On Sunday January 22, the first ever Youth Olympic Games medals for Two-Man Bobsleigh were presented by Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco and IOC Member. The medallists were: gold for Patrick Baumgartner and Alessandro Grande (ITA), silver for Benjamin Maier and Robert Ofensberger (AUT) and bronze for Rudy Rinaldy and Jeremy Torre (MON).

Having represented the Principality of Monaco in the Bobsleigh event at every Winter Olympics from Calgary 1988 to Salt Lake City 2002, awarding the bronze medal to the bobsleigh team from Monaco at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games was very special moment for Prince Albert II. Reason enough for a brief interview with the Prince and the Monaco team.

Interview with Prince Albert II of Monaco

How do you feel about your team?

I am very proud of them. It’s extraordinary. It’s the culmination of 20 years of work since I founded the federation and competed in bobsleigh myself. Now we have a new generation which has picked up the baton and, thanks to their talent and hard work, are achieving excellent results. It’s fantastic.

As a former racer yourself, you have experience of competing in bobsleigh events. It is a discipline which requires a lot of courage, yet Monaco is always represented in bobsleigh competitions.

We try to support bobsleigh as much as we can. It is true that it is a sport which demands courage, skill, power and speed, as well as physical and mental strength. It is a collective sport with a fine team spirit, and it is important that this spirit continues.

And, with the younger generation coming through, it is a sport for the future, too.

Yes. These Youth Olympic Games are a fantastic springboard and a fantastic way for these young athletes to meet up, enjoy this unique experience together and, in particular, to learn about the Olympic values and prepare themselves for their sporting career and their lives. That is what is important.

The younger generation is now in the process of writing a new chapter in Olympic history by participating in mixed-NOC events, where athletes from different countries compete together. What do you think about those sorts of competitions?

I think it is excellent. I saw events of this kind at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore where there were mixed-NOC relays featuring teams with athletes from different nations. That’s a fantastic example of team spirit.

Interview with the Monaco bobsleigh team

Congratulations. How do you feel about winning bronze in Bobsleigh at the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games? You have written history.

It’s magnificent, incredible, indescribable.

I imagine that you trained very hard this year.

Coming into the event we didn’t expect that much, but thanks to all our hard work and effort we have managed to succeed. It’s fantastic! It hasn’t really sunk in yet.

Prince Albert himself was present. I imagine that must have been special for you, especially as he used to compete in bobsleigh. Did he give you some words of encouragement before the start?

Yes. That put a bit more pressure on us, but we gave our best and it paid off.