German skater Katarina Witt in a red design with a low-cut sheer panel and very '80s sleeves at the 1988 Games. And it must have worked, because Witt and company propelled Ice Wars into a 13-year phenomenon. The rule is known tomany as "The Katarina Rule," and it states that"At ISU Championships, the Olympic Winter Games, and International Competitions, the clothing of the Competitors must be modest, dignified and appropriate for athletic competition not garish or theatrical in design. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Katarina Witt of Germany in a strapless, arm-baring number at the 1988 Olympics. Laetitia Hubert of France in a yellow skirt and some strategically-placed flames at the 1998 Games. The guidelines continue: "The clothing must not give the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for the discipline. The American skater performing during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. But back in 1988 . . Search instead in. At the 88 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Witt was attempting to do what very few people have done: become a back-to-back Olympic gold medal winner. 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According to the NBC Olympics page, Ladies in singles and pairs can wear a skirt, pants or tights. However, that wasnt always the rule. For all its glamour, figure skating is one of the toughest sports to master. And they have. The East German Stasi (secret police) kept 3,500 pages of files on her, as they monitored her every move in the late 70s/80s, ensuring she could be seen as the most beautiful face of socialism. The East German government even got involved in Witts first relationship, forcibly stationing her boyfriend at a military post far away to make sure Witt wasnt distracted by a boy in her pursuit for Olympic gold. (That butt cheek took home its second gold medal though, winning the Battle of the Carmens, and it wouldnt be the end of said butt cheeks foray into the history books. Through the 50s and 60s, womens costumes were still quite basic and generally featured high necklines with flared skirts. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Yes, long before anyone would break the internet, Witt and her butt cheeks broke the magazine racks. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Figure skating fashion just keeps getting better. American skater Michelle Kwan in a flowing pink piece with a sheer illusion triangle top in 2000. Not possible. So scroll on for the steamiest figure-skating costume looks of all time. Lu, of China, in the free skate portion of the ladies singles figure skating competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1994, in Lillehammer, Norway. Its free! Not even mad about this first two jumps. The best might be her appearance in the 1998 Robert DeNiro-led movie Ronin. In the 1990s, another trend that emerged was designer costumes. Aug 12, 2022 - Explore Randy Lantz's board "Katarina Witt", followed by 399 people on Pinterest. "If youre going for strapless, it's nice to have that nude in there, to make everything stay," he told Slate,suggesting that flesh-colored panels help ensure modesty, but also a better, more flexible fit. The key takeaway: she was good. Skaters also favor illusion mesh and backless designs that mirror dresses we see on runways and red carpets. So unless the official guidebook undergoes a complete re-haul, sheer panels and illusion sleeves are here to stay for modesty's sake. Why Figure Skating Dresses Have Sheer Panels - Insider Get ready todiscoverfestivals, must-see performances, and hidden gallery shows. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. Katarina Witt, a competitor from East Germany, performed in a blue costume, adorned at the waist with feathers instead of a skirt, the likes of which barely covered her posterior as she moved. Katarina Witt, (born December 3, 1965, Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany [now Chemnitz, Germany]), German figure skater who was the first woman to win consecutive Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1988) in singles figure skating since Sonja Henie in 1936. Most Unique Figure Skating Dresses - Stadium Talk South Korean pairs team Tae Hwa Yang (in a fringed zebra-print dress with side cut-outs) and Chuen Gun Lee (in black) at the 2002 Olympics. Lia Beck. Witt's blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. Figure Skating Championship. In 1994, after the absolute blockbuster chaos of the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan story, figure skating was riding an all-time high in the zeitgeist of American culture. The year American figure skater, Peggy Fleming, won an Olympic gold medal in Grenoble she donned a chartreuse dress with a high neck and white beaded trim. 23.02.2018. If it checks off all of those boxes, for me, thats a wonderful costume., Aurelia Durand is a talented illustrator and artist who hails from France but currently lives in Copenhagen. The American skater competing in the ladies singles figure skating event at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games held in Albertville, France, on Feb. 21, 1992. Yep, in 1995, Witt joined with Melanie Thornton (the voice behind 90s dance sensation La Bouche) as well as singers Joan Faulkner and Linda Rocco who sang back-up for acts like Milli Vanilli, for the most 90s dance track imaginable: Skate With Me.. American skater and bronze medalist