, Germany
Katarina Witt holds a speech during the DOSB General Meeting at the Westin Grand Hotel, Munich, Germany. Photo by Thomas Langer/Bongarts.
2010
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and Klaus Wowereit, mayor of Berlin, unveil a banner to support the Munich Winter Olympic bid at the red town hall, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts.
2011
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt, Chair of Munich 2018, during a press conference at Munich 2018 candidate city meeting, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2011
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt (center), Chair of Munich 2018, poses with IOC Vice President and Chairman of the Munich 2018 Shareholder Board Thomas Bach (left) and Munich 2018 partners prior to the Munich 2018 candidate city meeting, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2014
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt and Uschi Glas attend the Guillaume Tell Opera Premiere at the Opera Festival Opening, Munich, Germany. Photo by Gisela Schober.
2014
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt attends with Prince Leopold von Bayern on a slide the 'BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch' of the Oktoberfest at Theresienhoehe, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2014
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt attends the 'BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch' of the Oktoberfest at Theresienhoehe, Munich, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2014
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt attends the Ein Herz fur Kinder Gala at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Gisela Schober.
2014
Unter den Linden 77, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt and guest attend the awarding of the Goldene Sportpyramide at Hotel Adlon, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Target Presse Agentur Gmbh.
2014
Duesseldorf, Germany
Katarina Witt arrives for the 'Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitspreis' award ceremony (German sustainability prize) in Duesseldorf, Germany. Photo by Henning Kaiser/picture alliance.
2016
Hamburg, Germany
Katarina Witt attends the first day of the Hamburg-Berlin Klassik Rallye, Hamburg, Germany. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2016
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt at the press conference where she was presented as an ambassador of the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Franziska Krug.
2016
Munich, Germany
Katarina Witt at the premiere of the ice skating show 'Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic' in Munich, Germany. Photo by Tobias Hase/picture alliance.
2017
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt, Kai Pflaume and a kid candidate during the 'Klein Gegen Gross' TV Show at Studio Berlin Adlershof, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2018
Koenigssee, Germany
Katarina Witt (2nd left) poses with third-placed Reinhold Rainer of Italy (left), winner Armin Zoeggeler (2nd right) of Italy and second-placed Albert Demtschenko of Russia during the Luge World Cup to support the Munich 2018 Winter Olympic bid, Koenigssee, Germany. Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts.
2018
Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt during the Disney on Ice Photo Call with Katarina Witt at Christmas Garden, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Tristar Media.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Katarina Witt (left) and Robin Szolkowy of Germany during the figure skating pairs short program of the Winter Olympics in the Gangneung Ice Arena, South Korea. Photo by Peter Kneffel/picture alliance.
2018
98 Surigol-gil, Ponam 2(i)-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Katarina Witt as a TV commentator in the tribunes during the men's single skating short program of the Winter Olympics in the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, South Korea. Photo by Peter Kneffel/picture alliance.
2018
26 Av. Princesse Grace, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
Laureus Academy members Katarina Witt and Michael Johnson during the Laureus World Sports Awards show at Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, Monaco city, Monaco. Photo by Stuart C. Wilson.
2020
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 1, 65185 Wiesbaden, Germany
(From left to right) Franziska van Almsick, Katarina Witt and Maria Hoefl-Riesch attend the Ball des Sports gala at RheinMain CongressCenter, Wiesbaden, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2020
Berlin, Germany
Laureus Academy member Katarina Witt poses at the Kick on Ice Programme Visit at the Eissporthalle prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Boris Streubel.
2020
Berlin, Germany
Laureus Academy member Katarina Witt poses at the Mercedes Benz Building prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Simon Hofmann.
2020
Mercedes-Platz 2, 10243 Berlin, Germany
Laureus Academy member Katarina Witt presents the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award winner German racing driver Sophia Floersch during the Laureus World Sports Awards at Verti Music Hall, Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz.
2020
Chemnitz, Germany
Katarina Witt standing at the Red Tower, the landmark of her home town Chemnitz. Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance.
2020
Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt (left) and journalist Jana Hensel take part in the online event of the series "Zur Sache, Leipzig" at the Astra Kulturhaus. Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance.
Katarina Witt. Photo by Bernd Wende/ullstein bild.
