Werner Rittberger

Werner Rittberger was one of the most successful German figure skaters of all times. Only the non-participation of Germany at the Games 1920 and 1924 prevented him to be more successful. At the 1928 St. Moritz Winter Olympics he had to withdraw due to an enteropathy. He was the founder of a skating jump named after him which is still part of mostly all figure skating performances. After World War II he became a famous trainer in Krefeld and was involved in building up the Düsseldorfer EG, one of the leading ice hockey clubs in Germany. At the games 1956 he was one of the referees of men’s figure skating.

Rittberger became a three-time vice-world champion (1910-1912), losing only to the famous Ulrich Salchow. In his best years he remained in the shadow of that famous Olympic champion. During the World War I he was a pilot in the German air forces. In the 1920s, he continued to compete at international competitions and win medals at the European Championships. He was third in 1924 and second in 1925 (earlier he was second in 1910 and third in 1911).