FAMOUS MONEGASQUES
© Jean-Marc Folette
Prince Albert II at the awards ceremony of the Rallye Monte-Carlo , January , 2021 something meaningful which pushed the future Sovereign to train in order to become an Olympic athlete himself .
Even his father , Prince Rainier III , has always been particularly attached to the sports world , though he had never been a professional . He had a keen interest in football and rugby , practicing also boxing as an amateur . Not by chance , he gave a considerable boost to keep Monaco as a sports hub worldwide encouraging the building of the Louis II Stadium in the new Fontvieille district .
Since the Princely marriage in 2011 , Prince Albert II ’ s passion for sports is fully shared with His wife , Princess Charlène , former Olympic swimmer who is particularly involved in the cause . In December 2012 , she founded
The Princely desire to plunge himself completely into a sports mood is not an accident . The DNA of winning in sport flows in the veins of Prince Albert as part of a family heritage to be preserved . Princess Grace ’ s father , John Brendan Kelly Sr . ( nicknamed Jack ) reached an extraordinary result as the best American professional singlescull rower , achieving two gold medals at the 1920 ’ s Antwerp Olympic Games ( Belgium ) and one in 1924 in the Paris summer edition . Grace ’ s brother , John B . Kelly Jr ., was a highly regarded winning Olympic , Pan- American and European medallist as well and he was appointed as the President of the United States Olympic Committee in 1985 . This sporty family heritage has been transmitted to Prince Albert by His mother when she donated him his grand-father ’ s trophy ring celebrating that glorious past —
Max Verstappen being awarded the Monaco Grand Prix trophy by the Sovereign Prince . Monaco , May 23 , 2021
© ACM the Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation with the aim of conveying the best values to new generations focusing on swimming education , water safety , first-aid and drowning prevention . The Sovereign Prince has always supported her achieving those targets being by her side whilst visiting new sites in underdeveloped Countries . He increasingly has united their efforts through joint fundraising with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation — for example , on the occasion of the extraordinary Calvi — Monaco Water Bike Challenge in which Princess Charlène partnered with other athletes in September 2020 .
© Eric Mathon / Palais Princier
Prince Albert , hereditary prince Jacques and princess Gabriella celebrating the victory of the “ Serenity ” team led by its captain Princess Charlène . Calvi — Monaco Waterbike Challenge , September 2020
PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO OLYMPIC CAREER
The young Prince Albert had the chance to watch the Bobsleigh games several times as for example in Lake Placid Olympics ( U . S . A ) in 1980 .
66 / Hello Monaco Summer — Autumn 2021 www . hellomonaco . com