Debi Thomas decided to forgo a dress at the Calgary Olympics, instead opting to perform her routine in an embellished jumpsuit instead. This means that although most competitors stick with the typical glitzy, sparkling dresses, there are hardly any strict rules that have to be followed. Rare Photos of Katarina Witt Here are some rare and classic photos of two-time Olympic gold medalist skater Katarina Witt, who turned 50 on Dec. 3, 2015. The 23-year-old took to the ice in black leggings that appeared to be attached to a gold and black sparkly sleeveless top. At the peak of her professional skating career, Katarina Witt could have expected to earn in the region $1.5 million a year. [1] At the beginning of her career, Dorothy Hamill stood out among her competitors with the understated and simple designs she chose for her skating costumes. Olympic Figure Skating Dresses Through the Years - Business Insider 33 Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal Secret Tapes of Katarina Witt. Katarina Witt's infamous blue - Hunter Ice Skating Stadium | Facebook info); born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. After Katarina Witt came out on the ice in a few feathers barely covering her behind in 1988, the International Skating Union enacted a rule that women had to wear skirts. See Figure Skater Katarina Witt Now, 28 Years After Her Last Olympics 2023 Getty Images. This French Figure Skater May Not Have Won A Medal, But Her Pants Took People's Choice. The following is Rule 501 in the [ISU Special Regulations & Technical Rules handbook, last updated in 2016: In short, women's costumes don't have to follow a specific formula. So even if you don't keep up with competitive figure skating, you'll probably tune in at least once during these next few weeks. She also wore pants for her free skate at the 2014 Olympics the unitard was similar, but the sparkly top was silver, blue, and black. Meg Donohue is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. British skater Jeannette Altwegg in a shiny, short-skirted dress at the Olympics in 1952. The Norwegian skater on the ice at Chamonix during the Winter Olympics in 1924 when. has collaborated with many Olympic figure skaters, Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion. What's The Dress Code For Olympic Figure Skating? - Bustle Controversial Figure Skating Dresses Over the Years - Business Insider The rule is you have to be 50 percent covered with material, which I was but, it depends on how tastefully you do it. Blue feather costume that shows off too much butt cheek sold separately. Meet Ma-Brnice Mit, an Olympic Figure Skater from France.- Dark skinned black woman- Wore pants for her routine- Skated to BeyoncHAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGirlMagic #BlackExcellence #ItsTooColdForSkirtsOutThere pic.twitter.com/jYkEGqbkup, how she scored is irrelevant; Ma-Brnice Mit skating to a Beyonce mashup in pants is my new queen and 2018 mood #Olympics, I love everything about Ma-Brnice Mit's outfit. The American athlete skating in the free skate during the ladies singles figure skating event of the 1998 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 1998, in Nagano, Japan. Her blue figure skating dress had feathers adorned at the waist instead of a skirt and was barely covering her posterior. Showing Editorial results for katarina witt. Evgeni Plushenko of Russia in a silver disco outfit with a sheer panel down the front at the 2002 Games. The no-skirt ban was lifted in 2003, per The Boston Globe, and full leotards became acceptable; most recently, Mae Berenice Meite of France competed in Pyeongchang wearing a bedazzled unitard, while Russias Irina Slutskaya wore a sparkly one-piece at the 2006 Olympics. Now, the IOC only wants to monetize on these clips.Katarina Witt of the German Democratic Republic placed 2nd in the portion of the competition. While competing in her third and last Olympic Games ever, Surya Bonaly took the ice in a blue and gold beaded fringe dress. Margot Robbie portrays the life of American skater Tonya Harding. Not only do the athletes put on an impressive display of grace and skill, they also dazzle us with their glittering costumes. Ice skating costumes have often been a great example of what constitutes "sexy" attire maybe it's just the chill thrill of the rink, but skaters' attire has often been boundary-pushing (and, in olden times, modesty-pushing too). Including some of the best from the games in Beijing. The American skater during the Winter Olympics skating competition in 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria. Performing in the ladies singles figure skating event at the 1988 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Michelle Kwan opted for an understated lilac velvet spaghetti-strap dress (which was super on-trend at the time) when she won silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics, a stark contrast to the ruffles and bedazzled outfits of her competitive counterparts. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Not to be hyperbolic, but this might be the best 90s dance song no one has ever heard. Sparkles reign supreme today, but they weren't always the norm. Witt won the gold at the 84 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, then for the next four years flip-flopped with American figure skater Debi Thomas to be the best in the world. When East-German figure skating competitor Katarina Witt performed in an outfit that resembled a bathing suit at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she shocked audiences around the world. Promise. Katerina looked like a . Dancing On Ice judge Katarina Witt's cleavage sparks feud between But the 90s also took Witt out of the figure skating world and directly into dance clubs? Witt, a German double Olympic gold medal-winning skater, was said to be upset over the criticism about her low-cut outfits. The Russian skater Irina Slutskaya's embellished black dress stood out with it's jagged neckline during the Salt Lake City Olympics. Men must wear full length trousers and must not wear tights. Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox. 140 Katarina Witt ideas | katarina witt, figure skater, figure skating American skater Polina Edmunds wore a purple bodysuit in the ladies short program during the 2018 Prudential U.S. She won her first at the 1984 Sarajevo games and her second four years later at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. , She might have had no intention of making this into a spectacle, but it certainly will arouse the judges, Dr. Ruth said. 33 Best Ice Skating Outfits - Iconic Outfits Worn by Famous Figure Skaters Style Fashion 33 Famous Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal Including some of the best from the. She won the gold medal. Unfortunately, the judges werent as impressed, giving her a score of 46.62, putting her in ninth place. Then the '80s rolled around, and spandex, sparkles, chiffon, sequins and beads reigned supreme. Thus was born Ice Wars: The USA vs. The Russian skater performing in the women's free program of the figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, Feb. 21, 2002, during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. A skater named Debi Thomas hit the ice the same year in a black, beaded, full-body unitard and no skirt a move that put a temporary ban on costumes without skirts. The Japanese skater competing during the 2010 Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on Feb. 25, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada. German figure skater Katarina Witt is known as one of the greatest of all time in her sport, thanks in part to her back-to-back Olympic gold medals. One outfit, a feathered blue number worn by East Germanys Katarina Witt at the 1988 Olympic games (pictured below), was deemed too scandalous by the International Skating Union. The presence of glaring Olympian butt cheek scandalized the International Skating Union, the governing body for competitive figure skating including the Olympics. In this interview, we will delve into what makes Dinamo []. The three medal winners Lynn of the U.S., Schuba of Austria, Magnussen of Canada in ladies singles figure skating at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, Feb. 7, 1972. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Performing during the ladies short program as part of the figure skating team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics at the Gangneung Ice Arena. She has gained international recognition for her unique and empowering style, which combines bold colors, whimsical patterns, and positive messaging. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. And her performance was just as dazzling as it would have been in a frilly, flouncy skirt, if not more so, because it was so bold. France's Ma-Brnice Mit skated IN PANTS, and ended her Beyonc medley with "Run the World (Girls)". I Was a Teenage Catfish and I Regret Nothing. That same year, American skater Debi Thomas made waves by wearing a full unitard for competition, which led to a ban on costumes without skirts. Sep 8, 2021 - Katarina Witt Evening Dress - Katarina Witt attended the Echo Klassik in a dazzling royal blue evening dress. Long before ESPN would release their annual Body issue showing off naked Gronk or chiseled Ronda Rousey or the of Jerry Rice, Witt appeared on the December 1998 cover of Playboy Magazine and in a spread that delivered all the body positivity. Tonya Harding's red dress at the Lillehammer Olympic Games has become infamous when the figure skater was controversially allowed to re-do her routine because of a broken lace. not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! The opening credits are a dream. As soon as the skirt-only ice age melted away, Russian skater Irina Slutskaya wore a fiery bodysuit at the 2006 Olympics. even Dr. Ruth was contacted by Reuters to comment on the dres, boogie to the dulcet sounds of a cold bottle of Diet Coke being cracked open, for the most 90s dance track imaginable: Skate With Me., an anecdote about how Trump once tried to hit on Katarina Witt, The East German Stasi (secret police) kept 3,500 pages of files on her. And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility. Unlike many other athletes at the winter Olympics, figure skaters aren't required to don official Olympics uniforms; instead, they're tasked with finding an outfit that is both artistically expressive and breathable and that's in addition to the pressure of executing a perfect routine. as well as other partner offers and accept our, If youre going for strapless, it's nice to have that nude in there, to make everything stay," he told, NOW WATCH: A dog owner built custom ice skates for her pup and taught him how to skate, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. These Twitter reactions sum it up. July 26, 