Katarina Witt: “I have always envied Russian women.” Katharina Witt - a symbol of figure skating The best performance of Katarina Witt

WE MEETED at her favorite café Oranium in the center of East Berlin. Every now and then they approached Katarina for autographs...

During my last trip to Moscow, when I was going through passport control at the airport, a border guard asked: Are you that famous figure skater? I am still haunted by my sports career. However, even though I do other things at the same time, with the greatest joy I do what I did when I was a little girl - ice skating. In Germany, unfortunately, today there are no famous names with which the country would identify itself.

- Why do you think?

During my youth, our entire system supported young athletes and allowed them to achieve great success. Living conditions in the GDR were the same for everyone, and everyone received the same. But not in sports. In this sense, big sport in our socialist system was oriented toward capitalism. I studied at a sports school, and the school program was coordinated with my individual training plan. I could afford to train seven hours a day. And today a young athlete must choose between school and sports. Three hours a day for training after school is very little. In addition, young people now have many other opportunities through which they can advance.

- 7 hours a day - for training, while others - at the cinema or with friends... Was it a conscious sacrifice or did your parents force you?

When I was very little, I often watched what was happening at the skating rink, which was located next to my kindergarten. At the age of five I started asking my parents to send me to the figure skating section. I begged until my mother took me there. I can't say that training for many hours was a sacrifice. I received a lot in return and only benefited from it.

- How was your relationship with your coach Jutta Müller?

She discovered me at the age of 9. And she worked with me until I turned 28. Our relationship changed. Sometimes we were like two friends, sometimes she was my mentor, sometimes she replaced my parents. She was very strict. Yes, a coach cannot be a friend. I respected her and was a little afraid. I had a feeling for her that was similar to love... turning into hatred and back. But if she had not been so strict, without her knowledge, without her passionate energy, I would not have achieved what I have achieved. Often you achieve great results through pain... We now regularly call each other, she is privy to my personal life. I learned a lot from Jutta Müller. She lives deep in my heart, but at the same time we are still on friendly terms.

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- Being a famous person in the GDR meant that close attention of the special services to one’s person could not be avoided...

The intelligence services started watching me at the age of nine, as soon as my talent was noticed. I didn’t know then that I was being followed. I first discovered surveillance when I was 18. But I naively believed that they were guarding me so that nothing would happen to me. And I learned that they were employees of internal intelligence services much later, when I had the opportunity to familiarize myself with my personal file from the Stasi archives. It never even occurred to me then that they were deliberately watching me so that I would not escape to the West.

- By the way, why didn’t you do this?

I was so grateful to my country and people. I understood that I would never have had the success I had in the GDR. Besides, if I ended up in the West, I wouldn’t be able to see my parents. And you know, there is no such check and no amount that would outweigh this. Even freedom was not a good enough reason for me.

Now I already understand that my state used me. At that time we did not have access to other ideologies. I couldn't appreciate freedom because I didn't know it. But I passionately stood for our system. I was proud to come abroad, where I had to represent my country.

Yes, I grew up in the GDR and, naturally, believed in those ideals. But I also learned the things that shaped me. And then, my life was not like that of most people from the GDR. I had a lot of privileges. Sometimes it seems to me that now I live on some other planet.

- In the Soviet Union, athletes were forced to give cash bonuses to the state, but what was the situation with this in the GDR?

We had cash prizes, for example, for winning the Olympics, but there was no access to them. The funds were transferred to the federation’s account, the athlete could receive them partially, that is, a certain percentage of this money, when he left big sport. One day I received a small gold coin as a reward, and they allowed me to keep it. Thanks to the awards, the federation had the opportunity to influence athletes. For example, they could freeze bonuses if an athlete wanted to retire from big-time sports ahead of time. He was allowed to leave only when a replacement was found. Therefore, sometimes athletes stayed in big sports longer than they wanted. However, this did not affect me.

- How do you assess the current level of figure skating? Where do you see weak points?

The disadvantage that I see in figure skating is the desire of many athletes to achieve technical super-perfection. I mean combinations of three and four rotation jumps. I think that for a young body this can be fraught with serious consequences, it can lead to serious injuries, like Evgeni Plushenko, because of this he could not continue to fight in the last world championship.

