While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. 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. Christopher Morris - Corbis via Getty Images, competed in a skirt with a comparatively short hemline, lower necklines were making their way onto the ice, womens hips, midriffs and buttocks had to be covered with a skirt. Beatrix Schuba represented Austria in a bejeweled blazer-like design when she won an Olympic gold medal in Sapporo, Japan. Katarina Witt's infamous blue - Hunter Ice Skating Stadium | Facebook Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. A two-time Olympic champion, Witt is regarded as one of the greatest ladies' singles figure skaters of all time. 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. The American skater performing during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. And what's an Olympic figure skating competition without controversy? Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The Russian skater during the ladies singles figure skating short program at the Sochi Winter Olympics, 2014. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. The so-called "Katarina rule" required female skaters to cover their "hips and posterior," and was instituted thanks to Katarina Witt's racy costume at the 1988 games. Dancing On Ice judge Katarina Witt's cleavage sparks feud between Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. 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. 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. The World, where four figure skaters from the U.S. battled four figure skaters from well, the world. "One time we had a gold dress that had the whole back open and cutouts on the front with nude mesh. 1988: Katarina Witt wins her second Olympic gold in thrilling - WFLA I'm with it. Sparkly and pants . We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. This past year when Mary Trump dropped her book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, she included an anecdote about how Trump once tried to hit on Katarina Witt. Witt, and the only woman to beat her since winning. info); born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. Mit expressively floated and twirled around the ice winning the hearts of the world, despite her fall, with her boundary-pushing music (this is the first Olympics at which skaters are allowed to use music with lyrics!) 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. The rule was repealed . Katarina Witt Evening Dress. Katarina Witt even does one of those 90s dance talk-raps in the middle of it! Fleming, of the U.S., practicing on an outside rink in February 1968 in Grenoble, France, during the Winter Olympics. Nancy Kerrigan looked chic in a simple sheer and ruched white dress as she took the podium for her bronze medal at the Albertville, France Olympic Games in 1992. Witts a fascinating character in the narrative of sports stars who cross over into pop culture figures. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The crowds at the Nagano Olympics cheered on the-then-15-year-old as she won the gold medal in a stylish and sweet blue dress. But back in 1988 . Altwegg, from Great Britain, after winning a gold medal in the Women's Figure Skating Competition in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. The Ukrainian athlete competing in the free skate portion of the ladies singles event at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 25, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre in Lillehammer, Norway. Katarina Witt has an estimated net worth of $9 million. Ilia Kulik of Russia in a flowing, see-through costume at the 1998 Olympics. 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. But if women can wear tuxedos on the red carpet and not be any less elegant, female skaters can do the same in the rink. Tens across the board for Katarina Witt, the Olympic figure skating powerhouse whose determination on and off the ice dominated American pop culture of the 80s and 90s. Dubravcic, representing Yugoslavia, skating her long program during the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 1984, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Graceful figure skating twists and turns against a backdrop of NYC skyscrapers pair with Ella Fitzgerald crooning Autumn in New York, then suddenly break way to John Mellencamps and Meshell Ndegeocellos Wild Night and eight figure skaters going absolutely bananas on the ice, with Katarina Witt wearing a Robin Hood outfit. With designing the outfits comes great resposibility. Unfortunately, the judges werent as impressed, giving her a score of 46.62, putting her in ninth place. From Sports Illustrated: Perhaps it's not an accident that the rules for the skaters' costumes are kept relatively lax after all, there's a lot to keep in mind when you're on the ice, and whether your butt cheeks are showing or not. Cohen refers to the red velvet and gold embroidered dress that she won her silver medal in at the Turin Olympics as her "Romeo and Juliet dress.". 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. You've hit your max! Yes, long before anyone would break the internet, Witt and her butt cheeks broke the magazine racks. 