Wilhelm Henie
Encyclopedia
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.
from 1889 to 1902. He represented the club Kristiania Velocipedklub. When he became World Champion in 1894, he was also the first Norwegian World Champion in any sport.
velodrome, and surprised by winning his class. In August 1889 he won the 2000 metre race on the Bygdø
velodrome.
In 1890 he represented his club at races in Copenhagen, and achieved a third place in 1 English mile.
Henie was appointed consul for Svenskt Hjulsportförbund in 1892. The consular connections were important at the time, as Norway was not a member of the International Cycling Association
, and enrolement to international races had to go through member countries.
He set two World Records in 1894, in two English miles and in ten English miles, both at the Herne Hill Velodrome
in London.
In 1895 he finished 3rd at the World Championships in Cologne, behind Mathieu Cordang
and Witteveen. In 1900 he finished second at the World Championships in Paris, behind Bastien, with Hildebrand finishing third. He continued active cycling until 1902.
. He competed at the 1896 European Speed Skating Championships
in Hamburg, where he finished second on 500m, third in 1500m, third in 5000m, and third in 10000m.
. Sonja started taking ballet lessons from she was five years old, and got her own skates when she was six. The family lived close to Frogner Stadion
in Kristiania
, and Sonja found her way to the ice, where she liked to play and experiment with the skates. When Sonja was only six years old, she was discovered by Hjørdis Olsen, a figure skater and coach for the skating club.
When Henie learned to know that his daughter had extraordinary talent, he decided to give her the best possible training. He found professional coaches for her, and travelled to the best training sites in Europe. Among her early coaches were former Norwegian champion and professional coach Oscar Holthe, and Martin Stixrud
(10 times national champion, and Olympic medalist in 1920). In addition to training sessions with professional coaches, Henie himself coached her daughter. In her book Mitt livs eventyr Sonja says she had "the world's best manager, promotor, coach, helper and father".
Later he also and arranged for performances at sports meetings. Sonja performed during intermissions at the large skating competitions in Oslo in 1921, 1922 and 1923, which gave her experience in performing in front of a large public.
Henie managed to get Sonja enrolled at the first Winter Olympics
in Chamonix in 1924, and followed her to preparaions in St. Moritz
prior to the games. Sonja was then only eleven years old.
Henie and his wife Selma also designed Sonja's skating costumes.
Sonja became World Champion in figure skating first time in 1927, and from then on every year until 1936. She became Olympic Champion in 1928, and again in 1932 and in 1936. She was European champion in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936, and several times national champion. During this period Henie devoted much of his time and energy on his daughter's career.
After three Olympic gold medals and ten World Championships, Sonja gave up her amateur status and headed for a film career in Hollywood. The family travelled to America in 1936, when Sonja was 25 years old. Henie hired the skating stadion "The Polar Palace" in Los Angeles for an ice show, arranged for promotion in newspapers, and invited important persons from Hollywood. Sonja signed a lucrative five years' contract with film maker Darryl F. Zanuck
, and her first film, One In A Million was finished late 1936. Parallel to the film career, Sonja also performed in popular ice revues.
Henie died in 1937.
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
World Champion in 1894, and competed at the European Speed Skating Championships
European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The...
in 1896. Henie was coach and manager for his daughter Sonja
Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion . Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater...
, who became a famous 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 later film actress.
Cycling
Henie was an active track cyclistTrack cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
from 1889 to 1902. He represented the club Kristiania Velocipedklub. When he became World Champion in 1894, he was also the first Norwegian World Champion in any sport.
Early efforts
Henie started in is first race in June 1889, on the MajorstuenMajorstuen
Majorstuen is a neighbourhood in the Frogner borough in the western part of Oslo, Norway.Majorstuen is known for its vibrant downtown, especially its shopping area. The area has several elegant townhouses circa 1880-1890. The area is also an important public transport junction in Oslo, where all...
velodrome, and surprised by winning his class. In August 1889 he won the 2000 metre race on the Bygdø
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
velodrome.
In 1890 he represented his club at races in Copenhagen, and achieved a third place in 1 English mile.
Scandinavian success
In 1891 Henie experienced a lot of triumphs in Scandinavian races. He won races in Malmø and in Copenhagen, where he became Scandinavian Champion on 5000 metres. He also won 1st prizes at Majorstuen. He set Scandinavian records in halfmile, in one English mile, in 4000 metres, in 5000 metres and in 5 English miles.Henie was appointed consul for Svenskt Hjulsportförbund in 1892. The consular connections were important at the time, as Norway was not a member of the International Cycling Association
International Cycling Association
The International Cycling Association was the first international body for cycle racing. It started in 1892 to establish a common definition of amateurism and to organise world championships...
, and enrolement to international races had to go through member countries.
International career
Henie participated in 100 km motor pace at the 1894 Track Cycling World Championships for amateurs in Antwerp, and became World Champion. He did not have a motor pace as his hardest competitors, but was helped by Dutch tandem cyclists at the end of the race. Henie won the championship 13 rounds ahead of Green from England.He set two World Records in 1894, in two English miles and in ten English miles, both at the Herne Hill Velodrome
Herne Hill Velodrome
The Herne Hill Velodrome is a velodrome or track cycling venue in south London. It is one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, having been built in 1891. It hosted the track cycling events in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was briefly the home of Crystal Palace F.C...
in London.
In 1895 he finished 3rd at the World Championships in Cologne, behind Mathieu Cordang
Mathieu Cordang
Mathieu Cordang was a Dutch professional cyclist. Cordang's specialties were track racing and endurance racing.- Biography :...
and Witteveen. In 1900 he finished second at the World Championships in Paris, behind Bastien, with Hildebrand finishing third. He continued active cycling until 1902.
Speed skating
Henie was also a speed skaterSpeed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
. He competed at the 1896 European Speed Skating Championships
European Speed Skating Championships for Men
The International Skating Union has organised the European Speed Skating Championships for Men since 1893. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1891-1892.-History:-Distances used:...
in Hamburg, where he finished second on 500m, third in 1500m, third in 5000m, and third in 10000m.
Coach and manager for Sonja
Henie was married to Selma Lochmann-Nielsen (1888-1961). They had two children, Leif and SonjaSonja Henie
Sonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion . Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater...
. Sonja started taking ballet lessons from she was five years old, and got her own skates when she was six. The family lived close to Frogner Stadion
Frogner stadion
Frogner stadion is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. It is located close to the Frogner Park, between the park and Majorstuen.-History:It opened in 1901, and was built by Kristiania Skøiteklub. In 1914, the stadium was moved to its current position, due to the Oslo Jubilee exhibition...
in Kristiania
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...
, and Sonja found her way to the ice, where she liked to play and experiment with the skates. When Sonja was only six years old, she was discovered by Hjørdis Olsen, a figure skater and coach for the skating club.
When Henie learned to know that his daughter had extraordinary talent, he decided to give her the best possible training. He found professional coaches for her, and travelled to the best training sites in Europe. Among her early coaches were former Norwegian champion and professional coach Oscar Holthe, and Martin Stixrud
Martin Stixrud
Martin Stixrud was a Norwegian figure skater. He was the 1920 Summer Olympics bronze medalist, 1923 European silver medalist, and 1912 European bronze medalist....
(10 times national champion, and Olympic medalist in 1920). In addition to training sessions with professional coaches, Henie himself coached her daughter. In her book Mitt livs eventyr Sonja says she had "the world's best manager, promotor, coach, helper and father".
Later he also and arranged for performances at sports meetings. Sonja performed during intermissions at the large skating competitions in Oslo in 1921, 1922 and 1923, which gave her experience in performing in front of a large public.
Henie managed to get Sonja enrolled at the first Winter Olympics
1924 Winter Olympics
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
in Chamonix in 1924, and followed her to preparaions in St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
prior to the games. Sonja was then only eleven years old.
Henie and his wife Selma also designed Sonja's skating costumes.
Sonja became World Champion in figure skating first time in 1927, and from then on every year until 1936. She became Olympic Champion in 1928, and again in 1932 and in 1936. She was European champion in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936, and several times national champion. During this period Henie devoted much of his time and energy on his daughter's career.
After three Olympic gold medals and ten World Championships, Sonja gave up her amateur status and headed for a film career in Hollywood. The family travelled to America in 1936, when Sonja was 25 years old. Henie hired the skating stadion "The Polar Palace" in Los Angeles for an ice show, arranged for promotion in newspapers, and invited important persons from Hollywood. Sonja signed a lucrative five years' contract with film maker Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
, and her first film, One In A Million was finished late 1936. Parallel to the film career, Sonja also performed in popular ice revues.
Henie died in 1937.