- They say you are lucky in everything except love...

You can’t have everything you want, although, of course, you often want to have just everything. I already had happy love and serious relationships with men, I can’t complain. Currently I am single and live alone. The last year and a half has been mostly in Berlin, where I have an apartment. I travel a lot. And I can’t sacrifice my profession for the sake of a man, stop working. But I'm happy with what I have. I have many friends. Favorite work. And I'm vain. Money plays a secondary role for me, the main thing is that I am passionate about what I do.

- There is no desire to have a family, children?

Children? Don't know. So far this question has not arisen before me. As I already said, it is difficult for me to lead a normal life. If there was a child, I would have to stop working. And I'm a workaholic. In addition, at the moment there is no suitable candidate for the role of dad.

- In the 80s, you were a sex symbol for many Russian men, do you know about this?

It's a compliment. I think this had to do with the ability to show off beautifully on the ice, with choreography, with the plasticity of movements and, of course, with sexy costumes. I have never had a serious relationship with a Russian man. Your men are different from European and American men. I will never forget how I myself dragged heavy bags with skates, while the Russian athletes were helped by their partners. In this sense, I am closer to Eastern women.

By the way, not so long ago in Moscow I was in a dance club. I noticed how many beautiful and attractive women there were. But there was no suitable man for me there either. But I’m not looking, believe me...

- Is it true that Garry Kasparov was wooing you?

What are you saying, I didn’t even know! I once received a telegram from Kasparov - congratulations on my victory in the Olympic Games. Although it is customary among athletes to congratulate each other on victory, this was unusual and even... honorable for me.

- You starred in Playboy magazine. Did you really get paid a million?

For 10 years - since winning the Olympic Games in Calgary - Playboy tried to get my consent to be photographed, they followed me on my heels. But while I was performing, being photographed naked was unthinkable for me. Only after I left big sport did I decide to try working with them. Besides, I was already famous - compared to those models who became famous thanks to their pictures in Playboy. Filming took place outdoors. Everything was natural. I remember standing naked under a waterfall. And I wanted to be not only erotic, but also feminine. I won’t give away the secret and therefore won’t answer what fee I received. Let me just say that it was a decent amount.

Personally, I exercise regularly and limit myself in food, although not always. Because I love chocolate and sweets. If I happen to give myself pleasure - to eat what I want, then I usually train more.

No, I haven’t had any plastic surgery yet. I don’t know what will happen in ten years - maybe it will happen again. In Moscow I saw many young girls with chipped lips. I think that there is nothing special about it, when narrow lips are made more plump, but this should not be noticeable. And silicone breasts on teenagers look terrible.

- How would you like to celebrate your anniversary?

Most of all I would like to put on a show on ice on this day. And celebrate with the public. I would also like to come to Russia and perform again - on ice, of course - and win hearts. The people there are completely different, I feel it, and the living conditions are different. In Russia, a person will give his neighbor his last shirt, there is still cohesion between people. Apparently, it’s in the Russians’ blood...

She could not imagine a united Germany: in her youth she enjoyed her privileges in the GDR, after unification she had to go through difficult moments. Figure skating star Katharina Witt talks in an interview about her life in both German states.

Katarina Witt, born in 1965, six-time European champion, four-time world champion, two-time Olympic champion in figure skating: in Sarajevo (1984) and Calgary (1988). She was one of the most famous athletes of the GDR and is known throughout the world as one of the most successful figure skaters. In 1994, as part of the general German team, she took part in another Olympics, in Lillehammer. Today, in addition to other activities, she is also an entrepreneur.

Der Spiegel Online: Mrs. Witt, you are almost 50 years old, the first half of which you lived in the GDR, and the second in the Federal Republic. What time was most memorable for you?

Witt: Well, the time of childhood, youth, it is more memorable, I think. It’s like music, a song with which you experienced your first love, your first heartache, your first “fly away”, it will forever remain in your head with such an emotional connection.

Der Spiegel Online: What about these memorable moments from your childhood?

