Show PORTS released by western newspaper union SONJA CONJA HENIE whose ice shows 0 have thrilled millions still is breaking records it is likely that sh she e will set an all time mark for any performance by playing to customers in the 20 day run at the chicago stadium and the petite skater has another record one of which she is equally proud to date she has sent four leading men to the armed forces stewart raeburn Rae burri her first leading waltz performer is a major in the canadian army harrison thompson is overseas with the signal corps gene turner is in the air corps and gerry steffen is with the ski troopers the latter performer 5 SONJA HENIE is the son of the old lightweight champion willie ritchie it should be reported too that dan topping her husband is in iii active service the 1943 44 henie ice extravaganza has 60 girls and 30 boys A year yean ago there were 38 men in the show but 34 of that original group are now in in the armed forces most blost of the boys in the show are less than 17 years and in some instances it is necessary for the girls to dress and serve in boys roles world horld audience probably the most widely known woman athlete in history honjas career has been remarkably successful through her ice shows millions of people have seen her in in person millions more in in many parts of the world have seen her in pictures the records show she had her share of disappointments before victory came her way at the tender age of 10 sonja sonia competed in her first world championship finish finishing last although she already was nor ways best in 1924 she competed in her first olympic championship finishing eighth in the 1926 worlds championship at stockholm she was runner up to hilmar figure skater from vienna the following year sonja replaced as champion after the latter had held the title four consecutive years she was 13 when she won her first worlds title and only 16 when she won her first olympic crown at oslo in 1928 sonja declares that the closest competition she ever had was during the 1936 olympics at garmisch kirchen germany when she faced 23 of the worlds ranking skaters from 12 countries she finished the school figure competition with a narrow three point margin over cecilia colledge an exceptionally talented english star A brilliant performance in the free skating enabled sonja to beat miss colledge by the scant margin of points to royal welcome A week later she competed in the tenth worlds championship in paris where spectators jammed the indoor sports palace to see the twinkling norwegian 61 6 i 1 star skate to an easy victory over her 15 rivals king VII of norway witnessed her 1928 victory and became one of her most ardent fans 1 it was through him that s she he was made knight ight of the t he order of st olaf one of the few women ever to be hon bon ored in such manner spills are an inevitable part of ice skating and sonja sonia has had her I 1 share of them her most embarrassing tumbles were taken during a performance before king george and queen mary of england badly flustered she fell three times it is an episode she would just as soon I 1 foredt soona |