Get ready todiscoverfestivals, must-see performances, and hidden gallery shows. Become a Cosmo member to read and save unlimited articles. Katarina Witt's outfit caused the ISU to institute "The Katarina Rule." Associated Press "The Katarina Rule" dictates that women's hips, midriffs, and behinds are covered. Male figure skater, Adam Rippon kept his pants simple and stole the show with his skin tight sequin shirt while competing at the Pyeongchang Olympics. During her figure skating routine at the 1936 Winter Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. 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. Performing during the ladies short program as part of the figure skating team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics at the Gangneung Ice Arena. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. "[Men] can wear a tapered pant, but if it is a tight, that's a reduction in your score," two-time Olympian Johnny Weir told Cosmopolitan. The Winter Olympics in Beijing are in full swing, and let's face it, the global event brings out the inner sports fan in everyone. 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. Secret Tapes of Katarina Witt. The rule was repealed . 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. The American skater competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Thomas was the bronze medalist in the event. When the Berlin Wall fell, Witt spent much of the early 90s fielding accusations that she was a spy for East Germany, or criticism that she didnt speak out against the regime. Skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Frances Surya Bonaly skated in costumes designed by Vera Wang and Christian Lacroix, respectively. 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. Prev 5 of 8 Next . And it must have worked, because Witt and company propelled Ice Wars into a 13-year phenomenon. The American skater during the Winter Olympics skating competition in 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria. has collaborated with many Olympic figure skaters, Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion. Sparkles reign supreme today, but they weren't always the norm. Skaters also favor illusion mesh and backless designs that mirror dresses we see on runways and red carpets. 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. And Katarina Witt caused a stir with her 1988 feather-trimmed getup that. The best part is that figure skating fashion just keeps getting better. Kristi Yamaguchi opted for a long sleeved gold brocade dress for the Olympic Games in Albertville, France the year she took home the gold medal. The award-winning film I, Tonya in which Margot Robbie portrays the life of American skater Tonya Hardingrecreated the pleated teal outfit Harding wore for the U.S. The odd badass bodysuit happens from time to time, and many use their costumes as an opportunity to express themselves. Sign up for notifications from Insider! And then you wait for CBS to call and say two magical words: Ice Wars.. Figure skaters shouldnt wear outfits that could arouse judges. Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox. 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. In the 1990s, another trend that emerged was designer costumes. As difficult as it is, Olympic figure skaters make it look effortless, and their intricately designed dresses are all part of the illusion. Then why dont more women wear pants? . Unfortunately, the judges werent as impressed, giving her a score of 46.62, putting her in ninth place. . (in a fringed zebra-print dress with side cut-outs) and Chuen Gun Lee (in black . This French Figure Skater May Not Have Won A Medal, But Her Pants Took People's Choice. One outfit, a feathered blue number worn by East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Olympic games (pictured below), was deemed too scandalous by the International Skating Union. 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. Sonja Henie in a dark dress with an embellished hem at the 1936 Games. 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. The Russian skater competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 12, 2018. When the first Olympic figure skating competition launched in the 1920s, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. Performing during the free program of the ladies singles figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, Feb. 21, 2002, during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 during the ladies singles figure skating short program at the Sochi Winter Olympics, 2014. I'd be walking through an airport and I'd see someone with the issue of Playboy in their hands, and they'd see me, and their eyes would go right to my chest. Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Wish she could've done better #Olympics. Both of these hardcore costume bans were lifted in 2003, and since then, the ISU has kept the Olympic figure skating dress code rules relatively subjective at least for women. Like the Adele of figure skaters, if youre imagining that Adele picture where shes holding 1,400 Grammy Awards. The Norwegian skater on the ice at Chamonix during the Winter Olympics in 1924 when. According to the NBC Olympics page, Ladies in singles and pairs can wear a skirt, pants or tights. However, that wasnt always the rule. Laetitia Hubert of France in a yellow skirt and some strategically-placed flames at the 1998 Games. For her routine, Shizuka Arakawa wore a unique dual-toned blue dress with sheer sleeves and low neckline. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. In fact, at the 1924 games in Chamonix, France, women wore full skirts with sweaters and hats that didnt look much different from their everyday clothes (which makes sense, considering Olympic skating rinks used to be outdoors). Clothing may, however, reflect the character of the music chosen.". Henie ended up becoming a Hollywood star, posing for this picture in a feathery skating getup in 1943. The Russian athlete competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 11, 2018. The 23-year-old took to the ice in black leggings that appeared to be attached to a gold and black sparkly sleeveless top. Shortly after the games concluded, figure skating implemented a dress code and dubbed it "The Katarina Rule.". Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Yes, most competitors stick to the glitzy, skirted bodysuit situations that our brains automatically associate with figure skating but over the years, many have put variations on the classics. Katarina Witt Evening Dress. While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! A two-time Olympic champion, Witt is regarded as one of the greatest ladies' singles figure skaters of all time. The French skater performing her free program during the Winter Olympics Feb. 21, 1992, in Albertville. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. . 23.02.2018. Its free! You've hit your max! With designing the outfits comes great resposibility. info); born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. 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. The ISU instituted " The Katarina Rule, " which dictated that women's hips, midriffs, and butt were covered. Real good. However, at the 1988 Olympics, the official Olympic dress code rules changed in response to the "scandalous" outfit worn by a competitor from East Germany named Katarina Witt. 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. But back in 1988 . [1] Promise. American skater Michelle Kwan in a flowing pink piece with a sheer illusion triangle top in 2000. With her 3rd place finish in Compulsory Figures, she would be in 2nd Place going into the Long Program. 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. Oct 19, 2021 - Explore Rich Hassey's board "Katarina Witt" on Pinterest. German skater Katarina Witt in a pink illusion V-neck number at the 1984 Games. 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. And speaking of dresses, Witt's '88 Olympics blue dress made history itself. 2. Only Cosmo members can save this exclusive article. 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. 25 Sizzling Outfit Ideas Perfect for V-Day. American skater Hayes Alan Jenkins in a chunky sweater and pants at the 1956 Olympics. Costume designer Brad Griffies who designed American skaterGracie Gold's blue costume, below likes to deploy nude fabric strategically. 2023 Getty Images. Evgeni Plushenko of Russia in a silver disco outfit with a sheer panel down the front at the 2002 Games. Sweet dreams of rhythm and triple lutzes! 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. Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin fueled controversy with their stereotyped "aboriginal" costumes. For all its glamour, figure skating is one of the toughest sports to master. Katarina Witt, Wladimir Klitschko, Countess Mariella von Faber-Castell Ahrens and Henry Maske attend the after show party to 'Tribute To Bambi 2009'. Basically, the flesh colored panels make itseem like skaters are showing a lot of skin, without actually showing any and thus breaking the rules. Witts a fascinating character in the narrative of sports stars who cross over into pop culture figures. Mit might prefer pants; she competed in the same costume at the womens short program dance during the Internationaux de France ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Grenoble, France, in November. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. 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. Photo: Getty Images Performing during the short program of the ladies singles figure skating event on Feb. 21, 2006, at at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. That rule was overturned in the early 2000s, bringing back the pants. She won four world titles (1984-85 and 1987 . Clothing that does not adhere to these guidelines will be penalized by a deduction.". South Korea's Lily Lyoonjung Lee in a cute, short-skirted, pink piece at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Accessories and props are not permitted.