Witt: First, of course, my carefree childhood in the family, and then sports: discipline, submission for the sake of everything. And despite the “corset,” it was in the GDR that one could obtain a degree of freedom that was by no means taken for granted.

Der Spiegel Online: Which you received as a sports star.

Witt: Of course, it was a big advantage for me to be able to travel while I was still young. It was truly a privilege. Although, of course, there were no vacation trips. Everything was linked to sports, competitions here, performances there. That is, no lying with your stomach up under the sun. But it was a tremendous chance to discover the unknown with surprise and see something.

Der Spiegel Online: Ice stadiums in the world?

Witt: Theirs, of course, but there was something else along the way to them. You just had to keep your eyes open when you were riding the bus around the city. Besides, Mrs. Müller...

Der Spiegel Online: ...Your coach...

Witt: ... always paid attention to this, I am very grateful to her for that. Her attitude was: “Baby, who knows if you will ever be able to visit Paris again, so we are now going to the Eiffel Tower.” This advanced me very much, that I could travel, and thanks to this I matured as a person. I learned to be open to new impressions, not to say, unlike others: “either my way or not at all.”

Der Spiegel Online: If people asked you abroad at that time where you were from, did they answer: “I’m German” or “I’m from the GDR”?

Witt: For me these concepts were absolutely separate, the answer was always: “I am from the GDR.”

SPIEGEL Online: So you first of all felt like a citizen of the GDR?

Witt: Yes, definitely. I was born in a country where they spoke the same language as West Germany, but I always saw my country as separate and independent. I have never doubted this. And if today, depending on one’s desire, this can be considered as a forced or logical step, that the unification of the Germans took place, then I simply could not imagine this. In any case, I could not do this as a very young man at that time.

SPIEGEL Online: Your sporting successes were used for political purposes; as a sports star you were the ambassador of the GDR and, as has always been said, “the most beautiful face of socialism.”

Witt: However, this expression was coined by an American journalist, a Time Store reporter, who logically wrote before the 1988 Olympic Games: “If Katie Witt represents the real face of socialism, America would willingly become socialist.” Of course, I was perceived as a representative of the GDR. And at the same time as a kind of counter-project.

Der Spiegel Online: What do you mean?

Witt: The image of the GDR was rather the following: gray, joyless, one size fits all. And then I appeared, let’s say, as something completely different. Because I have always been joyful, and my costumes are more colorful and extravagant than others. Show and glamor are also mandatory components of figure skating: even if everything hurts, you have to do it as if you had wings instead of bleeding legs.

Der Spiegel Online: In 1988, even before the reunion, you began your career as a professional athlete: ice shows, films, big tours in the United States. A big step forward, or?

Witt: Yes, it was a big change in life. Even if I could no longer be an athlete. Before this, newspapers wrote about me in sections about sports, many journalists accompanied me for years, admiringly empathizing with my ascent. And suddenly, literally in a day, I moved to the pages of the yellow press. It was no longer the triple jump that became interesting, but the made-up stories about me and Prince Albert, or Boris Becker.

Der Spiegel Online: And then it was time for the reunion...

Witt: ... and I found myself in a new situation. In America I received great recognition, incredible success from my tours. And at home a whole wave arose against me, partly with accusations, partly, oh, however, this is all in the past.

"Der Spiegel Online": "Der Spiegel" once wrote about the "witch hunt" declared against you: the once popular Kati has become, as the Bild newspaper put it, a system-loyal "goat from the Socialist Unity Party of Germany" (the ruling party in GDR - approx.)

Witt: It was hard then. It was a really strange contrast. In America, I became a symbol of freedom: “She has arrived from behind the Iron Curtain,” “She is free at last,” “She can do whatever she wants.” The Americans had a completely different idea of ​​me. Of course, I played along with this, at the same time entering into discussions here, but without exposing the people who helped and supported me.

Der Spiegel Online: At that time, were you thinking about leaving Germany for a long time?

Witt: No, my connections with family and friends were too strong for this step. And at the same time, curiosity about what is happening now with our country, and some time passed before I was able to pronounce “our country.” In any case, I wanted to see the changes taking place, first of all, in Berlin. My apartment had a view of Potsdamer Platz and I wanted to empathize with the changes in my city.

