The National Championships of the German Democratic Republic in Figure Skating were the figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of the German Democratic Republic, often referred to as East Germany. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
They were held annually between 1949 and 1990, the years of the existence of the German Democratic Republic, and were organized by the DELV, the national figure skating association of the GDR. During the same period, the German Figure Skating Championships were held in the Federal Republic of Germany, commonly known as West Germany.
Following the reunification of Germany, East German skaters competed at the German Championships, and the East German championships were no longer held.
Famous quotes containing the words east, german, figure and/or skating:
“I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The German mind, may it live! Almost invisible as a mind, it finally manifests itself assertively as a conviction.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“The parent in charge is the disciplinarian.... I do not believe in letting discipline wait for another parent to handle it, nor do I think the father or mother should be allowed to become a shadowy figure who walks in the door and has to play the bad guy in the house.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)
“In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)