Katarina Witt heats up the Saxony Rally with a red Golf II!

Katarina Witt heats up the Saxony Rally with a red Golf II!

On Thursday, August 13, 2025, the two-time Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt is off on an adventure. At this year's Sachsen Classic Rally, which is taking place for the 22nd time, the 59-year-old will be racing in the old red Golf II from 1988. On a route of over 600 kilometers through the Free State of Saxony, she will not only put her driving skills to the test, but also immerse herself in the nostalgia of the engine era. At 34 degrees in midsummer, the temperatures promise a special kind of sporting challenge.

The rally route leads through picturesque landscapes and varied curves, which are a real experience for both beginners and experienced rally drivers. Katarina Witt, who has often been at home in cooler regions in the past, was clearly looking forward to taking part. She is driving with start number 79 and her enthusiasm for the event could hardly be greater. It will be exciting to see how the former figure skating icon fares in rally driving.

A life in the fast lane

Katarina Witt was born on December 3, 1965 in Staaken and is one of the most successful figure skaters in history. Her career began early when she started ice skating at the age of five. When she was only eight years old, she attended the children's and youth sports school in Karl-Marx-Stadt. Her talented career led her to two Olympic victories and four world championship titles. She was crowned Olympic champion in Sarajevo in 1984 and in Calgary in 1988 and has been considered a sports legend ever since.

But it's not just her sporting successes that are remarkable. In the GDR she was a prominent athlete who was under surveillance by the Ministry for State Security. Despite her popularity, she later became critical of the system in which she grew up and returned the Bambi media award in 1989 due to political pressure. After her active sports career, she turned to acting and other artistic projects, including being a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

A look back at the successes

• 1979: Erster Podiumsplatz bei den DDR-Meisterschaften (3. Platz)
• 1984: Olympiasiegerin in Sarajevo
• 1985: Weltmeisterin in Tokio
• 1988: Olympiasiegerin in Calgary
• 1988: Abschluss der Eiskunstlaufkarriere mit dem vierten Weltmeistertitel

By founding the Katarina Witt Foundation for children in need, she shows that she is not just interested in fame and records. Instead, she actively supports social issues and is known not only as a figure skater, but also as a philanthropist and media personality.

The Sachsen Classic Rally promises an event full of emotions and exciting stories. Katarina Witt, who lives in Berlin and has no children of her own, will once again be in the spotlight and show that she also cuts an impressive figure away from the ice rink. Will fans and spectators cheer them on as they drive? One thing is clear: the figure skating icon will start her new challenge with the same ambition and enthusiasm with which she once conquered the medals in the arena. The event promises to be a real highlight of a year that is so untypical for summer.

For more information about the event, visit the website Sächsische.de. For an insight into Katarina Witt's life story, please take a look at her Wikipedia page and learn more about her impressive career on the Wikipedia page.