SPIEGEL Online: At what point do you say “our country”?

Witt: It didn't happen soon after the reunion. The 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, where I went for the first time as part of a unified German team, were a good reason to start talking like that, but it took me a couple more years.

Der Spiegel Online: It turns out that it was good that you didn’t win another gold medal in 1994. Otherwise, you would have to sort out your relationship with the German anthem.

Witt: Ah, it was clear to me from the very beginning that my winnings would be another wonder of the world. But indeed, the situation would be peculiar. You can't honestly roar to two different anthems.

Der Spiegel Online: And today you talk about Germany as “our country”?

Witt: Of course. And in general I feel proud. I find that we can be happy with what our country stands for - freedom, democracy, a certain level of prosperity, as well as friendliness. We Germans could not always appreciate all this.

Der Spiegel Online: How well do you know Germany?

Witt: Oh my God, here again you are faced with how well what you once learned as a child has been imprinted. When I'm invited to a TV quiz show, I know something different about questions about geography, music or movies than guests who grew up in the West. However, my contribution to the history and culture of West Germany is also limited. I recently talked about federal lands, there are, it seems, 15 of them?

Der Spiegel online: 16.

Witt: Well, I got it. There were 15 districts in the GDR. You see how firmly what you learned in your youth stays in your head. Although something new comes into it every day. This shows how important education, sports and life-tested values ​​remain.

Photo: imago/Hartenfelser
Katharina Witt in June in Frankfurt: today she is, among other things, an entrepreneur.

Photo: Imago
First success: Coach Jutta Müller congratulates 13-year-old Katharina Witt. The figure skater took third place in 1979, bringing the first medal to the GDR team.

Photo: Imago
Pirouettes for a photo shoot in 1982: Katharina Witt's career took off sharply, in the 80s she became a four-time world champion and a six-time European champion.

Photo: Imago
A huge triumph for an 18-year-old girl: at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Katarina Witt won the main title, only slightly beating American Rosalynn Sumners.

Photo: Imago
On a visit to the pioneer camp on Brandenburg's Lake Werbellin in the summer of 1984: the leadership of the GDR used the successes of Katharina Witt for political purposes, considering the figure skater as an advertisement for the country.

Photo: Imago
Hard ballet training: choreographer Rudi Suchy controls Katharina Witt's posture in December 1984.

Photo: Imago
Katharina Witt poses with plush toys in 1986. “The image of the GDR was rather grey, joyless, one size fits all. But I imagined, let’s say, something completely different from this,” she says today.

Photo: AP
Rejoicing with coach Jutta Müller over the gold at the 1987 World Championships in Cincinnati: “Of course, it was a big advantage for me that I could travel already in my youth,” says Katarina about those times.

Photo: AP
On August 25, 1987, Katharina Witt congratulates the Chairman of the State Council of the GDR, Erich Honecker, on his 75th birthday. The privileges were accompanied by supervision by state security agencies.

Photo: AP
Katharina Witt, member of the GDR Olympic team at the 1988 Calgary Games: in Canada she repeated her 1984 success.

Photo: Imago
Honoring the winner: with her free program to Georges Bizet’s music for the opera “Carmen,” Katharina Witt beat Canadian Elizabeth Manley (left) and American Debbie Thomas in the fight for gold. In the same year, even before the reunification of the two Germanys, she began her professional career - ice shows, films, large tours of the USA.

Photo: Getty Images
In 1994, after returning to amateur sports, Katharina Witt once again took part in the Olympic Games, this time in Lillehammer, as part of a single German team.

Photo: DPA
Over the roofs of Frankfurt am Main, late 90s: “I think we can be satisfied with what our country stands for - freedom, democracy, level of well-being, as well as friendliness,” says Katharina Witt about today's united Germany.

Photo: AP
In 1999, as a guest on the program “We Bet What?” Presenter Thomas Gottschalk flips through the Playboy issue dedicated to Katharina Witt with interest.

Photo: AP
The athlete regularly performed in her shows until 2008. Here she is pictured in Erfurt in 2002.

