Yes, its true, Mexico is at the 2014 Winter Olympics being represented by a prince. Say what, a prince is representing Mexico at the Olympics? Many individuals underestimate Mexico based on erroneous notions driven by the mass media. The fact is that Mexico’s cultural heritage and identity is more complex then drug cartels, beaches and siestas. It encompasses very complex historical dichotomies constantly at war with each other as the Mexican cultural identity continues to evolve.

Meet Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, born in Mexico City in 1959. An accomplished photographer and pop singer he is also representing Mexico in the 2014 Winter Olympics. This is not Von Hohenlohe’s first Winter Olympics as he represented Mexico at Sarajevo in 1984.

A December 31, 2013 article by Joe Battaglia in NBCOlympics dubbed him the “Most Interesting Man in the World”. A reference to the Dos Equis beer character portrayed by US actor Jonathan Goldsmith. Unlike the beer commercials, von Hohenloche, a Mexican citizen, has lived, and continues to live the life of someone who would likely be a real-life “most interesting man in the world”.

A six-time Olympian, having competed in the 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994 and 2010 Winter Olympics, Hubertus von Hohenloche is set to compete again in the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, von Hohenloche is not only an accomplished athlete but also a German Prince. Von Hohenloche is the son of Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe and Princess Ira von Fürstenberg. Hohenloche was born in Mexico City. Oh, and by the way he is also fluent in five languages. Not only fluent in languages but he is also a musician who has put out eight records as Andy Himalaya and Royal Disaster. As if that wasn’t enough, von Hohenloche is also an accomplished photographer who has shot photographs for Red Bull and Milka.

Being the “most interesting man in the world” requires standing out in a crowd. Von Hohenloche has that covered with his Mariachi-theme skiing suit. Hubertus Hohenloche is not the only Mexican competing in the Winter Olympics.

He is also joined by Arly Aristides Velásquez, a Paralympian who is competing in his second Paralympics. Velásquez has been training in Winter Park, Colorado. Velásquez will be competing for Mexico in mono-skiing. Velásquez broke his back in an accident in 2001 at the age of 13.

So there you have it, a Prince, a Pop Star and photographer, and not to mention a businessman is representing Mexico at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He is joined by the courage of Velásquez who has not let a serious injury sideline his own quest for human achievement. And, some of you still believe Mexico is about siestas at the beach. ¡Viva México!