Sonja Henie was a Norwegian

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 figure skater

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion (1928

Figure skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics

At the 1928 Winter Olympics, three figure skating events were contested. The competitions were held from Tuesday, February 14, 1928 to Sunday, February 19, 1928....

, 1932

Figure skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics

At the 1932 Winter Olympics, three figure skating events were contested. The competitions were held from Monday, February 8, 1932 to Friday, February 12, 1932...

, 1936

Figure skating at the 1936 Winter Olympics

At the 1936 Winter Olympics, three figure skating events were contested. The competitions were held from Sunday February 9, 1936 to Saturday February 15, 1936.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...

) in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion

World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...

 (1927–1936) and a six-time European Champion

European Figure Skating Championships

The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...

 (1931–1936). Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater. At the height of her acting career she was one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood.

Sonja Henie was born in Kristiania, current Oslo

Oslo

Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

, the only daughter of Wilhelm Henie

Wilhelm Henie

Wilhelm Henie was a Norwegian sportsman and furrier. He was track cycling World Champion in 1894, and competed at the European Speed Skating Championships in 1896. Henie was coach and manager for his daughter Sonja, who became a famous figure skater and later film actress.-Cycling:Henie was an...

, a prosperous Norwegian furrier

Fur clothing

Fur clothing is clothing made of the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing; thought to have been widely used as hominids first expanded outside of Africa. Some view fur as luxurious and warm; others reject it due to moral beliefs...

 and his wife Selma Lochmann-Nielsen (1888–1961).