Ria Baran

Ria Baran (born November 2 1922 in Dortmund, Germany – died November 12 1986) was a German figure skater. She skated together with Paul Falk in pairs and became twice World champion and in 1952 Olympic champion.

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 with Paul Falk

Olympic Winter Games

* 1952 - 1st place

World championships

* 1951 - 1st place
* 1952 - 1st place

European championships

* 1951 - 1st place
* 1952 - 1st place

German championships (nationals)

* 1947 - 1st place
* 1948 - 1st place
* 1949 - 1st place
* 1950 - 1st place
* 1951 - 1st place
* 1952 - 1st place

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Persondata
NAME=Baran, Ria
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Falk, Ria
SHORT DESCRIPTION=German figure skater
DATE OF BIRTH=November 2 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dortmund, Germany
DATE OF DEATH=November 12 1986
PLACE OF DEATH=