Believe it or not, one woman was almost totally responsible for figure skating as we know it today. Her name was Sonja Henie from Oslo, Norway. She was 10 times world Champion and 3 times Olympic gold medalist. She came to Hollywood and made numerous highly successful movies and amassed a fortune in the 1930's and 40's making her the world's richest woman, and all because of skating. She was known to be a tough business woman and demanded to be paid in cash for all performances. She collected diamonds and jewels as well as famous works of art. She had her own touring ice show that travelled the world. She died in 1967 of leukemia while on a flight from Paris to Oslo in her private jet. She left behind an enormous art museum in Oslo called the Henie Onstad Art Center. She was the first woman to wear a short skirt on the ice, the first to wear white ice skates as well and was the first woman to do a jump while in competition. In 2002, Ted Wilson of this new HZ project, donated one of Sonja's dresses, used in the movie, "It's a Pleasure", to the museum in Norway where it's now on permanent display. Google Sonja Henie for more information.
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