It wasn’t until iconic movie I, Tonya was released that many viewers knew much about the ice-skating world. The absurd, jaw-dropping story of figure skater Tonya Harding, who was made famous by a nearly impossible triple-axel jump and an incident of sabotage, gave viewers a glimpse into the cut throat world of ice-skating. As today, 9 August, is women’s day, we take a look at some of the most iconic women in figure skating history, and how some of them endured tough circumstances to get where they are in their professional careers.
1. Kim Yuna
Age: 27
Home country: Bucheon, South Korea
Kim Yuna on the ice. SOURCE: giphy.com
Kim began skating at age six. When she was young, South Korea had limited facilities for figure skaters. In an interview with CNN in 2010 Kim described how figure skaters had to compete with civilians for a spot on the rink. “There were not many ice rinks in Korea and even the few rinks that existed, most of them were public. As there aren’t enough ice rinks to facilitate all the figure skating teams, skaters often have to train on different rinks from day to day. Furthermore, as most rinks are too cold, there is always high possibility of injury.”
As a beginner Kim also got injured frequently. This was because she had to wear ill-fitting skates which made it hard for her to balance. Despite her difficulties starting out, Kim went on to become the 2010 Olympic champion and 2014 silver medalist in ladies’ singles; the 2009, 2013 World champion; the 2009 Four Continents champion; a three-time Grand Prix Final champion; the 2006 World Junior champion; the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion; and a six-time South Korean national champion.
Forbes ranked Kim the highest paid athlete in the XXI Olympic Winter Games, the 5th, 7th, 6th and 4th top-earning sportswoman in the world in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. In 2010 she was also included in Time magazine’s annual Time 100 of World’s Most Influential People.
2. Katarina Witt
Age: 52
Home country: Staaken, Germany
Katarina performs during the first show of Katarina Witt’s farewell tour in 2008 in Germany. PHOTO: Getty images
As a teenager Katarina went to school in Karl-Marx-Stadt (which today has reverted to its pre-war name of Chemnitz), where she attended Kinder- und Jugendsportschule, a special school for athletically talented children. Katarina’s talents on the rink were soon realised and she ended up training six days a week, sometimes for seven hours a day with three hours spent on compulsory figures.
Katarina first stood on a major podium in 1982 for winning silver at both the European and World Championships. After this victory there was no stopping her.
Katarina won two Olympic gold medals for East Germany, first at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics and the second in 1988 at the Calgary Olympics. She is a four-time World champion and twice World silver medalist. A feat only equalled by Sonja Henie among female skaters, Katrina won six consecutive European Championships. Her competitive record makes her one of the most successful figure skaters of all time.
Katarina was also ranked #25 on The Best Female Athletes of All Time.
3. Michelle Kwan
Age: 37
Home country: Torrance, California, United States of America
Michelle performs during the Olympics in Salt Lake. SOURCE: Giphy.com
Michelle comes from a middle class family, with both her parents being Taiwanese emigrants. Her two older siblings (her brother an ice hockey player and sister a figure skater) introduced her to the ice. Michelle began training intensively when she was about eight years old. Paying for their increased skating-rink time led to financial hardship for Michelle’s family. When she was 10 years old her family could no longer afford a coach. Thanks to financial assistance from a member of the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club, she could continue training.
Now Michelle is a two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time US champion. She competed at a high level for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in US history. Known for her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. She was ranked #13 on The Best Female Athletes of All Time, #11 on The Smartest Professional Athletes.
4. Tanith Belbin
Age: 33
Home country: Kingston, Canada
Tanith Belbin and her long-time skating partner Ben Agosto. SOURCE: Tumblr.com
Tanith Belbin was born in Kingston, Ontario, and raised in Kirkland, Quebec. In 1998, she moved to the Detroit in the US, and received an immigrant worker visa in 2000. Due to immigration laws at the time, she did not receive a green card until July 2002, and would not have been granted US citizenship until 2007. An amendment was passed which permitted Belbin to be sworn in as a US citizen on December 31, 2005.
Though born in Canada, she holds dual citizenship and has competed for the United States since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World medalist, three-time Four Continents champion, and five-time US champion.
Infographic by Ané van Zyl