Athletes usually compete to win. Titles and medals are indicators of a successful career. However, there are those who in life did not hold awards in their hands, but are considered truly unique athletes. Sport tells about the career of skier Hubertus von Hohenlohe.
The athlete ended his career in February, speaking at his 20th World Championships in Courchevel. Hubertus did not reach the slalom final and failed to finish the giant slalom. The event would have gone unnoticed if not for one unique fact. Hohenlohe at the time of the last start was 64 years old.
The only skier in the country
The Mexican, who also has Liechtenstein citizenship, has long been nicknamed «The Grandfather of Big Sports». Hohenlohe's story is not like a banal case of overcoming on the way from poverty to glory. Hubertus comes from an ancient German aristocratic family, and his mother was from the princely family of Hohenlohe-Lagenberg. He officially bears the status of a prince.The skier has distant family ties with the Grimaldi house, ruling in Monaco, and with the Italian family that founded the Fiat company. Hubertus' father owned hotels in Spanish resorts. Hohenlohe had no need to get out of poverty. It's just that sports attracted him from childhood.
When the guy studied in Austria, he ended up in ski competitions. He was impressed by the Olympic champion Franz Klammer. After the race, the boy promised the athlete that he would one day perform at a big tournament.
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«If you succeed, I'll give you the downhill overalls,» the Austrian replied.
After years of training, Hohenlohe met again with Klammer and received the promise.
Despite for several citizenships, Hubertus played for Mexico. It was there that he was born when his parents were in the country on a business visit. However, from the very beginning, the prince faced a problem — there was no skiing federation in the country.
Hohenlohe did not lose his head and founded the organization himself, becoming its president in 1982. Since then, he has been invariably driving skiers in Mexico. Citizenship made it easy to qualify for world championships and other international competitions. The admission criteria for «exotic countries» are much simpler than for conditional Norway.
The peculiarity of the selection made it possible to perform at once at six Olympic Games. The last was the tournament in Sochi. Hubertus was the flag bearer for the national team at the opening and closing. Although it’s hard to call it a team, because he was the only one who went to Russia. In addition, Hohenlohe became the oldest participant (54 years old).
Hubertus could go down in history as the only skier who performed at seven Olympics. The record was thwarted by Mexican sports authorities. Decided not to send a one-man team to the 2006 Games due to financial difficulties. However, the athlete managed to get into the Guinness Book.
The 2023 World Cup was Hubertus' 20th in his career. None of the skiers have ever submitted this bar. 41 years have passed between the first and last performances.
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«My wife thinks I'm completely crazy. She is always afraid that something might happen to me on the ski track. But now I can promise her and you that this was my last start. The body is already saying: «Stop, it's time to finish.» The decision has been made, «said the Mexican after the final race.
Warhol wised up to become a singer
Hubertus has competed in major international tournaments for decades, but he won recognition not only through sports. The Mexican has released several music albums under the pseudonym Andy Himalaya.
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«In the late 70s, we were close friends with Andy Warhol, who inspired me to become a pop artist. But to build a powerful career in Europe it was difficult because of the origin. Nobody took it seriously, and the status of the prince was considered more important than vocal talents, «complained Hubertus.
Hohenlohe was also seriously interested in fashion. Karl Lagerfeld introduced him to it, with whom he managed to make friends in the 80s. The athlete designed costumes for competitions, and later became the author of overalls for the Mexican national team. However, even these hobbies were not enough for such a unique personality . Hubertus was a professional photographer. He took pictures for several calendars of the International Ski Federation and entered into advertising contracts with Red Bull and Milka.
It's amazing how, having so many third-party hobbies, Hohenlohe continuously performed at tournaments for more than 40 years. Although he did not achieve significant achievements in sports, he deserved something more valuable. Respected by many colleagues and admired by fans around the world.