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. To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become a Cosmopolitan member. 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. 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. Photos: Most Daring Figure-Skating Outfits, Dresses of All Time - Insider Kwan won the silver medal. Competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 12, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. Then the 80s rolled around, and spandex, sparkles, chiffon, sequins and beads reigned supreme. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. During the ladies short event, French figure skater Ma-Brnice Mit carved out a place for herself by skating to music including the Beyonc hits Halo and Run the World (Girls). But thats not the only aspect of her performance making waves. 1988: Katarina Witt Although it looks relatively tame today, this was the look heard around the figure skating world. While there's no official explanation for the rule, one could speculate that the mandatory pants-not-leggings rule may have something to do with controlling the presence of bulge. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. SI Staff Dec 2, 2015 Rare Photos of. (October 12, 2009 - Source: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Europe) see more angles Newest Full List. The presence of glaring Olympian butt cheek scandalized the International Skating Union, the governing body for competitive figure skating including the Olympics. But the 90s also took Witt out of the figure skating world and directly into dance clubs? Decades later, the niece of outgoing President Donald Trump would write that her uncle also noticed Katarina Witt, but hated her because Witt rebuffed his advances. Including some of the best from the games in Beijing. The French skater performing her free program during the Winter Olympics Feb. 21, 1992, in Albertville. German skater Katarina Witt in a pink illusion V-neck number at the 1984 Games. Lynn, representing the U.S. at 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Sasha Cohen wowed the crowd at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in a red dress with sunburst yellow and orange hemline. German skater Katarina Witt in a red design with a low-cut sheer panel and very '80s sleeves at the 1988 Games. Katarina Witt | Biography, 1988 Olympics, Ronin, & Facts Tonya Harding in a sparkly red number at the 1994 Winter Games. Planck-Szabo of Austria, Muckelt of Great Britain and Loughran of the United States at the 1924 winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, Jan. 30, 1924. Well first you win an Emmy for a performance of Carmen on ice aptly called Carmen on Ice. ESPN dove deep into this moment in a documentary called The Diplomat which, if you can get your hands on a copy, is a great journey into the intersection of sports, politics, and the Cold War. Katarina Witt, Wladimir Klitschko, Countess Mariella von Faber-Castell Ahrens and Henry Maske attend the after show party to 'Tribute To Bambi 2009'. Katarina Witt of the German Democratic Republic placed 2nd in the portion of the competition. What not to wear: The rules of fashion on the ice | MPR News Basically, the flesh colored panels make itseem like skaters are showing a lot of skin, without actually showing any and thus breaking the rules. 1. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider We're not really sure why people have been complaining. I Was a Teenage Catfish and I Regret Nothing. 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). 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. Thus was born Ice Wars: The USA vs. Katarina Witt's outfit caused the ISU to institute "The Katarina Rule.". However, those glimmering crystals and sheer panels aren't just deployed for ornamental purposes they actually serve as bulwarks against immodesty and point deductions. 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. By the 70s, lower necklines were making their way onto the ice and embellishments also started gaining popularity. Albright of the United States displaying her grace and technique during her free skating program at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Stay up to date with what you want to know. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Debi Thomas dazzled in an embellished bubblegum pink outfit as she placed second at the U.S. 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. And hey, if you have an extra $7.50 USD lying around, you can always head on over to eBay and grab yourself a Katarina Witt action figure. The "Katarina Rule" was adopted by the International Skating Union in 1988 after Witt showed up in a feathery, skirtless, skin-baring ensemble that gave her the look of a showgirl kicked out . Become a Cosmo member to read and save unlimited articles. (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. 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. During the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz, American skater, Gretchen Merrill, opted for an all white ensemble complete with a beaded cap. