Ria Baran (German pronunciation: [ˈʁiːa baˈʁaːn] ; 2 November 1922 in Dortmund, Germany – 12 November 1986) was a German pair skater. She skated together with Paul Falk and twice became World champion and in 1952 Olympic champion. She was one of the oldest female figure skating Olympic champions.

Ria Baran
Born(1922-11-02)2 November 1922
Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died12 November 1986(1986-11-12) (aged 64)
Figure skating career
Country West Germany
Retired1952
Medal record
Representing  West Germany
Pairs' Figure skating
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1952 Oslo Pairs
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1951 Milan Pairs
Gold medal – first place 1952 Paris Pairs
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1951 Zürich Pairs
Gold medal – first place 1952 Vienna Pairs

Ria Baran married Paul Falk during her active international figure skating. Therefore she is sometime listed as Ria Baran-Falk or Ria Falk.

The pair skated for the club Düsseldorfer EG and had no coach. Until 1951 Ria Baran and Paul Falk were not able to participate in international competitions because Germany was excluded from the international sport after World War II. They were the first couple which performed side by side double jumps and they also invented the Lasso-Lift.

Baran and Falk were never defeated in amateur competition.

Between 1950 and 1952 Ria Baran was voted 3 times running as the female athlete of the year in Germany.

After winning the Olympics in 1952 they turned pro and worked for Holiday on Ice.

Baran later worked as a secretary.

Results edit

(pairs with Paul Falk)

Event 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952
Winter Olympic Games 1st
World Championships 1st 1st
European Championships 1st 1st
German Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st

References edit

  • "Ria Falk". SR/Olympic Sports. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
Awards
Preceded by German Sportswoman of the Year
1950 – 1952
Succeeded by