Sonja Henie won Olympic women’s singles figure-skating gold in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
The Norwegian skater captured her first title at St. Moritz in 1928, aged just 15. She then successfully defended it at Lake Placid in 1932 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936, becoming the first woman to win three Olympic singles titles in figure skating.
Henie’s Olympic streak formed part of an even longer competitive run. She won ten consecutive World Championships from 1927 through 1936 and six straight European Championships from 1931 through 1936. Her skating combined athletic technique with dance-inspired choreography, distinctive costumes, and show-business presentation.
A common mix-up is Herma Szabo, who was the reigning Olympic champion before Henie’s breakthrough, winning in 1924. Cecilia Colledge was Henie’s close rival and silver medalist in 1936, but never won Olympic gold in women’s singles.