Katarina Witt. Photo by Douglas Kirkland/Corbis.
Katarina Witt in action, about 1987. Photo by Thonfeld/ullstein bild.
Katarina Witt was honored with the Emmy Award for her performance in the 1990 movie Carmen on Ice.
2009
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt's parents Manfred Witt and Käthe Witt during the "Everyone" premiere in Berlin Cathedral. Photo by Franziska Krug.
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Katarina Witt's parents Manfred Witt and Käthe Witt during the "Everyone" premiere in Berlin Cathedral. Photo by Franziska Krug.
Jutta Müller, Witt's coach
Former American figure skater Brian Boitano, Witt's colleague and friend
(A living figure skating legend, Witt offers advice to a n...)
A living figure skating legend, Witt offers advice to a new generation of women athletes making their way in the world of figure skating on how to live full out, compete with edge, and navigate life with grace.
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Passion-Skatings-Champion-Competition/dp/1586484273/ref=sr_1_1
2005
(Carmen on Ice is a dance film, starring Katarina Witt, Br...)
Carmen on Ice is a dance film, starring Katarina Witt, Brian Boitano and Brian Orser.
https://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Ice-Cristina-Hoyos/dp/B002PNQCCA
1990
(When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for...)
When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.
https://www.amazon.com/Jerry-Maguire-Tom-Cruise/dp/B00170M2JY
1996
Katarina Witt was born on December 3, 1965 in Staaken, East Germany (present-day locality of Berlin, Germany). She is a daughter of Manfred Witt, a farmer, and Käthe Witt, a physiotherapist. She has an elder brother, Axel.
Katarina Witt attended school in Karl-Marx-Stadt (later renamed Chemnitz). An athletic child since early years, she was so impressed by the figure skaters' performances at the Kuchwald ice arena that soon asked the permission of her parents to join them.
Witt emerged as a natural talent, and was soon admitted to the SC Karl-Marx-Stadt club, an East German athlete training school, after successfully passing a series of special tests aimed to determine her ability to resist signs of stress or nerves. In former Communist nations like East Germany and the Soviet Union, promising athletes were hand-picked by the government and then were provided with training so that they would grow up to perform favorably for their country in competition.
Witt devoted herself to skating completely since then, having no time for plays. After long hours of training sessions, she came back home only for supper, did homework and then went to bed. At the age of nine, the young skater caught the eye of Jutta Müller, the country's most successful skating coach. Müller took over Witt's athletic training and worked arduously with her showmanship as well. Müller's approach paid off when Witt made her first triple jump, called a "Salchow," two years later.
The start of Katarina Witt's athletic career can be counted from 1979 when she debuted at the European championship in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (present-day Croatia) and placed tenth. The next year, she rose to the fifth rank, and finally, by 1982, she won both the short and long programs and finished second overall. The first podium occurred a year earlier, at the East German national championship.
At the 1984 Olympic Games, which took place in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina), Witt was third after the compulsory program. In the finals, wearing a traditional Hungarian costume, charming Witt performed perfectly and gained high points from the judges. She took the gold medal surpassing Rosalyn Sumners of the United States by just one-tenth of a point on one judge's scorecard.
Witt accepted calmly the fame that fell down instantly on her and pursued training for the World Championships, which took place weeks after the Olympics. The first World gold medal won in Ottawa, Canada in 1984, was followed by the next one in Tokyo, Japan, a year later. The European Championships were also victorious.
With Olympic and World Championships gold medals to her credit, Witt became one of the most powerful skaters of the time. However, she didn't manage to prove her status at the 1986 World Championships where she was surpassed by Debi Thomas of the United States. Witt won it back the next year with a program choreographed to music from West Side Story.
The rivalry between two skaters was a media focus of the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Ironically, each skater had unknowingly chosen the same music, from the opera Carmen for a long program. A conservative program of Witt with doubles jumps instead of several triple ones and the focus on flirting with the audience didn't bring her exceptionally high marks. However, a few technical mistakes that Thomas made in her incredibly ambitious program allowed Witt to earn the gold medal. A few weeks later, at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Witt regained the World gold from Thomas as well.
