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Vancouver Olympic Games: Mexico's Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe
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by Pat Garcia | February 12, 2010 at 07:25 pm
8766 views | 35 Recommendations | 27 comments
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Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong of Ghana and Hubertus Von Hohenlohe
uploaded by Pat Garcia
Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe, 51, finished the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 27, 2010 with a time of 1:02:09 + 14:30 in 52nd place.
von Hohenlohe, who registered his nickname as ¨Prince¨ before the Canadian Olympic Committee, finished in the 86th place before Pakistan, San Marino and India. This finish was 8 places ahead of his first descent.
His accumulated time in Men's Giant Slalom was 3:11:47, leaving him 17.23 seconds behind the winner, Carlo Janka, from Switzerland who maintained first place throughout.
von Hohenlohe was the sole athlete in the Mexican team, carrying the flag at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He participated in two alpine skiing disciplines, the Men's Giant Slalom (78th) and the Men's Slalom (46th). At 51, he was the oldest athlete at the games.
von Hohenlohe's Ski Racing History
Hohenlohe founded the Mexican Ski Federation in 1981 and first skied for Mexico at a Winter Olympics at the 1984 games in Sarajevo. After the 1984 Winter Olympics, Hohenlohe managed to participate in three more Olympic Games. He qualified for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, but the Mexican Olympic Committee decided not to send a one-man team to the Winter Games that year.
Hohenlohe has stated that the only reason why he continues participating is because it seems that the "exotic skiers" (those from countries without a tradition in winter sports) are disappearing, and that he wants to keep that tradition alive.
Since 1982, he has participated in 13 World Championships and set a World Record. Hohenlohe was expected to retire following the 2007 Alpine Skiing World Championships, after breaking his leg during a World Cup slalom race on January 28, 2007, eliminating him from the competition in Åre.
He came back to competition in 2009 and competed in his 12th World Championship, the 2009 Alpine Skiing World Championships. Mexican athletes pay their own way and therefore tend to be wealthy individuals who can afford travel to colder climes.
Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe's Bio
von Hohenlohe cwas born in Mexico city on the 12th of February 1959, son of Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Ira von Fürstenberg of Germany.
von Hohenlohe is a photographer, businessman and a singer known both as Royal Disaster and Andy Himalaya. His father worked at a Volkswagen factory. His grandmother is half Mexican, according to a story in Time magazine.
The fact is, von Hohenlohe is a talented skier who has somehow met the Olympic qualifying standards at 51 — and it was infinitely easier for him to do that as an athlete from Mexico where no one skis, than from Austria, where the sport is a national obsession and the competition is cutthroat. Is von Hohenlohe simply a rich heir toying around the Alps, and using a poor country to reach the Olympics?
He lived in Mexico the first 4 years of his life and then moved to Spain. He later studied in Austria and his main residence was in Vienna, where he works as a photographer and artist. He only spends a few weeks in Mexico a year, in Cabo San Lucas, but he has Mexican nationality, which makes him eligible to compete for Mexico.
He is fluent in several languages and grew up in Europe, mainly Austria, of which he is also a citizen. Hohenlohe had a brother named Christoph. He currently resides in Liechtenstein.
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Recommendations (35)
caj1
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Uwe Paschen
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 19:28 on February 12th, 2010
Congratulations I saw this 51 year old march in proudly just a few minutes ago. Viva la Mexico!!!!
at 19:32 on February 12th, 2010
Thanks! He´s quite a guy. I´m about to upload one of his videos.
at 03:29 on February 13th, 2010
German Royalty made it to Mexico. :)
Well, I can not blame him. He grew up in Europe, and mainly Austria, of which he is also a citizen. He does currently resides in Liechtenstein.
The families originates from Württemberg in Germany, wish they left after Napoleons invasion of South West Germany.
at 22:37 on February 28th, 2010
Interestingly, there are many descendants of European royalty living in Mexico (and that have become Mexicans)... Descendants of the Italian royal family, German families, and even descendants of the 5th Earl of Gosford. It reminds me of the 1860's when another Germanic prince went to Mexico to become Mexican emperor - Maximilian I of Mexico... so for people who think its really odd - its not very.
at 21:46 on February 12th, 2010
Thanks for the information Uwe, I appreciate it.
at 00:27 on February 13th, 2010
SO Proud that he represents my country in the olympics 2010. its an honor:D
at 03:20 on February 13th, 2010
Source: en.wikipedia.org
at 15:40 on February 13th, 2010
Thank for sharing additional information Karl!
