Background
She was born in Danzig and died in East Berlin.
She was born in Danzig and died in East Berlin.
From 1957 to 1967, Haase (hare) reached 15 German Democratic Republic master skating titles on separate distances (Einzelstrecken), an additional seven titles in combination results (samalog, or Mehrkampf in German) and a further four on a very small indoor rink (Kleinbahn), a fore-runner of present indoor short track skating. 1960: the Olympic Winter Games
In preparation of the Olympic Wintergames of 1960 she went to Davos with the ladies of the unified German team and broke the multi-combination world record in Davos, Switzerland. That medal also was the first Olympic medal for any woman in speed skating, as it was not before on the Olympic program
1964: the Olympic Winter Games
In the Olympic season of 1964, she reached again peak performance, resulting in a fourth place over 1000 m and a fifth place over 1500 m with the Olympic Games in Innsbruck.
In the course of her career, Haase skated 23 German records. Post-career
Starting from 1984 she went into pension because of disablement.
She worked also in the central guidance of the Sportvereinigung Dynamo.
With the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, she won, as the first German speed skater and as the first sportswoman of the German Democratic Republic, a gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games, the gold medal over 500 m. She also won the silver medal over 1000 m and finished at a respectable 8th place over 1500 m, and all of this despite the prohibition of the entry for her husband/coach.