Photo: Getty Images
Katharina Witt in 2007, member Laureus World Sports Academy, at the awards ceremony in Barcelona. Over the years, she has also been involved as a presenter, actress and TV pundit.

Photo: DPA
Katharina Witt at the 2014 Sochi Olympics: The former figure skater also led Munich's bid to host the 2018 Olympics.

She is an athlete by nature, and the most successful figure skater of all time. Known as "fire on ice", Katharina Witt represented the former East Germany in figure skating. Having won the European champion title for the first time in 1983, Katarina became the champion six times in a row. She has four world champion gold medals and two Olympic gold medals. Fans are always interested in what their favorite is doing now. We'll talk about this in the article.

Where did it all start?

The future figure skater Katarina Witt was born into an ordinary average family during socialism, on December 3, 1965 in the city of Karl Marx. Now this is the city of Chimnitz, its historical name was returned to it. Katya's father, Manfred, managed an agricultural factory, and her mother was a physiotherapist. Katarina has an older brother, Axel.

Figure skating, which Katarina was fascinated by as a child, began for her at the age of 6 years. The talented girl was simply lucky; she ended up in the group of the famous coach Utah Müller, who worked in the best dictatorial traditions of the GDR coaching school. This is a man of iron will and harsh demands, whose figure skaters cried in the locker room. But this is a sport where you either give it your all and win, or you quit. Frau Müller made Katharina Witt a winning figure skater who, throughout her figure skating career, deservedly won only the highest awards.

While preparing for the 1988 Olympics, Katarina realized that her ice career was nearing the end and that this would probably be her last. She was only 22, but she was already “old” enough as a figure skater to compete. She understood that there was no future in professional sports in the GDR. There were no ice shows in the country that she dreamed of. It was then that she entered into a contract with sports officials: if she wins a second Olympic gold, they will give her the opportunity to participate in several concert programs abroad.

Retirement and return...

Having completed her career in amateur figure skating in 1988, Katarina does not leave figure skating. Now it is professional: ice shows, cinema, major tours in the USA. She tries herself as a TV show host. Since 1991, Katharina has worked on both German and American television as a figure skating specialist.

But Katarina still felt too young to simply lead and observe. The ice continued to attract her, and she believed that she could still prove herself. And she managed the seemingly impossible, namely, returning from professional skating to an amateur figure skating camp. At the German Championships in 1992 she came in second place, in 1994 she took eighth place at the European Championships and seventh place at the Olympic Games in Lillehammer. She wasn't on the winner's podium, but she did it again as a pro. As a professional, she won the world title in 1992 in Paris.

In addition to sporting achievements

In addition to her sporting achievements, Katharina Witt's biography includes information that in 1995 she founded her own production company for skating shows, such as "Stars on Ice", "Champions on Ice" together with WITT Sports & Entertainment GmbH. and "Winter Magic". Katarina founded the ice exhibition “Snowflake”, created the sports and entertainment company “S Witt Sports and Entertainment”, and presented her own jewelry collection.

In 1998, she starred for Playboy. With her as Covergirl, the entire issue of the magazine was sold to the last copy all over the world. This was the magazine's second record-breaking issue after the photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe. Katharina has been actively involved since 2005 in the Katharina Witt Foundation, which she founded, which supports children and adolescents with physical disabilities.

Farewell tour

In March 2008, she finally ended her career. All tickets in nine cities were sold out for the performances of the ageless Ice Princess on her farewell tour in Germany. This was her last appearance as an “active” figure skater on the ice. Once again, at 43, she glided confidently across the glistening surface of the ice, the center of attention, enjoying the applause. Now this moment is behind us. Her performances on the tour were accompanied by highlight reels of her global career being shown on the rinks' video screens, and she once again impressively demonstrated her skills and charisma. This time, as Katharina Witt herself said, she “wants to hang up her skates” finally, after nine shows in eight cities.

“I have to tell you honestly that I was preparing such a tour and thinking about everything, and then I completely forgot what I was supposed to say at the end. Maybe just thank you,” said Katie Witt, breathless and beaming.

What is Katharina Witt doing now?

