Figure Skating Scandals: From Hitler Salutes to Risqué Costumes, a History of Controversy
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as Team USA prepares to compete in the Milano Cortina olympics this winter with a remarkably strong figure skating lineup, the sport’s history reminds us that triumph on the ice is often shadowed by controversy. While current world champions Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu aim for gold, the potential for scandal-a recurring theme in figure skating-looms large.
Figure skating’s dramatic flair extends beyond the athleticism; it’s a sport steeped in subjectivity, high stakes, and even geopolitics. The scoring system remains notoriously opaque, even to the judges themselves, and skaters dedicate their lives to fleeting moments on the Olympic stage. this potent combination has repeatedly fueled controversy throughout the sport’s history. Before the Games begin on February 6, a look back at some of figure skating’s moast enduring scandals is warranted.
Sonja Henie and the Shadow of Nazism (1936)
Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie dominated the sport in the 1920s and 30s, winning three olympic gold medals and ten World Championships. However, her legacy is intricate by her interactions with Adolf Hitler. Accounts from the time, including a 1988 Sports illustrated article, detail a disturbing incident: “She went and gave a Hitler salute during the Olympic Games and shook hands with Hitler, and everybody said she became his girlfriend.” While a romantic relationship between Henie and Hitler is largely disputed,they did reportedly have lunch together after Hitler congratulated her on winning her third Olympic title. The Nazi leader also penned a lengthy inscription on a signed photograph for Henie, which was displayed in her family’s Oslo home. Remarkably, despite Germany’s occupation of Norway during the war, the Henies’ house remained untouched.
Olympic gold medalist Dick Button, speaking to Vanity Fair in 2014, offered a pragmatic assessment of Henie’s actions.”I don’t think sonja Henie was a political person in any way, shape, or form,” he stated. “she was an opportunist…. I don’t think she could have cared less who hitler was, except for whatever power he had and what it would do for her career.” Indeed, opportunism appeared to be a defining characteristic. In 1939, Henie starred in an anti-Nazi film, Everything Happens at Night, playing a woman caught in a love triangle whose father had escaped a concentration camp. Despite lukewarm reviews,Henie earned a substantial $300,000 contract with 20th Century Fox and went on to star in 11 hollywood films,often incorporating skating into her roles,becoming one of the highest-paid actors of her time.
A Risqué Showgirl Costume (1988)
Following henie,only Germany’s Katarina Witt has achieved back-to-back Olympic gold medals in women’s figure skating. Witt was a celebrated figure in the 1980s, known for her beauty and glamour. As a 2019 academic paper, “Katarina Witt and the Sexual Politics of Sport in the Cold War,” noted, Witt and her coach “consciously cultivated her fame by increasing the sexual tension of her performances.”
This “tension” was, according to some, amplified by her attire. Witt faced criticism for a glitzy, showgirl-inspired costume she wore for her short program at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, set to Broadway tunes from Hello, Dolly! and Jerry’s Girls. canadian coach Peter Dunfield famously protested, stating, “We’re here to skate in a dress, not in a G-string.” While Dunfield’s assessment of the outfit’s modesty may have been questionable, witt’s ensemble featured a fringe of feathers instead of a traditional skirt. Witt responded to the criticism,asking,”Why shouldn’t we stress what is attractive?” Dunfield remained unconvinced,grumbling to the press about the “provocative” back and “cleavage” on display.
These incidents underscore a recurring truth about figure skating: the drama extends far beyond the technical elements of the sport, frequently enough intertwining with politics, image, and the subjective perceptions of judges and the public. As a new generation of skaters prepares to take the ice in Milano Cortina, the echoes of these past controversies serve as a reminder that the pursuit of Olympic glory is rarely without it’s complications.
