Up Close with Katarina Witt

Although it's been eight years since Katarina Witt won her second Olympic Gold Medal, the figure skater is still wildly popular. Witt has the gift that so few have and so many desire- "star quality". On August 31, 1998, the American Opinion Research Institute released market research naming Witt and Michael Jordan as America's favorite sports heroes. For Witt, it's a pretty remarkable accomplishment, considering she is not even a United States citizen.

This six-time European Champion, four-time figure skating World Champion and two time Olympic Gold Medalist has dominated her sport the way very few athletes have, both on the ice and off. Besides Witt, Sonja Henie is the only other figure skater who has back-to-back Olympic Gold Medal victories. Henie won gold medals at the 1928, 1932 and the 1936 games and like Witt, was also embraced by the entertainment industry and starred in a string of movies.

Witt added acting to her resume in 1980 when she won an Emmy Award for her performance in HBO's "Carmen On Ice" and also appeared in the hit film "Jerry Maguire" and the television show "Arli$$". Witt not only starred in the HBO special "The Ice Princess", she also co-produced the project.

"I love producing, because I like being in control. It's fun to wear different hats. Even though it's a lot of hard work, I would love to do more."

In her latest film, "Ronin", starring Robert DeNiro, Witt portrays a figure skater. "Luckily, I have been able to pick and choose acting roles I feel comfortable playing. It's not like I am a struggling actor, because I am busy with other projects, so I have fun with it."

In her most revealing work to date, Witt bares it all in December's issue of "Playboy." The champion figure skater is proud of her pictorial, "I thought to myself, Why not? 'Playboy' has such a great image, doing stories in a very classy and elegant way, " Witt said. "I was in control of the project. I chose the photographer, the location and how the pictures would be shot. When I saw the pictures after they were developed, I could not wait until the magazine came out."

Witt has no expectations of personal gain from appearing in "Playboy", " I have had such a great career that if something good comes out of it-great, but if not, I had a good time and it was just another great project. "

While acting and modeling have consumed much of her time, she remains true to her first love, figure skating, "If you would have asked me ten years ago, whether I would still be figure skating at this point in my life I would of said 'no'. But, I really still love skating," said Witt.

She attributes the increase in skating's popularity to some of her colleagues, "Professional skaters such as Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi helped a lot. They really pushed the sport and made it popular. I think it has such a big audience because it's a great sport for the whole family. It's not only a sport about jumps and tough things, but it's artistic, beautiful and entertaining, with lots of emotion. However, I do wish it was a little more organized. It is confusing to determine which events are skating competitions and which are skating shows."

Witt is at peace with herself and with her accomplishments, "To win the Olympics twice, to be still skating and getting offers such as "Playboy" and the movie "Ronin," are incredible. Everything is going so well, it's scary. I don't want to dream of more, I want to enjoy more. I have had such a wonderful career that whatever comes now is icing on the cake."

Look for Witt to appear with Elvis Stojko on a Canadian Tour in November and again in "Tom Collins Champions On Ice" from the end of January until March 5th.