After the victory, Katarina Witt retired from amateur figure skating. She then took part in several ice shows, including the American Holiday on Ice tour, Canvas of Ice, and a 1990 HBO's movie, Carmen on Ice, which provided her with an Emmy Award. Brian Boitano, a skater of the United States, was her partner in a couple of the latter projects. With Boitano, she also toured North America in Katarina Witt & Brian Boitano-Skating that same year. At the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, Katarina made her debut as a commentator for CBS-TV. The next year, she covered the World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic) for NBC-TV. She also profited from various endorsements, including Coca-Cola.
In 1993, Katarina Witt came back to the competition and resumed her training sessions announcing that she would prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The decision was perceived ironically by many as Witt was almost twice as old as her competitors at the time. She dedicated her Olympic program to the people of war-torn Sarajevo, skating to the antiwar anthem "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." The performance was also a reference to her first victorious Olympics which had taken place there in 1984. Though Witt placed only seventh, the audience exploded into applause, showing their long-term and timeless affection for her.
Witt finally left competitive skating behind after the Olympics and expressed her love in return for the audience, touring with Stars on Ice. Throughout the remainder of the 1990s, she appeared in a number of Hollywood productions as a cameo, including Jerry Maguire movie starring Tom Cruise and Ronin starring Robert De Niro. She also played in Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond TV series and appeared as herself in TV's Arliss and as "Greta Krantz" in V.I.P alongside Pamela Anderson.
In the next decade, she successfully made her stage debut as "Amour" in the 2009 play "Everyman" in the Berlin Cathedral. Three years later, she starred in the thriller "The Enemy in My Life."
A contract with Germany's broadcasting group ARD put Witt in front of the cameras as a commentator for international skating. At the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, she was a TV- Olympic and skating expert for the ARD for the 6th time. Another activity linked directly to her athletic past was her appointment as chairwoman of the 2018 Munich Olympic bid committee.
Katarina Witt has also been involved, either as a founder or a partner, in a number of sports marketing and promotion companies, including With Witt and Business Meets Sport, established along with former football player Steffen Freund and entrepreneur Karsten Tornow. Witt has cooperated with BMW as BMW-Sport and BMW-Classic ambassador. Since 2016, she has also served as Disney on Ice ambassador together with George Clooney, Rafael Nadal and Desmond Tutu, and as an international ambassador for the social lottery DPL.
In the late years of the Cold War between the East and the West that followed World War II, the career of Katarina Witt came to epitomize how that international power struggle was played out through athletic contests. Regardless of how governments interpreted athletic achievements, however, there were always some competitors who were simply the favorites of sports fans. Katarina Witt was one of the keen examples. With all her Communist-backed training, she was adored by millions for the elegance of her performances on the ice.
The worldwide fame that Witt received automatically after winning the gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games was followed by another Olympic gold four years later, four golds at the world level and six triumphs at the European sport events. Three silver medals, two for the World Championships and one for European one were also to the credit of a technically astute and charmingly expressive athlete. Such an impressive collection cemented Witt as one of the winningest figure skaters of all time.
In 1990, for a performance in a 1990 HBO's movie, Carmen on Ice, Witt was honored with an Emmy Award. She was nominated once again for The Ice Princess in 1996. A year earlier, the eminent figure skater was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and obtained the Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award for outstanding performances and efforts in the Olympics.
In 1998, Katarina set another record, this time in the media landscape. The December issue of the American Playboy featuring her on the cover came to be the second-best sold after the one which included the photos of Marilyn Monroe.
(A living figure skating legend, Witt offers advice to a n...)
2005(When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for...)
1996(Carmen on Ice is a dance film, starring Katarina Witt, Br...)
1990Katarina Witt who became an accomplished athlete largely due to her nation's Communist government was automatically turned by the Communist system as its proud representative. She was dubbed "Katarina the Great" in East Germany. Unlike American or European skaters, skaters from Communist countries were indebted to their governments and were not allowed to perform publicly or accept endorsements that were not approved by the government. Communist athletes were even prohibited from traveling with their families to discourage defection. That is why Witt's parents never saw their daughter in competition firsthand.
