Albert, Prince Grimaldi

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameAlbert Alexandre Louis Pierre•Grimaldi
Used nameAlbert, Prince•Grimaldi
Born14 March 1958 in Monte Carlo, Monaco (MON)
Measurements181 cm / 85 kg
Title(s)Prince
NOC Monaco

Biography

Albert II, Prince Grimaldi became the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco in April 2005. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince Grimaldi, the previous ruling monarch of Monaco, who was an IOC Member from 1949-50. Prince Grimaldi competed in bobsledding at the Winter Olympics five times from 1988-2002, with a best finish of 25th in 1988 in the two-man event. He has a long Olympic heritage. His mother was Grace Kelly, whose father, Jack Kelly, Sr., and brother, Jack Kelly, Jr., rowed for the United States in the Olympics. In July 2011, Prince Grimaldi married Charlene Wittstock, a former South African Olympic swimmer.

Prince Grimaldi studied at Amherst College in Massachusetts in the United States, and spent six summers as a camp counselor in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Upon his return to Monaco he assumed his royal duties and also did large amounts of charitable work during the ensuing 30-year period prior to his taking over duties from his father as Prince of Monaco. He served in the Navy briefly, was President of the Monegasque Red Cross, and served as Vice-President of the Princes Grace Foundation. He also worked in management with advertising and public relations agencies in New York and Paris.

During his reign as Monarch, Prince Grimaldi has continued the policies of his father to focus the Monegasque economy on tourism and not gambling, and also to increase environmental awareness and increase the principality’s commitment to sustainable energy and projects.

Prince Grimaldi was made an IOC Member in 1985. In Monaco he has served as president of the sports federations for athletics, swimming, and tennis. He became President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee in 1994. He has served on the following IOC Commissions: Athletes Commission, Coordination Commission of the 1996 Olympic Games, Cultural Commission, Eligibility Commission, and Marketing Commission.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
Two, Men (Olympic) Gilbert Bessi 25
1992 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
Two, Men (Olympic) Pascal Camia 43
Four, Men (Olympic) Monaco 27
1994 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
Two, Men (Olympic) Gilbert Bessi 31
Four, Men (Olympic) Monaco 26
1998 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
Four, Men (Olympic) Monaco 28
2002 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
Four, Men (Olympic) Monaco 28

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
Member International Olympic Committee 1985— MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
President Comité Olympique Monégasque 1994— MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1988 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
1992 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi
1994 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony MON Albert, Prince Grimaldi

Olympic family relations

Special Notes