Meet One of the Most Interesting Athletes Competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics

Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe will be the second-oldest winter Olympian in history

By Jenna Mullins Jan 27, 2014 7:32 PMTags
Prince Hubertus von HohenloheAP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Remember this name come Feb. 7: Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe.

Yes, it's a long name. Maybe write it down instead of trying to commit it to memory. The important thing is that you'll want to be watching him at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Why? Because he's one of the most fascinating athletes at the games this year. Why? Well, we don't have one answer for that question. We actually have six:

1. He'll be the second-oldest winter Olympian at the Sochi games at age 55. That means that his post-50 body is capable of things that most bodies half his age aren't.

2. He's competing for Mexico in the skiing event. But according to Alfonso, he's only one-eighth Mexican, and he resides in Austria. He was born in Mexico, but only because his family wanted one member to be Mexican. "They chose that I was going to be born in Mexico. That was the idea," he told Time.com.

3. He's a Prince. Kind of. He's a royal descendent from a German principality that hasn't existed for over 200 years, but still. So, he's a German prince competing for Mexico in the Olympics. What?

4. He's a photographer. He had an art show in 2005 that was titled "It's Me!" that consisted only of photos that featured, you guessed it, himself.

5. He's also a pop star! He performs under two names: Royal Disaster and Andy Himalaya. Here he is in 2013 performing a song called "Higher Than Mars." 

6. He's the only athlete representing Mexico at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Good luck, Prince Alfonso!

And don't forget that E! will be broadcasting live from Sochi starting Feb. 7!

(H/T Deadspin)