Ernst Baier

Ernst Baier (27 September 1905 in Zittau, Saxony, Germany – 8 July 2001 in Garmisch, Bavaria, Germany) was a German figure skater who competed in pair skating and single skating. He became Olympic pair champion in 1936 together with Maxi Herber. The duo also won several World and European championships.

Ernst Baier skated for the club Berliner SC. He also enjoyed success as a single skater and won silvers at the European, World and Olympic games in singles. He competed at the European Championships in 1929, coming in seventh place, and again in 1930, coming in fifth place. He competed at the World Championships four times, between 1931 and 1934, and won two bronze medals and two silver medals.

Skating with Herber, he won seven national titles, five European titles, and four World titles, in addition to their Olympic gold. The pair performed several side-by-side jumps, including side-by-side Axel jumps at the 1934 Championships, when they won a bronze medal, likely the first side-by-side Axels competed by a pair at an ISU championship. They also developed a 'Baier lift', which was similar to a twist lift but lacking a release of Herber into the air. He also worked as an architect and coach. They were elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1979.

On 15 May 1965 he married the Swedish figure skater Birgitta Wennström (born 10 November 1935 in Enskede, Stockholm, Sweden) known by the stage name "Topsy" from Holiday on Ice together with her partner Steve. They had a daughter in 1968, but divorced in 1973.

Some years later he remarried Maxi Herber, but they later divorced again.

Results (men's singles) Event 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 Winter Olympic Games 5th 2nd World Championships 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd European Championships 7th 5th 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd German Championships 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st

(pairs with Maxi Herber) Event 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 Winter Olympic Games 1st World Championships 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st European Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st German Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st