East German Pairs ?

[lulu]

Between 1970 and 1980, the pairs medal podium at Worlds was dominated by three countries: the USSR, GDR and the USA.

I'm not sure about anyone else, because while I'm familiar with Rodnina and partners and with Babilonia & Gardner, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes the East German pairs. Yet, from 1970 to 1980, a GDR pair made the medal podium at Worlds 8 times. In 1972 & 1976, Manuela Gross & Uwe Kagelmann won bronze medals at the Olympics. In 1980, another Manuela & Uwe (Mager & Bewersdorf) won the bronze medal at the Lake Placid games. In 1982, Sabine Baesz & Tassilo Thierbach became the only GDR pair to stand atop the medal podium at Worlds.

For those who are more familiar with the East German pairs, what are your assessment of the top pairs of the era?

Gross & Kagelmann 1976 LP (http://youtu.be/0khwcAppGQM)

Baesz & Thierbach 1982 Euros LP (http://youtu.be/IdoMlBxN600)
Mager & Bewersdorf 1980 LP (http://youtu.be/d0MsgFDdFYk)

[orbitz]

Mager & Bewersdorf 1980 LP (http://youtu.be/d0MsgFDdFYk)

Four throw jumps in one LP :eek: Too bad they didn't have better music and choreography, but it was the 80s.

[essence_of_soy]

Four throw jumps in one LP :eek: Too bad they didn't have better music and choreography, but it was the 80s.

Lots of content. But wow, they were boring. There was no connection to each other or the music at all.

[lulu]

Four throw jumps in one LP :eek: Too bad they didn't have better music and choreography, but it was the 80s.

I know, I know. :eek: The original broadcast misidentifies them as being from the USSR as well. :lol:

Some more videos.
Baess & Thierbach 1983 Worlds FS (http://youtu.be/bi4XdI6TRhU)
1984 SP (http://youtu.be/9R9SaAXj5m8)
1984 LP (http://youtu.be/9R9SaAXj5m8)

[mustafinabars]

It seems Germany never produced a pair to challenge Rodnina & Zaitsev in the 70s despite always having top 3 pairs. What did they lack, technical ability, artistry, politics, consistency, or just nothing that set them apart in comparision to Rodnina and her partners.