The Olympic Games are slated to begin today and there's one Latino who has earned the "Most Interesting Olympian in the World" title from NBC, which is the network airing the Games as well. As Mexico's only competitor, 55-year-old Hubertus Von Hohenlohe certainly lives up to the moniker, as the details of his life are so wild they're almost unbelievable. His Olympic debut was in Sarajevo in 1984, when he finished downhill in 38th best. Here are nine things to know about Hubertus Von Hohenlohe:
1. Hubertus Von Hohenlohe is a German prince and his grandfather, Kaiser Franz II, was the last Holy Roman emperor.
2. At 55 years old, Hubertus Von Hohenlohe will be the second oldest winter Olympian in the history when he takes part in the 2014 games as a slalom skier.
3. Hubertus Von Hohenlohe has represented Mexico at six Olympic Games. Fun fact: His uniform is mariachi-inspired. “I can understand how they would think that this rich prince bought himself into the Olympics so that he can show off his cool racing suits, or whatever,” he said to NBC. “I am not hiding behind a pile of money to realize my dreams. I have Mexican roots."
4. Hubertus Von Hohenlohe is fluent in five different languages.
5. The Olympian is not only royalty, but also the heir to an automobile fortune.
6. With German citizenship, Italian and German ancestry and residency in Spain, Hubertus Von Hohenlohe is an international citizen, to say the least. How did he chose Mexico? "In the beginning, I remember that I was considering racing for Liechtenstein because I have a Liechtenstein passport," von Hohelohe said to NBC. "In the end, it seemed ideal that I do it for a country where I could control my own moves."
7. Hubertus Von Hohenlohe was born in Mexico intentionally. "We always wanted to have one member of the family who was Mexican,” von Hohenlohe explained. "So they chose that I was going to be born in Mexico with the intention of following in the family business there."
8. The Olympian developed a passion for skiing while he was a student in Austria. He won a downhill championship for his university when he was 21 and in 1981, he created a one-man Mexican Ski Federation.
9. Think he's just an athlete? Hubertus Von Hohenlohe is also an artist -- who became Andy Warhol's friend at Studio 54 -- and a musician with eight released records.
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