Princess Charlene was once an Olympic swimmer
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Prior to becoming the Princess of Monaco when she wed Prince Albert, Princess Charlene had quite a successful swimming career. According to People, the future monarch’s swimming career began when she was 18 years old and won the South African Championship in 1996. In 1999, the athlete nabbed 3 gold medals and a silver medal at the All-Africa Games, per Cheat Sheet. According to the outlet, Princess Charlene also qualified and competed in the Sydney Olympics as part of the 4x100 meter medley relay that took 5th place. Though she hoped to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she did not qualify, and thus retired from the world of competitive swimming.
Interestingly enough, it was swimming that introduced Charlene to her future husband, Prince Albert. Per Cheat Sheet, the two met at a swim meet (over which Prince Albert was presiding) in 2000. While it’s unclear when they began dating, they made their official relationship debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics. These days, Princess Charlene may not be in the pool as much as she used to, but she still spends much of her time involved in charity work such as her own foundation, which teaches kids worldwide about water safety.
The Truth About Princess Charlene’s Impressive Swimming Career
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By Ashley Moor/Jan. 17, 2022 12:17 pm EST
Princess Charlene was once an Olympic swimmer
Media24/gallo Images/Getty Images
Prior to becoming the Princess of Monaco when she wed Prince Albert, Princess Charlene had quite a successful swimming career. According to People, the future monarch’s swimming career began when she was 18 years old and won the South African Championship in 1996. In 1999, the athlete nabbed 3 gold medals and a silver medal at the All-Africa Games, per Cheat Sheet. According to the outlet, Princess Charlene also qualified and competed in the Sydney Olympics as part of the 4x100 meter medley relay that took 5th place. Though she hoped to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she did not qualify, and thus retired from the world of competitive swimming.
Interestingly enough, it was swimming that introduced Charlene to her future husband, Prince Albert. Per Cheat Sheet, the two met at a swim meet (over which Prince Albert was presiding) in 2000. While it’s unclear when they began dating, they made their official relationship debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics. These days, Princess Charlene may not be in the pool as much as she used to, but she still spends much of her time involved in charity work such as her own foundation, which teaches kids worldwide about water safety.
Interestingly enough, it was swimming that introduced Charlene to her future husband, Prince Albert. Per Cheat Sheet, the two met at a swim meet (over which Prince Albert was presiding) in 2000. While it’s unclear when they began dating, they made their official relationship debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics. These days, Princess Charlene may not be in the pool as much as she used to, but she still spends much of her time involved in charity work such as her own foundation, which teaches kids worldwide about water safety.
