Hubertus Rudolph Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg (born 2 February 1959; Spanish pronunciation:[uˈβeɾtusruˈðolfswoenˈloelaŋxemˈbuɾɣ]), commonly known as Hubertus von Hohenlohe, is a Mexican alpine skier, photographer, and businessman. He was previously a pop singer using the names Andy Himalaya and Royal Disaster. He is descended from the former ruling family of the historic principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg in what is now northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany.[1]
He lived in Mexico for the first four years of his life and then moved to Spain. He later studied in Austria and his main residence was in Vienna, where he worked as a photographer and artist. Although he has Mexican nationality, which makes him eligible to compete for Mexico, he only spends a few weeks per year there. He is fluent in several languages and grew up in Europe, mainly Austria.
Hohenlohe founded the Mexican Ski Federation in 1981.[9] He first skied for Mexico at a Winter Olympics at the 1984 games in Sarajevo, and he managed to finish 26th in slalom. After the 1984 Winter Olympics, Hohenlohe managed to participate in 1988, 1992, and 1994 Games.[10] 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 to participate 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.[9] Since 1982, he has participated in 15 World Championships and set a World Record.[citation needed] Hohenlohe was expected to retire following the 2007 Alpine Skiing World Championships, after breaking his leg during a World Cup slalom race on 28 January 2007, eliminating him from the competition in Åre.[11]
He was the sole athlete in the Mexican team 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.[12] He also competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics,[13] where he was Mexico's sole athlete again. He participated in slalom but did not finish after a fall during the first run.[14]
Hohenlohe, affectionately called El Príncipe, mooted retiring for 2017,[9] but instead decided to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics.[15] Another two hopes for Alpine Mexico, aside from Hubertus, and Schleper, are Rodolfo Dickson and Jocelyn McGillivray. Additionally, three more hope to represent Mexico, Robby Franco in freestyle skiing, Sandra Hillen in snowboard and Germán Madrazo in Cross-country skiing.[16][17][18][19] He failed to qualify for the 2018 Olympics, but designed the race suits for the Mexican alpine skiers.[20]
^He possesses dual citizenship in the country of his birth, Mexico, and in the country of his legal domicile, Liechtenstein. While Mexican law does not recognize nobility or hereditary titles, Liechtenstein recognizes both.