Barbara Wagner Photos - Memories From an Olympic Pair Figure Skating Champion

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, About.com Guide

Barbara Wagner won the 1960 Olympic pair skating title with Bob Paul. She and Robert Paul were the first pair skaters from North America to win Olympic gold. For over forty years no other pair from Canada or the United States won the Olympic title.

Wagner was about twelve or thirteen years old when coach Sheldon Galbraith matched her up with Bob Paul. Bob Paul was already a very accomplished singles skater, and was a year older than Barbara.

This photo was taken at the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships which took place in Garmish, Germany.

"The rink was very cold," said Barbara Wagner. "It was our second Worlds and I think we came in sixth."