Maxi Herber

Maxi Herber, born on October 8, 1920, in Munich, was a remarkable German figure skater who made her mark in both pair and single skating. At the tender age of fifteen years and one hundred twenty-eight days, she became the youngest Olympic champion in figure skating history when she clinched gold in pair skating with her partner Ernst Baier at the 1936 Winter Olympics.

Herber's prowess extended beyond pair skating; she was a formidable single skater, securing the German national title three times from 1933 to 1935. Representing the Münchner EV club, she and Baier dominated the ice, amassing an impressive collection of accolades that included seven national titles, five European titles, and four World titles, alongside their Olympic triumph.

After their competitive careers, Herber and Baier married in 1940 and welcomed three children. Following World War II, they transitioned to ice shows, even creating their own production, which was later acquired by Holiday on Ice. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1964, but they would later remarry, only to divorce again.

In her later years, Herber faced the challenges of Parkinson's disease. In 2000, she moved to the Lenzheim retirement home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where she showcased her artistic talents through watercolor paintings. Maxi Herber passed away in 2006 at the age of eighty-six, leaving behind a legacy of athletic excellence and artistic expression.