The most successful German figure skater has ended her career. In an interview for a German magazine, she said: “For the first time in my career I don’t have a plan, I just want to have free time.” She decided to stop the daily hard work, the eternal icy cold and sports nutrition. This freedom will mean a major change for the two-time Olympic champion. In addition to her work in foundations, production work, filming in television shows and films, Katharina Witt writes books. Among those published: “So much life”, “Easy in shape”, “My years between duty and freestyle”.

As an ARD Olympic expert, Katharina Witt worked alongside the presenters of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games in South Korea. But she keeps her personal life largely out of the public eye.

She is an athlete by nature, and the most successful figure skater of all time. Known as "fire on ice", Katharina Witt represented the former East Germany in figure skating. Having won the European champion title for the first time in 1983, Katarina became the champion six times in a row. She has four world champion gold medals and two Olympic gold medals. Fans are always interested in what their favorite is doing now. We'll talk about this in the article.

Where did it all start?

The future figure skater Katarina Witt was born into an ordinary average family during socialism, on December 3, 1965 in the city of Karl Marx. Now this is the city of Chimnitz, its historical name was returned to it. Katya's father, Manfred, managed an agricultural factory, and her mother was a physiotherapist. Katarina has an older brother, Axel.

Figure skating, which Katarina was fascinated by as a child, began for her at the age of 6 years. The talented girl was simply lucky; she ended up in the group of the famous coach Utah Müller, who worked in the best dictatorial traditions of the GDR coaching school. This is a man of iron will and harsh demands, whose figure skaters cried in the locker room. But this is a sport where you either give it your all and win, or you quit. Frau Müller made Katharina Witt a winning figure skater who, throughout her figure skating career, deservedly won only the highest awards.

While preparing for the 1988 Olympics, Katarina realized that her ice career was nearing the end and that this would probably be her last. She was only 22, but she was already “old” enough as a figure skater to compete. She understood that there was no future in professional sports in the GDR. There were no ice shows in the country that she dreamed of. It was then that she entered into a contract with sports officials: if she wins a second Olympic gold, they will give her the opportunity to participate in several concert programs abroad.

Retirement and return...

Having completed her career in amateur figure skating in 1988, Katarina does not leave figure skating. Now it is professional: ice shows, cinema, major tours in the USA. She tries herself as a TV show host. Since 1991, Katharina has worked on both German and American television as a figure skating specialist.

But Katarina still felt too young to simply lead and observe. The ice continued to attract her, and she believed that she could still prove herself. And she managed the seemingly impossible, namely, returning from professional skating to an amateur figure skating camp. At the German Championships in 1992 she came in second place, in 1994 she took eighth place at the European Championships and seventh place at the Olympic Games in Lillehammer. She wasn't on the winner's podium, but she did it again as a pro. As a professional, she won the world title in 1992 in Paris.

In addition to sporting achievements

In addition to her sporting achievements, Katharina Witt's biography includes information that in 1995 she founded her own production company for skating shows, such as "Stars on Ice", "Champions on Ice" together with WITT Sports & Entertainment GmbH. and "Winter Magic". Katarina founded the ice exhibition “Snowflake”, created the sports and entertainment company “S Witt Sports and Entertainment”, and presented her own jewelry collection.

In 1998, she starred for Playboy. With her as Covergirl, the entire issue of the magazine was sold to the last copy all over the world. This was the magazine's second record-breaking issue after the photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe. Katharina has been actively involved since 2005 in the Katharina Witt Foundation, which she founded, which supports children and adolescents with physical disabilities.

Farewell tour

In March 2008, she finally ended her career. All tickets in nine cities were sold out for the performances of the ageless Ice Princess on her farewell tour in Germany. This was her last appearance as an “active” figure skater on the ice. Once again, at 43, she glided confidently across the glistening surface of the ice, the center of attention, enjoying the applause. Now this moment is behind us. Her performances on the tour were accompanied by highlight reels of her global career being shown on the rinks' video screens, and she once again impressively demonstrated her skills and charisma. This time, as Katharina Witt herself said, she “wants to hang up her skates” finally, after nine shows in eight cities.

