He was track cycling World Champion in 1894,[2][3] and competed at the European Speed Skating Championships in 1896.

[4] Henie was coach and manager for his daughter Sonja,[5] who became a famous international figure skating champion [6] and later a major American film star.

[7] Henie started in his first race in June 1889, on the Majorstuen velodrome, and surprised by winning his class.

[2][3][7][8] He did not have a motor pace as his hardest competitors, but was helped by Dutch tandem cyclists at the end of the race.

[5] 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.

In her book Mitt livs eventyr Sonja says she had "the world's best manager, promotor, coach, helper and father".

Henie managed to get Sonja enrolled at the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924, and followed her to preparations in St. Moritz prior to the games.

After three Olympic gold medals and ten World Championships, Sonja gave up her amateur status and headed for a film career in Hollywood.

[5] 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.