Ernst Baier

Ernst Baier first came to prominence as a singles skater, placing on the podium in the World Championships from 1931-34, with silver medals in 1933-34, adding an Olympic silver medal in singles in 1936. In singles, Baier was German Champion from 1934-38. He began skating pairs in 1934 with Maxi Herber, winning the German Championships that year. Together they eventually won five German titles (1934-36, 1938-39), five European Championships (1935-39), four World Championships (1936-39) and the Olympic gold medal in 1936. Skating historians note that they raised pairs skating in terms of technical difficulty and artistic flow, revolutionizing pair skating by performing the first side by side jumps in competition.

Baier was the only German sportsman who was financed by the “Deutsche Olympia Ausschuß” for taking part in the 1932 Winter Olympics. He later made his living as an architect and was involved in building several Underground stations in Berlin. In 1941 Baier and Herber were married, but they divorced in 1964. After World War II they skated in ice revues and built up an own revue which they later sold to “Holiday on Ice”. In 1965 Baier left professional ice shows and turned to coaching.