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. Blue feather costume that shows off too much butt cheek sold separately. Keep scrolling to see the stunning evolution of womens figure skating costumes through the years. American skater Michelle Kwan in a flowing pink piece with a sheer illusion triangle top in 2000. Austrian skater Karl Shafer in a belted suit and tapered pants at the Olympics in 1936. I had a few judges question it but, after a year of wearing it I still never received any costume violations.". Collect, curate and comment on your files. Why Figure Skating Dresses Have Sheer Panels - Insider Yes, you read that right: A figure skater competed at the PyeongChang Olympics sans skirt. She won the gold medal. The judge, who once stripped for Playboy, now says she will change her. American skater Dorothy Hamill in a black and gold fringey design with a deep neckline in 1980. Sparkles reign supreme today, but they weren't always the norm. The Canadian athlete competing in a figure skating competition in the 1988 Winter Olympics. And they have. The West German skater performing at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. But back in 1988, it stopped the presses. Mit emerged from the masses in a bodysuit with pants. 33 Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal She plays a figure skater, but dont let that fool you: theres some good acting chops on display, and her character plays a massive role in the films ending. Competing in the figure skating team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 11, 2018. Herma Planck-Szabo, Ethel Muckelt and Beatrix Loughran, 1924. 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. The Japanese skater competing during the 2010 Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on Feb. 25, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Nagasu of the United States reacts after her routine in the figure skating team event during the 2018 Winter Olympics. During the Lillehammer Olympic Games, Nancy Kerrigan wore an elegant black and white dress with sheer sleeves that designer Vera Wang said "made her look tougher.". See more ideas about katarina witt, figure skater, hot figure skaters. Hamill won the gold medal for the U.S. in the ladies singles figure skating event. In this interview, we dive into her [], Spring is in the air, and we cant wait to embrace all the excitement it brings! Clothing that does not adhere to these guidelines will be penalized by a deduction.". 2. Katarina Witt (GDR) - 1988 Calgary, Figure Skating, Ladies' Short 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. The regulation dictated that it was mandatory for women to wear a skirt that covered their hips and butt, and also required that women covered their midriffs. The rule is you have to be 50 percent covered with material, which I was but, it depends on how tastefully you do it. The Ukrainian skater performing during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. These Twitter reactions sum it up. Philippe Candeloro of France in a pirate-esque costume at the 1998 Olympics. As difficult as it is, Olympic figure skaters make it look effortless, and their intricately designed dresses are all part of the illusion. 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 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. Later in the 1980s, figure skater Katarina Witt caught flack for her "scandalous" low V-neck outfit and champion sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner raised hell for her neon, one-legged running . See Figure Skater Katarina Witt Now, 28 Years After Her Last Olympics There was one scandalous moment at the 1988 Winter Olympics that changed the rules of competitive figure skating costumery for a decade-and-a-half, anyways. Ice Skating Outfits: Why Do Figure Skaters Wear Skirts Not Pants? How to design a figure skating dress for the Winter Olympics not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! Clothing may, however, reflect the character of the music chosen.". I loved the French skater (Ma-Brnice Mit)'s awesome pants outfit and the Bey song. Calgary, Alberta, CANADA - 1988 Winter Games, Ladies' Short Program - Re-posting another one of the videos the IOC had filed copyright infringement and had me taking it down. Katarina Witt blames her massive cleavage on 'sitting down' - mirror Competing for her 9th consecutive U.S. Champion title, Michelle Kwan wore a one-shouldered gold sequin dress. 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. And Katarina Witt caused a stir with her 1988 feather-trimmed getup that. Also, the costume needs to be exactly what it should be for that particular skater, and that particular program. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. They dont just sit and drink coffee and they move the bottom half of their bodies well, which is very beneficial. Paging Gus Kenworthy. but alas, Dr. Ruths vision for a dress code came true, and the Katarina Rule was born requiring skaters to (in the words of Jurassic Park) cover their butts. 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. The figure skater won Japan its first gold medal in the sport during the Turin, Italy Olympics. Secret Tapes of Katarina Witt. As the years progressed, figure skating fashion evolved both men and women's costumes got shorter, more embellished, and more dramatic.