“I have to tell you honestly that I was preparing such a tour and thinking about everything, and then I completely forgot what I was supposed to say at the end. Maybe just thank you,” said Katie Witt, breathless and beaming.

What is Katharina Witt doing now?

The most successful German figure skater has ended her career. In an interview for a German magazine, she said: “For the first time in my career I don’t have a plan, I just want to have free time.” She decided to stop the daily hard work, the eternal icy cold and sports nutrition. This freedom will mean a major change for the two-time Olympic champion. In addition to her work in foundations, production work, filming in television shows and films, Katharina Witt writes books. Among those published: “So much life”, “Easy in shape”, “My years between duty and freestyle”.

As an ARD Olympic expert, Katharina Witt worked alongside the presenters of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games in South Korea. But she keeps her personal life largely out of the public eye.

KATHARINA WITT, the “princess on ice” as she was often called in the press, will celebrate her fortieth birthday this year. A two-time Olympic champion, four-time world champion, winner of six gold medals in European championships, Katarina now creates her own “ice shows,” comments on figure skating competitions, and does business. And, according to a recent survey of readers of the German newspaper Bild, he ranks 16th in the list of the most beautiful people in Germany.

WE MEETED at her favorite cafe "Oranium" in the center of East Berlin. Every now and then they approached Katarina for autographs...

During my last trip to Moscow, when I was going through passport control at the airport, a border guard asked: “Aren’t you that famous figure skater?” I am still haunted by my sports career. However, even though I do other things at the same time, with the greatest joy I do what I did when I was a little girl - ice skating. In Germany, unfortunately, today there are no famous names with which the country would identify itself.

Why do you think that is?

During my youth, our entire system supported young athletes and allowed them to achieve great success. Living conditions in the GDR were the same for everyone, and everyone received the same. But not in sports. In this sense, big sport in our socialist system was oriented “toward capitalism.” I studied at a sports school, and the school program was coordinated with my individual training plan. I could afford to train seven hours a day. And today a young athlete must choose between school and sports. Three hours a day for training after school is very little. In addition, young people now have many other opportunities through which they can advance.

7 hours a day - for training, while others - at the cinema or with friends... Was it a conscious “sacrifice” or did your parents force you?

When I was very little, I often watched what was happening at the skating rink, which was located next to my kindergarten. At the age of five I started asking my parents to send me to the figure skating section. I begged until my mother took me there. I can't say that training for many hours was a sacrifice. I received a lot in return and only benefited from it.

How was your relationship with your coach Jutta Müller?

She “discovered” me at the age of 9. And she worked with me until I turned 28. Our relationship changed. Sometimes we were like two friends, sometimes she was my mentor, sometimes she replaced my parents. She was very strict. Yes, a coach cannot be a friend. I respected her and was a little afraid. I had a feeling for her that was similar to love... turning into hatred and back. But if she had not been so strict, without her knowledge, without her passionate energy, I would not have achieved what I have achieved. Often you come to great results through “pain”... We now regularly call each other, she is dedicated to my personal life. I learned a lot from Jutta Müller. She lives deep in my heart, but at the same time we are still on first name terms.

To be a famous person in the GDR meant that one could not avoid the close attention of the special services to one’s person...

The intelligence services started watching me at the age of nine, as soon as my talent was noticed. I didn’t know then that I was being followed. I first discovered surveillance when I was 18. But I naively believed that they were guarding me so that nothing would happen to me. And I learned that they were employees of internal intelligence services much later, when I had the opportunity to familiarize myself with my personal file from the Stasi archives. It never even occurred to me then that they were deliberately watching me so that I would not escape to the West.

By the way, why didn't you do this?

I was so grateful to my country and people. I understood that I would never have had the success I had in the GDR. Besides, if I ended up in the West, I wouldn’t be able to see my parents. And you know, there is no such check and no amount that would “outweigh” this. Even freedom was not a good enough reason for me.

Now I already understand that my state used me. At that time we did not have access to other ideologies. I couldn't appreciate freedom because I didn't know it. But I passionately stood for our system. I was proud to come abroad, where I had to represent my country.