2001 -- When Katarina Witt glided onto the ice, the world watched every move of the beautiful East German figure skater. So, Mit might be onto something. Create an account and youll be able to save and revisit articles. She was of course up against Thomas, and the drama was high as both Witt and Thomas chose music from Carmen to skate to, letting the media bill this like a professional wrestling bout: The Battle of the Carmens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Sasha Cohen wowed the crowd at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in a red dress with sunburst yellow and orange hemline. The American skater performing during the women's free skating program at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 23, 2006, at Palavela in Turin, Italy. Sign up for notifications from Insider! While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. If one strap were to break, or if the beading on the sleeve gets caught when they turn, their whole Olympics is over. These Winter Cocktails Will Warm Ya Right Up. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Katarina Witt's blue costume caused a stir. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. And what's an Olympic figure skating competition without controversy? American skater Debi Thomas in a very sheer leotard during a 1989 performance. Beatrix Schuba represented Austria in a bejeweled blazer-like design when she won an Olympic gold medal in Sapporo, Japan. Well first you win an Emmy for a performance of Carmen on ice aptly called Carmen on Ice. Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' (Everyman) dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church (Berliner Dom) on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The skater from East Germany skating during the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, on Feb. 18, 1984. That is how serious it is. Oct 19, 2021 - Explore Rich Hassey's board "Katarina Witt" on Pinterest. Countless others have dug deep into Witts figure skating legacy. Norwegian skater Sonja Henie in a knee-length, long-sleeve silk dress in 1932. Keep scrolling to see the stunning evolution of womens figure skating costumes through the years. 1. The Russian skater competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 12, 2018. By the 70s, lower necklines were making their way onto the ice and embellishments also started gaining popularity. Competing for her 9th consecutive U.S. Champion title, Michelle Kwan wore a one-shouldered gold sequin dress. Katarina Witt Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images German skater Katarina Witt in a pink illusion V-neck number at the 1984 Games. Unlike the dress code, the actual rules of competitive figure skating which has been around for over 100 years are complicated enough to make your head spin. The Ukrainian skater performing during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Yes, you read that right: A figure skater competed at the PyeongChang Olympics sans skirt. Like the Adele of figure skaters, if youre imagining that Adele picture where shes holding 1,400 Grammy Awards. Secret Tapes of Katarina Witt - ABC News These days, embellishments are still popular as ever and short skirts are still No. When the first Olympic figure skating competition launched in the 1920s, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. Kostner, of Italy, performing during the free skating program of the ladies singles event during the 2006 Winter Olympics on Feb. 23, 2006, at Palavela in Turin, Italy. American skater Hayes Alan Jenkins in a chunky sweater and pants at the 1956 Olympics. For one, it seems not everyone is up to date on the new rules. 25 Sizzling Outfit Ideas Perfect for V-Day. Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin fueled controversy with their stereotyped "aboriginal" costumes. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You've hit your max! The Russian skater during the ladies singles figure skating short program at the Sochi Winter Olympics, 2014. Katarina Witt: A Pop Culture Triple (Toe Loop) Threat As the years progressed, figure skating fashion evolved both men and women's costumes got shorter, more embellished, and more dramatic. Katarina Witt; Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images And the lyrics are Susan Powter-level inspiration: Just take the mirror and hold up highLook at yourself straight in the eyeYour moment of truth has finally arrivedSkate with me skate with meWe dont need tomorrow, no cause youll be far away Skate with me skate with meIf your heart says follow go and you can come along and skate with me. Witts a fascinating character in the narrative of sports stars who cross over into pop culture figures. The rule was repealed . And then you wait for CBS to call and say two magical words: Ice Wars.. The International Skating Union now stipulates, that the clothing must not give the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for the discipline. However, clothing may reflect the character of the music. Costumes also run the style gamut, and range from DIY imagination (Figure skating legend and 1976 gold medalist Dorothy Hamill, for instance, wore super simple, floating designs her first costume was made by her mother's friend) to inspired by the runway (Vera Wang, for example, has collaborated with many Olympic figure skaters on their looks, including Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan).