AP Photo/Rudi BlahaKatarina Witt became famous for her routine to Bizet's "Carmen," which won her the gold medal at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Witt drew thunderous applause in Hannover on the last night of her farewell tour Tuesday, capping her six routines with bowls of fire around the rink.
"I have to say, honestly, that you prepare a tour like this and think of everything," Witt said. "Then I totally forgot to think of what I would say at the very end. Maybe just: Thank you."
42-year-old former East German, dubbed "the most beautiful face of socialism" by Time magazine, drew worldwide fame by beating American rival Debi Thomas at the end of the Cold War in a politically charged duel for the 1988 Olympic gold.
That was the springboard to a professional career for one of the most successful figure skaters in the United States and Europe. Tours with fellow gold medalist Brian Boitano and "Holiday on Ice" followed, along with an Emmy for the 1989 film "Carmen on Ice."
The contest at the Calgary Olympics against Thomas was dubbed the "Battle of the Carmens," because both chose to skate their long program to Georges Bizet's opera.
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt