Bauerfeind taking part in the Olympic torch relay
Emotional moments in Italy
During the Olympic torch relay, three Bauerfeind colleagues were invited to carry the Olympic flame in December in Italy. For this, Katharina Dietrich, Chief Technical Officer, Marion Grimm from the Production Department in Zeulenroda, and Rudolf Kulessa, Bonding Workshop and Logistics Department Team Leader in Remscheid, traveled to the Italian coastal town of Livorno 30 kilometers south of Pisa. They told us about moving moments, a special closeness to the local people, and a new insight into the Olympic Games.
What was the moment during the torch relay that shaped you the most?
Katharina Dietrich: Being passed the Olympic flame was a very special moment for me – an impressive tradition that goes back a long way. I became acutely aware in that moment that only very few people have the chance to carry the Olympic flame. That really moved me. A meeting at an assembly point in a school where we bumped into the mother of a Bauerfeind colleague from Shanghai also proved: Sometimes, the world is a small place.
Marion Grimm: When the Olympic flame was ignited in my torch. Initially, I didn’t even see it but then I was told that it has been ignited. And then the relay, of course. There were so many people. It’s a great feeling when masses of people cheer you on.
Rudolf Kulessa: The moment that shaped me the most was being passed the flame. The special atmosphere and the feeling of being part of a long tradition made this moment unforgettable for me.
What impression do you have of the atmosphere in Italy surrounding the Olympic Games? What emotions did the relay trigger in you?
Katharina Dietrich: It was impressive to see the enthusiasm with which Italy is celebrating the Olympics – the roads along the torch relay were filled with people. We were approached multiple times – because we were still wearing our torch relay jackets – and asked about our feelings and where we are from. This open approach and enthusiasm made me really happy and proud.
Rudolf Kulessa: It’s a feeling of great happiness and pride. Italy conveys a mixture of sporting passion, cultural openness, and a sense of staging. People are coming together, clapping, taking pictures, and celebrating with palpable pride and warmth. That moved me deeply, made me proud, and gave me goose bumps – especially when people started clapping and I made eye contact with the onlookers.
How will you follow the Olympic Games with these impressions? Do you have a favorite sport or athlete?
Katharina Dietrich: I will be watching the Games with even more enthusiasm, Super G in particular, which I really enjoy. I hope Emma Aicher, Alexander Schmid, and Sebastian Holzmann will get good results. I will also follow Marco Odermatt with excitement.
Marion Grimm: I will follow the figure skating and ski jump with great interest. I see the Olympic Games quite differently than before now.
Rudolf Kulessa: Participation in the torch relay was a shaping experience for me. It really deepened my appreciation of the Olympic Games. I will follow the competitions with a greater awareness of community, fairness, and peak sporting performance. Currently, I don’t have a particular favorite sport or athlete. But after the Games, I may change my mind.
About the torch relay
The 2026 Winter Olympics torch relay started in November 2025 and goes through all 110 provinces of Italy. A total of 10,000 participants are carrying torches. In addition to Katharina Dietrich, Marion Grimm, and Rudolf Kulessa, additional Bauerfeind employees will have the opportunity to carry the Olympic torch for Bauerfeind, thanks to Bauerfeind’s sponsoring contract with the local Organizational Committee. We will keep you updated in the coming edition of Seamless.