Witt came head-to-head with her beloved government in 1988, when she wanted to skate with the American Holiday on Ice tour. She was allowed to participate at only after months of her pleading under the condition that 80 percent of her $3.78 million contract would be paid to the East German Sports Federation. The same bureaucratic procedure repeated two years later before the Carmen on Ice movie. The government made everything to revoke travel privileges of Witt and discourage her aspirations abroad.
The officials lost their hold on Witt in November 1989, when the Berlin Wall was brought down and Germany was reunited as one democratic nation. The collapse of her government left Witt free to perform as she liked, but she was practically reviled in her own country for having been so favored by the government.
Katarina Witt is actively involved in many charities aimed to support sports, to deal with environmental or social issues. She was a founding member of Laureus Sport for Good in 2000 along with other sports legends. In 2005, she established the Katarina Witt Foundation, the goal of which is to help children and adolescents with physical disabilities all over the world.
Witt has supported the German certification for products and services "Blue Angel" for a long time. She is also engaged in the nationwide Deutsche Welle TV campaign "We are Germany" against xenophobia and for tolerance, together with former football player Jerome Boateng.
Quotations:
"Figure skating is a mixture of art and sport."
"I don't want to compete. I want to skate for the joy. I get so nervous in competition. I get always sick. I had pressures enough in my life from skating."
"When I go out on the ice, I just think about my skating. I forget it is a competition."
"I can't say, 'It doesn't matter if you win or lose.' It's not true. You go in to win."
"Almost nothing is presented to you on a silver platter. You have to really work for it."
"I'm the sort of person who needs a big mountain in front of me to climb."
"As an athlete, you choose your sport and are drawn into it but your passion should never be driven by fame and fortune but a desire to create something special that people will always remember."
"Money was never the motivation. It never should be in sports."
"I never really like to skate in an empty ice rink; I always need the attention of an audience."
"When you reach a certain level, you live in a bubble when all you think, dream and breathe is becoming the best athlete in the world."
"Sometimes, success almost haunts you. You want to be the best at everything you do and know you have to work hard."
"Too many times women try to be competitive with each other. We should help support each other, rather than try to be better than each other."
"I learned not to depend on other people. I needed support, but it's you who has to go out and deliver."
Witt's strength as a performer, not simply an athlete was evident from her early years in the sport. She always preferred elaborate double loop jumps and double Axels to compulsory figures, an endless series of figure eights, circles, and turns. Showcasing all her artistic talent in the four-minute freestyle program, Witt was on the ice as much a dancer as a skater.
She loved to choose music for skatings on her own, to play to the audience and to create a performance requiring countless hours of practice that raised her skills to the level of an art. Eleven months a year, she spent up to six hours a day on the ice, then worked on music, ballet, and choreography for as much as three more hours.
Katarina Witt once confessed that watching a sunset in the mountains or sunrise at the beach are among the greatest pleasures for her.
Physical Characteristics: Katarina Witt is 1.65 meters tall.
Quotes from others about the person
Time magazine: "The most beautiful face of socialism."
Katarina Witt has never been married. She has no children.
Manfred Witt served as director of an agricultural cooperative that produced plants and seeds.
Käthe "Katje" Witt was a physical therapist in a hospital.
(née Lötzsch; born December 13, 1928)
The East German Championships in women's pair skating winner (pairing Irene Salzmann) and bronze medalist at the East German nationals in singles, Jutta Müller then taught German and sport. She began coaching figure skaters in 1955. Gabriele Seyfert, her daughter, Günter Zöller, Jan Hoffmann, Nils Köpp, Rico Krahnert, Ronny Winkler, Sonja Morgenstern, Anett Pötzsch, Katarina Witt, Evelyn Großmann, Martina Clausner, Marion Weber, Constanze Gensel and Simone Lang were among her wards. In 2004, Müller was voted to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Right from the beginning of coaching Witt, Müller became a kind of surrogate mother for her. In addition, to improve Witt's technical and athletic skills, Müller choreographed her routines on the ice and taught her ward to perform expressively enough to catch the eye of the audience. Müller spent hours choosing costumes for Witt, fussing over her makeup, hair and other elements of her personal style.
(born October 22, 1963)
Two-time World Champion and four-time United States National Champion, Brian Anthony Boitano became an Olympic Champion at the Winter Games in 1988 and retired from amateur skating. Upon his return to the competition five years later, Boitano finished sixth at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
