Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. 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 . The Russian skater Irina Slutskaya's embellished black dress stood out with it's jagged neckline during the Salt Lake City Olympics. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. Katarina Witt has an estimated net worth of $9 million. A bodysuit full of rhinestones can weigh up to two pounds. British skater Jeannette Altwegg in a shiny, short-skirted dress at the Olympics in 1952. But the 90s also took Witt out of the figure skating world and directly into dance clubs? 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. Her colorful and vibrant artwork celebrates diversity, representation, and equality. Now, the IOC only wants to monetize on these clips.Katarina Witt of the German Democratic Republic placed 2nd in the portion of the competition. 4. Kerrigan, of the U.S., performing at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won the silver medal. Philippe Candeloro of France in a pirate-esque costume at the 1998 Olympics. Womens figure skating is, hands down, one of the most visually stunning events to watch at the Olympics. Dinamo is not just a design practice, it is a way of thinking that applies interesting concepts to a wide range of production areas, from typography and design to research and consulting. As the New York Times recently noted, two-time gold medalist Katarina Witt has written about how, in 1987, her costume slipped during a competition and she was forced to finish the routine with. For all its glamour, figure skating is one of the toughest sports to master. Youll also find her briefly hanging out with Jerry Maguire, or in season one of Everybody Loves Raymond. Lia Beck. 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. Meg Donohue is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. 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 performing her routine during the free skate at White Ring Arena during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Katarina Witt's bejewelled blue costume at the 1988 Olympics, with feathers where a skirt should be, conjured images of a Vegas showgirl, and prompted the International Skating Union to write. The rule is you have to be 50 percent covered with material, which I was but, it depends on how tastefully you do it. Create an account and youll be able to save and revisit articles. While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. And then you wait for CBS to call and say two magical words: Ice Wars.. Figure skaters shouldnt wear outfits that could arouse judges. But back in 1988, it stopped the presses. American skater Dorothy Hamill in a black and gold fringey design with a deep neckline in 1980. Not possible. While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. The West German skater performing at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. From some of the earliest modern Olympic games to this week's events in Beijing, here are the most iconic figure skating outfits to have ever graced the ice. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie wore a playful long sleeve black dress and beret for her routine at the Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for which she won her third gold medal. 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. 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. But back in 1988 . The judge, who once stripped for Playboy, now says she will change her. The rule is known tomany as "The Katarina Rule," and it states that"At ISU Championships, the Olympic Winter Games, and International Competitions, the clothing of the Competitors must be modest, dignified and appropriate for athletic competition not garish or theatrical in design. 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. As for more pop culture Katarina Witt treasures? Wittjust like the states of Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the 2020 electionrefused him, leading Trump to add Witt to a grudge list of women who declined to date him. Shaun White and Nina Dobrevs Cutest Moments, Meet Naomi Osakas Incredibly Supportive Parents, 16 Pics of Olympians the Moment They Knew They Won, You Def Wanna See Funny Tweets About the Olympics, This 15-Year-Old Ice Skater Just Made History, Dont Let Maame Bineys Smiling Face Fool You, Meet Olympian Chloe Kims Skateboarder Boyfriend, Wondering When the Next Olympics Games Are? The American skater performing her free skating program during the ladies singles event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. In this interview, we dive into her [], Spring is in the air, and we cant wait to embrace all the excitement it brings! French ice-dancing couple Gwendal Peizerat (in a billowy blouse) and Marina Anissina (in a dress that gave the illusion that her whole side was naked) at a competition in 2001. Clothing that does not adhere to these guidelines will be penalized by a deduction.". 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Showing Editorial results for katarina witt. Fleming, of the U.S., practicing on an outside rink in February 1968 in Grenoble, France, during the Winter Olympics. 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 across the ice. And her performance was just as dazzling as it would have been in a frilly, flouncy skirt, if not more so, because it was so bold. even Dr. Ruth was contacted by Reuters to comment on the dres, boogie to the dulcet sounds of a cold bottle of Diet Coke being cracked open, for the most 90s dance track imaginable: Skate With Me., an anecdote about how Trump once tried to hit on Katarina Witt, The East German Stasi (secret police) kept 3,500 pages of files on her. This means that although most competitors stick with the typical glitzy, sparkling dresses, there are hardly any strict rules that have to be followed. 25 Sizzling Outfit Ideas Perfect for V-Day. She won four world titles (1984-85 and 1987 . The Russian skater performing in the women's free program of the figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, Feb. 21, 2002, during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. And Katarina Witt caused a stir with her 1988 feather-trimmed getup that. 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. 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. When the first Olympic figure skating competition launched in the 1920s, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. Not to be hyperbolic, but this might be the best 90s dance song no one has ever heard. 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. This is the calendar that will keep you at the forefront of the cultural scene this [], Welcome to this interview with Johannes Breyer, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Dinamo. For one, it seems not everyone is up to date on the new rules. 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!) Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Spoiler alert: There's a lot of illusion mesh and Spandex going on. Meet Ma-Brnice Mit, an Olympic Figure Skater from France.- Dark skinned black woman- Wore pants for her routine- Skated to BeyoncHAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGirlMagic #BlackExcellence #ItsTooColdForSkirtsOutThere pic.twitter.com/jYkEGqbkup, how she scored is irrelevant; Ma-Brnice Mit skating to a Beyonce mashup in pants is my new queen and 2018 mood #Olympics, I love everything about Ma-Brnice Mit's outfit. 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. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. info); born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. Bonaly finished in fifth place. Figure Skating Championship. We're not really sure why people have been complaining. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 55 Outdoor Date Ideas You Won't Actually Hate, Turns Out, We're All Really Pissed About Money, The Very Best High-Waisted Jeans on the Internet, 30 Spring Cocktails to Shake Up This Weekend, 39 of the Best Bubble Butts, Bulges, and VPLs From the Rio Olympics. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The Katarina rule dictates that women's hips, midriffs and butt are covered. East Germany's Katarina Witt won the 1984 Olympic gold medal and sought a back-to-back victory four years later at the 1988 Calgary Games. British pairs dancers Christopher Colin Dean (in a sheer black crop top) and partner Jayne Torvill in a fringed costume during a 1986 performance. During the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz, American skater, Gretchen Merrill, opted for an all white ensemble complete with a beaded cap. By the 70s, lower necklines were making their way onto the ice and embellishments also started gaining popularity. 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. But behind the curtain, her East . The American skater competing in the free skate portion of the ladies singles event at the 1994 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. America's Tim Wood in a form-fitting suit at the Olympics in 1968. Despite the relatively vague assessment metric for women's costumes, there is one black-and-white rule is that men can't stray from: No leggings. Secret Tapes of Katarina Witt. Skaters also favor illusion mesh and backless designs that mirror dresses we see on runways and red carpets. Witt, and the only woman to beat her since winning. Wish she could've done better #Olympics. And speaking of dresses, Witt's '88 Olympics blue dress made history itself. Brian Boitano of the United States in a billowing, V-neck blouse and skintight pants at the 1988 Olympics. She won the gold medal. Surya Bonaly of France in a low-cut, bare-armed number at the 1998 Olympics. not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! Men must wear full length trousers and must not wear tights. Through the 50s and 60s, womens costumes were still quite basic and generally featured high necklines with flared skirts. Sasha Cohen wowed the crowd at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in a red dress with sunburst yellow and orange hemline. In addition, in Ice Dance ladies must wear a skirt. 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. Skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Frances Surya Bonaly skated in costumes designed by Vera Wang and Christian Lacroix, respectively. Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin fueled controversy with their stereotyped "aboriginal" costumes. Osmond, from Canada, competing in figure skating team event during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. See how figure skating dresses have evolved over the years, from vintage 1920s costumes to the outfits Olympians wear today. The Norwegian skater on the ice at Chamonix during the Winter Olympics in 1924 when. What do you do after you win two gold medals? Meite, of France, competing at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 8, 2014. "One time we had a gold dress that had the whole back open and cutouts on the front with nude mesh. Austrian skater Karl Shafer in a belted suit and tapered pants at the Olympics in 1936. Henie ended up becoming a Hollywood star, posing for this picture in a feathery skating getup in 1943. Get ready todiscoverfestivals, must-see performances, and hidden gallery shows. Katarina Witt Evening Dress. Clothing may, however, reflect the character of the music chosen.". "I have been close for being docked points but, it has never happened," Marissa Castelli, an Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion tells Bustle. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. . Her blue figure skating dress had feathers adorned at the waist instead of a skirt and was barely covering her posterior. Chin, of the U.S., performing at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 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. For her routine, Shizuka Arakawa wore a unique dual-toned blue dress with sheer sleeves and low neckline. 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 American athlete competing in the Winter Olympics at the Zetra Ice Stadium in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, February 1984. And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility. The figure skater won Japan its first gold medal in the sport during the Turin, Italy Olympics. British figure skater John Curry in a disco-worthy jumpsuit at the Olympics in 1976. This French Figure Skater May Not Have Won A Medal, But Her Pants Took People's Choice.