Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco Charlene Wittstock is an Olympic and World Champion swimmer from South Africa. As a child, she developed a passion for swimming and, in 1996, won her first South African Championship at the age of 18. Four years later, Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco qualified for the 2000 Olympic Games as a member of the South Africa 4x100m medley relay team, which placed fifth. In 2002, she won three gold medals at the swimming World Cup in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 4x100m medley relay. After a successful career, Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco retired from swimming in 2007. Growing up in Africa heightened her awareness of the challenges affecting impoverished children, and, as a result, she is currently involved with numerous humanitarian organizations. She is the Honorary President of Ladies Lunch Monte Carlo, an associate of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics. Additionally, she has become involved in the charitable works of her husband, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, who she met at a swim meet in 2000. An avid surfer and hiker, Wittstock enjoys reading biographies, ethnic South African poetry, and studying contemporary art.
Engagement: As a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco has participated in a number of events, including the 2011 World Summer Games in Greece, a trip to China where she and fellow Special Olympics Global Ambassador Yao Ming played volleyball on a special school visit in March 2012.
Alumni Ambassadors
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Apolo Anton Ohno
Olympic Medalist (Speedskating) -
Benedetto Saraceno
Health Expert & Advocate -
Brooklyn Decker Roddick
Actress & Model -
Cafu (Marcos Evangelista de Morais)
Legendary Professional Soccer Player -
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco
Olympian & World Champion Swimmer -
Emma Broyles
Miss America 2022 -
Gleyber Torres
2x MLB All-Star, New York Yankees Shortstop -
Gracie Hunt
Inclusion activist, Unified Partner and Philanthropist -
Joe Haden
Former NFL Player & All Pro Defensive Back -
Lauren Potter
Actor & Advocate -
Maria Menounos
Actor & New York Times Best-Selling Author -
Michelle Kwan
Olympic Medalist, Figure Skating, United States Ambassador to Belize -
Montell Jordan
International Recording Artist/Pastor -
Nancy O'Dell
Media Personality -
Ricardo Montaner
Grammy Award Winning Singer & Songwriter -
Ricky Rubio
Former NBA Player, Cleveland Cavaliers -
Scott Hamilton
Olympic Champion, Figure Skating -
Vanessa Williams
Singer & Broadway Performer -
Willson Contreras
2x MLB All-Star, St. Louis Cardinals Catcher -
Yuna Kim
Olympic Champion, Figure Skating
