race suit Archives - OlympicTalk

Mexican Alpine skier Hubertus von Hohenlohe has vowed to celebrate the culture of the nation of his birth by wearing a mariachi-themed race suit during the Sochi Olympics.

But now – as he is known to do – he has taken things one step further.

While in Mexico to receive the flag he will carry as the country’s lone athlete during the Opening Ceremony next week, Hohenlohe performed with an authentic mariachi band and had them write song titles and lyrics on the race helmet he will wear during the men’s slalom competition on Feb. 22.

“It was a great time,” Hohenlohe said. “I sang ‘El Rey,’ ESPN Desportes was there, the Olympic Committee had a crew there, but they came and left too early otherwise we would have had the coolest time ever.”

The 55-year-old prince of German descent will be the second-oldest Winter Olympian in history, and will be representing Mexico for the sixth time. His first Games were in Sarajevo in 1984.

Here are photos from the evening on the plaza, courtesy of Hohenlohe:

Erin Hamlin gets adorable Olympic sendoff from Remsen Elementary School

At age 55, Hubertus von Hohenlohe knows he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning a medal in the men’s slalom at the Sochi Olympics.

And he’s cool with that.

The title he is most interested in claiming is best-dressed at the Games.

With that in mind, the Mexican skier, who is also a prince of German descent and an accomplished photographer, is pulling out all of the stops for his sixth, and likely final, trip to the Olympics.

He revealed exclusively to NBC Olympics, that he will wear a mariachi-themed race suit when he skis down the Rosa Khutor. The suit, designed by Kappa, features the trimmings of a black bolero jacket, ruffled tuxedo shirt, red tie and cummerbund, and designs down the legs surrounding the initials “MEX.”

Below is what the race suit will look like. For more images, click through this slideshow.

Hohenlohe’s penchant for flamboyant uniform designs is well-known. In Vancouver, he wore a “Mexicano desperado” racesuit, complete with bullet straps and pistoleros in the design, and another suit environmentally-themed race suit encouraging people to recycle.

But this time, he said that it was important for him to portray an image of elegance while also celebrating an element of Mexican culture while on the slope.

“Until I went to Mexico recently to make a documentary, I never realized what a beautiful, amazing, rich past and culture they have and what a proud people they are,” he said. “It actually moved me to see how much they suffered and how much they fought for what they have. The power to have your own identity is so strong and something I believe in so I want to give it a go in a very cool, elegant way. I want to celebrate who they are, but of course in my own style.”

Hohenlohe joked that in Sochi we can call him “the Mariachi Olympic Prince,” and added that having one of the three best suits at the Games, “is a medal I need so urgently.”

“What are my chances?” he asked.

One might have to consider him the gold medal favorite.

U.S. Olympic Alpine Skiing Team announced

race suit

Olympic Prince performs with mariachi band in Mexico

Mexican Alpine skier going for ‘Mariachi Olympic Prince’ look in Sochi