Full Name: Sonja Henie
Date of Birth: 8 th April, 1912
Died on: 12 th October, 1969
Country: Norway
Sport involved in: Figure Skating
Achievements made:
Gold medalist in the singles skating event in the 1928 St.Moritz Winter Olympics
Winner of gold medal in the singles skating event in the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Summer Games
Winner of the World Championships title for ten times between 1927 and 1936
Winner of European Championships for six consecutive times between 1931 and 1936
Gold medal winner in the singles skating event in the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Olympics
Inducted into the World Figure Skating hall of Fame in 1976
Inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1982
Career: Sonja Henie is considered to be one of the most famous figure skaters of all time. Henie won the World Championships title for ten times between 1927 and 1936. She won the European title for six consecutive times from 1931 to 1936. Henie participated in the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics at an age of 11. She finished in the eighth place in the competition. Henie's first international victory was in 1927, when she won the 1927 World Championships title. She competed in the 1928 St.Moritz Winter Olympics . This time she won her first Olympic title in the singles figure skating competition. After 1928 Winter Olympics, Henie's dominance in the field of figure skating at the World Championships and the European Championships continued. At the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympics , she successfully defended her Olympic title in the singles figure skating competition. In her fourth appearance at the Olympics in the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Olympics , Henie won yet another Olympic title in the event. Following the 1936 Games, she entered in the domain of professional performer in acting and live shows. Henie was the first figure skater to adopt the short skirt costume in figure skating. Apart from being a famous figure skater, Henie was also an accomplished tennis player. She retired from acting in 1958. Henie died on 12 th October in 1969.
Performance at the Olympics: Sonja Henie made her first appearance at the Olympics in the 1924 Chamonix Winter Summer Games at an age of 11. Henie had to consult her coach very frequently to decide her next move. In the Games, she finished in the eighth place. In the 1928 St. Moritz Winter Summer Games , Henie won gold medal in the singles figure skating event. In her next appearance at the Olympics in the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympics , Henie successfully defended her Olympic title. She won her third Olympic title in the singles event at the age of 23, in the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Summer Games.