at 16:05 on February 14th, 2010
I did not know anything about him until now, but was certainly proud to see him representing Mexico!!!
at 05:56 on February 15th, 2010
Isn´t it great?
at 01:34 on February 24th, 2010
Si, Pat...lo siento por estar tarde a responder a su mensaje! Si, pienso que puede ser muy significo para nosotros (los norteamericanos) que Mexico este presente en los Olympicos del Invernio de este ano, 2010l
at 05:56 on February 15th, 2010
at 16:57 on February 15th, 2010
Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe. I live in , Canada for the last 10 years, and I was so proud of you when me and friends and family saw you at the opening ceremonies for the winter olympics in vancuver, you made as cried. Thank you. Muchisimas gracias por hacer presensia de nuestro pais ante los ojos del mundo entero. Viva MEXICO.. Le apoyaremos con nuestros corazones en todo momento.. MUCHA SUERTE. Hubertus.
at 19:49 on February 15th, 2010
i have seen some bad comments on different blogs. Like warm weather countries don't fit in winter games, etc. what is their problem, is about the sport !!!!! . If the guy wanted to go representing Mexico or any other country what is the problem.
at 10:48 on February 16th, 2010
Congratulations Hubertus !Your life is really interesting and this new Olympics dimension must be a very cool statement to your family, I just wished you've spent more time getting to know your mexican population better (TIME magazine says you only live there 3 weeks or so.)Anyway, thanks for representing the Mexican flag so proudly.!
at 18:48 on February 17th, 2010
Thanks Hubertus I appreciate you to represent my country like no Mexican did before i am proud for you, I hope our government sponsor more athletes like you in the future, GOD BLESS YOU and good luck "VIVA MEXICO Y ALEMANIA" also ....
at 22:21 on February 17th, 2010
It was very pleasing and surprising to watch Hubertus at the Opening Ceremony representing my beloved country, Mexico. He is so cool and handsome, too, and while other countries sometimes disrespect Mexico, he very proudly bears the Mexican flag and uniform, while belonging to European royalty. Hubertus, you must know that you have our heart :)
at 22:42 on February 19th, 2010
Nunca estuve enterado que en Mexico se practicara este deporte y menos que tuviera un representante en estas Olimpiadas y ahora que lo se.me siento muy feliz que Hubertus von Hohenlohe nos represente en estos Juegos Olimpicos,gracias por ese Amor a Mexico nuestro corazon esta contigo y desde ahora me siento orgulloso de que seas Mexicano, da lo mejor de ti Hubertus von Hohenlohe.
at 10:09 on February 23rd, 2010
I think it is a shame to participate to the olympics games when the other participent have to work to go there. At 51 years old, he can return to Mexico...
at 15:56 on March 8th, 2010
what u dont know is that u have to qualify to go to the olympic games and i am the only one who puts the effort and training in to qualify and allthough i have qualified for 8 gmes they have only send me to 5 olympic games , if u dont respect that - i certainly am proud of it viva mexico hvh
at 07:18 on February 25th, 2010
I had no idea who he was when I had my picture taken with him and his crew at the Bay (of all places) here in Vancouver. But good for him for competing at age 51 !!!!
at 13:19 on February 27th, 2010
Hey, that´s great!
at 18:50 on February 28th, 2010
He is just representing Mexico, because he would be an embarrassment to his other country(Austria).And Osterreich Wouldn't even let him compete for their team.Mexico wouldn't allow him make an embarrassment of my country, and a fool of himself.He is just another spoiled reach brat.
at 22:40 on February 28th, 2010
Actually, he also has some Mexican ancestry - through his paternal grandmother. Many aristocratic Mexican families intermarried with European nobility... Even Prince Rainier III of Manaco had a Mexican grandmother.
at 22:42 on February 28th, 2010
He actually does have some Mexican ancestry - through his paternal grandmother. Many aristocratic Mexican families intermarried with European nobility. Even Prince Rainier III of Monaco had a Mexican grandmother!
at 14:26 on March 3rd, 2010
De som pratar illa om Mexiko och mexikanerna är bara avundsjuka människor som inte kan nånting om landet, befolkningen eller sitt enorm historia. Mexikanerna "mexicas" har funnits i världen i flera tusen år och vi är verkligen schysst med de andra!Viva México!!!
at 20:56 on March 3rd, 2010
Viva Mexico!