Charlene Wittstock

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Charlene Lynette Wittstock

Born January 25, 1978 (1978-01-25) (age 30)
Flag of Rhodesia Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Occupation Swimmer and model
Parents Mike and Lynette Wittstock

Charlene Lynette Wittstock (born 25 January 1978, Bulawayo, Rhodesia) is a South African Olympic backstroke swimmer and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, who received celebrity status with her power by association while she was she accompanying Albert II, Prince of Monaco at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. This fueled speculations that she could be the latest companion of the Prince, and a potential future Princess of Monaco. Thus the couple have been romantically linked since February 2006.

[edit] Swimming career

She was a member of the Women's 4x100m Medley South African team at the 2000 Summer Olympics, which finished fifth. She finished sixth at the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships for the 200m breastroke. In 2005 she swam for University of Pretoria[1]On 13 April 2007 Wittstock regained her title as South Africa’s 50m women’s backstroke champion when she completed the 50m backstroke final at the Telkom SA National Aquatic Championships in 30:16 seconds, to finish third behind Australia’s Sophie Edington and Brazil’s Fabiola Molina. She has won several national titles over the years and plans to compete in the 2008 Olympic games in China, which she says would be her swansong.[2] Previously she had been out of competitive swimming for 18 months with a shoulder injury. Wittstock said she would be swimming in Europe in the near future, hoping to better her times. "I have a year left of competitive swimming, and I just want to be the best I can be in that time. After that I want to get involved in charity work, and development work with athlete's commissions."[2]

[edit] Relationship with Prince Albert

With an initial meeting in 2001 in Monaco, and after appearing at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics they were seen again together at the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix and Monaco's Red Cross Ball in August 2006. Recently she has accompanied Prince Albert at several high-level establishment events, including the Princess Grace Awards Gala in New York in October 2007. She accompanied Prince Albert to the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final where her country triumphed and to the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix. The prince once said "the woman of my life will have to resemble my mother", and Wittstock a tall, willowy, blue-eyed blond, often wears her hair upswept in the same chic chignons beloved by the late star of such Hollywood hits as High Society. Speculation is that Prince Albert might have meant in spirit more than in looks. Recent photographs show Wittstock in more restrained dress style and she has started to be seen in the company of the Prince's eldest sister Princess Caroline and her husband. Although without confirmation and against larger public opinion, the March 2008 edition of French magazine Point de Vue stated solely on heresay and conjecture from no official source they can quote or reference that plans are being made for the marriage of Charlene with Prince Albert in Monaco this summer.[3] However, this has been denied by Wittstock's parents and the Monaco Palace.[4] Charlene's most recent appearance at the prominent Rose Ball shows her continued closeness with the Princely Family of Monaco, the Grimaldi's.

[edit] External links

  1. ^ Meaklim takes tally of gold medals to six at KZN championships
  2. ^ a b Apple of Prince Albert's eye makes a splash
  3. ^ Royal wedding for SA champ
  4. ^ Charlene not ready for royal plunge, The Times, 14 March 2008