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:
“Though all the East did quake to hear
Of Alexander’s dreadful name,
And all the West likewise did fear
To hear of Julius Caesar’s fame,”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)
“The French courage proceeds from vanity—the German from phlegm—the Turkish from fanaticism & opium—the Spanish from pride—the English from coolness—the Dutch from obstinacy—the Russian from insensibility—but the Italian from anger.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.”
—Mae West, U.S. screenwriter, W.C. Fields, and Edward Cline. Flower Belle Lee (Mae West)
“In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)