Yes, I grew up in the GDR and, naturally, believed in those ideals. But I also learned the things that shaped me. And then, my life was not like that of most people from the GDR. I had a lot of privileges. Sometimes it seems to me that now I live on some other planet.

In the Soviet Union, athletes were forced to give cash bonuses to the state, but what was the situation with this in the GDR?

We had cash prizes, for example, for winning the Olympics, but there was no access to them. The funds were transferred to the federation’s account, the athlete could receive them partially, that is, a certain percentage of this money, when he left big sport. One day I received a small gold coin as a reward, and they allowed me to keep it. Thanks to the awards, the federation had the opportunity to influence athletes. For example, they could freeze bonuses if an athlete wanted to retire from big-time sports ahead of time. He was allowed to leave only when a replacement was found. Therefore, sometimes athletes stayed in big sports longer than they wanted. However, this did not affect me.

How do you assess the current level of figure skating? Where do you see weak points?

The flaw that I see in figure skating is the desire of many athletes to achieve technical “super perfection”. I mean combinations of three and four rotation jumps. I think that for a young body this can be fraught with serious consequences, it can lead to serious injuries, like Evgeni Plushenko, because of this he could not continue to fight in the last world championship.

They say you are lucky in everything except love...

You can’t have everything you want, although, of course, you often want to have just everything. I already had happy love and serious relationships with men, I can’t complain. Currently I am single and live alone. The last year and a half has been mostly in Berlin, where I have an apartment. I travel a lot. And I can’t sacrifice my profession for the sake of a man, stop working. But I'm happy with what I have. I have many friends. Favorite work. And I'm vain. Money plays a secondary role for me, the main thing is that I am passionate about what I do.

Don't want to have a family or children?

Children? Don't know. So far this question has not arisen before me. As I already said, it is difficult for me to lead a normal life. If there was a child, I would have to stop working. And I'm a workaholic. In addition, at the moment there is no suitable candidate for the role of dad.

In the 80s you were a sex symbol for many Russian men, do you know about that?

It's a compliment. I think this had to do with the ability to show off beautifully on the ice, with choreography, with the plasticity of movements and, of course, with sexy costumes. I have never had a serious relationship with a Russian man. Your men are different from European and American men. I will never forget how I myself dragged heavy bags with skates, while the Russian athletes were helped by their partners. In this sense, I am closer to Eastern women.

By the way, not so long ago in Moscow I was in a dance club. I noticed how many beautiful and attractive women there were. But there was no suitable man for me there either. But I’m not looking, believe me...

Is it true that Garry Kasparov was wooing you?

What are you saying, I didn’t even know! I once received a telegram from Kasparov - congratulations on my victory in the Olympic Games. Although it is customary for athletes to congratulate each other on victory, this was unusual and even... honorable for me.

You starred in Playboy magazine. Did you really get paid a million?

For 10 years - since winning the Olympic Games in Calgary - Playboy tried to get my consent to be photographed, they followed me on my heels. But while I was performing, being photographed naked was unthinkable for me. Only after I left big sport did I decide to try working with them. Besides, I was already famous - compared to those models who became famous thanks to their pictures in Playboy. Filming took place outdoors. Everything was natural. I remember standing naked under a waterfall. And I wanted to be not only erotic, but also feminine. I won’t give away the secret and therefore won’t answer what fee I received. Let me just say that it was a decent amount.

Personally, I exercise regularly and limit myself in food, although not always. Because I love chocolate and sweets. If I happen to give myself pleasure - to eat what I want, then I usually train more.

No, I haven’t had any plastic surgery yet. I don’t know what will happen in ten years - maybe it will happen again. In Moscow I saw many young girls with “chipped” lips. I think that there is nothing special about it, when narrow lips are made more plump, but this should not be noticeable. And silicone breasts on teenagers look terrible.

How would you like to celebrate your anniversary?

Most of all I would like to put on a show on ice on this day. And celebrate with the public. I would also like to come to Russia and perform again - on ice, of course - and win hearts. The people there are completely different, I feel it, and the living conditions are different. In Russia, a person will give his neighbor his last shirt, there is still cohesion between people. Apparently, it's in the Russians' blood...