written by: Milka Babović, illustrated by: Matija Dražović
The publishing of these picture books was enabled by the Croatian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee.
ISBN 978–953–57570–8–5, picture book 5
ISBN 978–953–7981–02–0, picture book series
Publisher: POKRET – aktivan i zdrav
Graphic design: Boris Barna
www.malisportasi.net
Proofreading: Jana Sumrak
Editor: Vitomir Spasović
Translated by: Andrea Bagović
Written by: Milka Babović
Print: Printera
Illustrated by: Matija Dražović
Zagreb, 2014.
written by: Milka Babović, illustrated by: Matija Dražović
olympic stories
Th’e countries where winters are long and cold, with lots of snow and ice, are called northern countries. There is a few of them, and you already know about one. It’s Finland, the home of Santa Claus. Its neighboring country is Norway. This is where our story begins.
Winters in Norway are also long and cold. There is a lot of snow. Winter joys, such as snowballing, rolling in snow, sledding and skiing, never end. Ice rinks are always merry. And in Norway, where there are children, there are also adults. Do you know why? They have fun on winter snow and ice, because this is what they learned when they were children. This is why Norway is also called the country of winter sports.
She got acquainted with winter in the Norwegian way. They brought her brother’s sled from the attic. It was similar to a baby pram, with runners instead of wheels. The sled was warmly padded. Warmly dressed Sonia was put inside.
Only her sparkling eyes and a little red nose were peeking from under the soft fur cap. Near Oslo, there are forests with many wide paths. As the sun sets quite early in the north, they are lit up. People usually took strolls there after school or work, to get some fresh air.
The whole family enjoyed skiing.
No, they did not forget Sonia, who was in the sled! The sled was in the middle of the group, carefully dragged by a husky dog that was turning around from time to time to check if everything was fine.
Whenever her mother sat down at the piano and played, Sonia would be near, listening carefully. Then she would start jumping around to the rhythm of the music. Her
mother knew that all the kids in the world did this, and did not think that it meant that Sonia would become a famous dancer and singer.
However, she did enroll her in a dance group in the kindergarten. Sonia was only five years old then, but she could already swim and safely tread with skis on her feet. She
learned fast and was always, absolutely always, cheerful!
The next morning she was already at the ice rink. Her first coach, her brother Leif, was at her side. Even though he was only 13, he skated very well. He knew how to teach beginners. Sonia made rapid progress and she very soon distinguished herself from other girls of her age.
It was obvious that ice skating was the right sport for her! She very quickly learned all that Leif could show her. They enrolled her in the ice skating school of the best club in Oslo. Her father paid for the best skating coach of the time. She trained diligently.
Her father knew that competitions with strong rivals, in front of referees, were the best schools. So he made Sonia apply for the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. She was only 12! Carefree and playful, Sonia was not at all aware that the world’s best ice skaters would compete at the Olympic Games. Instead, she looked forward to skating in front of a packed audience, as she always did. She was just a little bit surprised by the fact that she was the only little girl there.
She was wondering who all the adult skaters were. They were surely the mothers of other ice skaters, since they were wearing dresses that reached almost to their ankles and warm black stockings – “just like my Mum does when she skates,” thought Sonia. Meanwhile, these adult ice skaters supposed that Sonia was someone’s kid having fun until the beginning of the competition.
And when the little girl wearing a
short, pleated skirt hopped to the ice,
everybody looked at her as if she had
fallen from the sky. Smiling, Sonia
greeted the referees and bowed to the
audience. As if she was at home.
To the first sounds of the music, she
started and – fell sprawling on
the ice. She quickly scrambled to her feet
and loudly said “Hoppla.� She
bowed again and started from the beginning. The audience was thrilled, for they had never seen such jumps, steps and pirouettes. This is how little Sonia got her other nickname; they instantly dubbed her Miss Hoppla! The referees were pleasantly surprised, as well. They awarded her free style with the third place.
Sonia was making progress and she skated better and better all the time. She travelled with her mother and participated in all the major competitions. And she was winning. Her performances were something completely new. The young ice skater’s music and movements were so harmonious that it sometimes looked like
Sonia was playing a special instrument with her ice skates.
There were other novelties, too. Sonia was the first ice skater who wore white ice skates, not black. Her dresses, designed by her mother, were fluttery and colorful. They became the always smiling Sonia. And all young ice skaters wanted to be like her.
Sonja Henie 8 April 1912 – 12 October 1969
She was the first famous
rate the principles of ballet into
figure skater. A Norwegian
skating routines, and the first
figure skating champion since
woman who performed spins
her teens, Sonja Henie was a
and jumps. Her live shows on ice
ten-time World Champion (1927 –
and her film series have enlarged
1936) and won three gold medals
the figure skating audience and
at Winter Olympics (1928 in
transformed this sport into a
St.Moritz, 1932 in Lake Placid, 1936
delightful entertainment.
in Garmisch–Partenkirchen). Sonja Henie is credited as the first Her talent was evident from a
figure skater who wore a short
very early age. Her father was a
skirt and white boots, and who
former athlete and he encour-
used a dancing choreography.
aged his daughter to partici-
Her contribution to skating
pate in competitions. He was a
is undisputable because she
wealthy fur salesman and could
combined all the factors that are
afford the best coaches and
so important in this sport today:
private tutors to educate Sonja.
the dramatic element, athletic skills and the characteristics of a
Modern figure skating is deeply
celebrity. A champion in her time,
indebted to Sonja Henie. She was
she has become a legend in ours.
the first figure skater to incorpo-
Read the other picture books in the series Olympic Stories...