At the age of 2 Tanja took her first ice skating lessons. Her skills were obvious from the beginning, because she moved more firmly on frozen water than on normal ground. So, in 1979, it was the start of an extraordinary sports career. Trainers and family realized her talents quickly and supported them in any way they could.

At the age of six Tanja won her first important competition, her daily life became more and more dominated by skating, ballet lessons - and competitions. Although commitment and passion for her sport made for a lot of personal sacrifices in her youth, Tanja showed perseverance and a strong will.

As a teenager she had made it to an international career, winning one competition after another. In 1994 Tanja got her first GOLD at the German Championships. Her triumph was not only surprising, but also totally unexpected, because the leading German champion Kati Witt started a comeback and had already been seen as the winner of this German Championships. Tanja s astonishing performance led to an enormous public interest and made her a sports star almost over night. Every broadcaster invited her to interviews and shows on television to learn more about this young girl, who had defeated the skating queen .

In the following months she proved, that the triumph at the German Championships were not a windfall: In the same year she was ranked 3rd in the World Championships and 6th at the Olympic Games. One season later Tanja won her second GOLD at the German Championships, got the 4th place in the European Championships and the 5th at the Nations Cup - just to name a few of numerous highlights.

Tanja s presence in the media increased with her career, including interviews and portraits on English, American and Japanese channels. During this time she learned a lot about shootings, presenting herself and acting. These experiences, she had gathered since her first interview at the age of 9, helped her a lot when her career was in danger for the first time.

In 1996/1997 she suffered from two severe virus infections  one of them almost leading to a chronic cardiac muscle infection, which forced her to cut down on her training and cancelling several skating competitions.

When she finally fully recovered from the infections Tanja returned to professional skating and again managed to be in the Top Ten with her comeback: For a third time GOLD at the German Championships, 1st place at the NHK Trophy (Japan) and at the Nations Cup, SILVER at the World Cup, ranked 3rd at the European Championships.

Everything looked fine for Tanja s ambitious and successful skating career, when she once again had to face an abrupt end to her sports life. This time it was for real: A long-term infection in her ankle didn t give her another choice but giving up the sport she so loved.

Tanja had a very hard time letting go of her passion for ice skating, but forced herself to look forward and on to her other talents.

During her intensive presence as an extraordinary sports woman in the media, not only did ice-show producers realize her charming character and skills, other producers did as well. Before Tanja had to quit her ambitious sport, she already had new projects lined up as an actress for several TV movies and shows.

Meanwhile Tanja has established a respectable acting career for many years, and since 2006 she once again returned to the ice for her main role in the daily TV Show "Alles was zählt".

She took this challenge, and within a couple of months through hard training she found herself back in top physical form.
Tanja Szewczenko not only managed a career as an actress, but also received again the opportunity to display her passion for ice skating.