See Also: Henie, Sonja(encyclopedia)

Henie, Sonja (sh)




born April 8, 1912, Kristiania [now Oslo], Nor.
died Oct. 12, 1969, in an airplane en route to Oslo

Norwegian-born U.S. figure skater.

She was trained in ballet. She won the world amateur championship for women 10 consecutive years (1927-36) and won three gold medals in the Winter Olympics (1928, 1932, 1936). With her dancer's training, she was largely responsible for converting a predictable series of colourless exercises into a spectacular and popular exhibition. She achieved further renown as a professional ice skater and movie actress. In 1941 she became an American citizen.


Sonja Henie performing in her Hollywood Ice Revue of 1950.

Pictorial Parade