Sonja Henie Biography

Fast Facts

• Donated several of pieces of artwork from her collection to a public trust and helped to found the Henie Onstad Art Centre in 1968
• Won her first Norwegian ice skating championship when she was only 10 years old and made her Olympic debut one year later
• Won a total of 10 World Figure Skating Championships during her career
• Won the first of three Olympic gold medals at the 1928 St․ Moritz Olympics at the age of 15
• Initially studied ballet during her childhood and later discovered ice skating at the age of 6
• Made her Hollywood film debut as Greta Muller in "One in a Million" in 1936
• Quote: "(On becoming a film star): "I want to do with skates [in the movies] what Fred Astaire is doing with dancing․""
• After retiring from competition, she began touring the U․S․ in a series of "Hollywood Ice Revues․"
• Best known as an Olympic figure skater and actress who appeared in "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Second Fiddle․"