Leo Obstbaum

Who was Leo Obstbaum?

Leo Obstbaum was an Argentine-born Spanish design director for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, as part of the Vancouver Organizing Committee. Obstbaum was responsible for designing many of the main symbols of the Vancouver Olympic Games including the Olympic and Paralympic medals, the design of the 2010 Olympic torch, and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots.

Obstbaum was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1969. He moved to Barcelona, Spain, with his family when he was a child.

Obstbaum opened his first visual communication studio in 1990. He designed the wardrobe for the celebration of the anniversary of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Obstbaum visited Vancouver, Canada, on his honeymoon and reportedly "fell in love" with the city. He moved to Vancouver from Spain in late 2005.

Obstbaum was hired by the Vancouver Organizing Committee in June 2006 as the director of design for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. He oversaw the design and creation of many of the most important symbols of the 2010 Olympics, including the 2010 Olympics mascots, the Olympic torch and the medals which were awarded to the athletes.