Paul Falk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Falk
Personal information
Country represented	West Germany
Born	(1921-12-21)21 December 1921 Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died	20 May 2017(2017-05-20) (aged 95) Queidersbach, Germany
Former partner	Ria Baran
Retired	1952
Medal record Representing  West Germany Pairs' Figure skating Olympic Games Gold 1952 Oslo Pairs World Championships Gold 1951 Milan Pairs Gold 1952 Paris Pairs European Championships Gold 1951 Zürich Pairs Gold 1952 Vienna Pairs

Paul Falk (born December 21, 1921, died May 20, 2017) was a famous German pair skater. He was born in Dortmund, Germany. Paul skated with his partner, Ria Baran. Together, they became two-time World champions. They also won the gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games. Ria and Paul even got married while they were still competing!

Paul Falk: A Skating Champion

Paul Falk and Ria Baran were a very special skating team. They skated for the club Düsseldorfer EG. What's amazing is that they didn't have a coach! They trained themselves.

Their Unique Style

Paul and Ria were pioneers in figure skating. They were the first pair to do side-by-side double jumps. This means they both jumped at the same time, right next to each other. They also invented a cool move called the "Lasso-Lift."

For a while, they couldn't compete internationally. This was because Germany was not allowed in international sports after World War II. But once they could compete, they were unstoppable! Paul and Ria were never beaten in any amateur competition.

Amazing Achievements

In 1951, Paul Falk was voted the best male athlete in Germany. This shows how popular and skilled he was. After winning the Olympics in 1952, they decided to become professional skaters. They joined a famous show called Holiday on Ice.

In 1993, both Paul Falk and Ria Baran were honored. They were added to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. This is a very special place for the greatest figure skaters ever.

Life Outside Skating

Outside of his amazing skating career, Paul Falk had another job. He worked as a precision mechanic. This means he was skilled at making and fixing very exact and detailed machines.

Competition Results

Here are the results of Paul Falk and Ria Baran's competitions: