Charlene Wittstock

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Charlene Lynette Wittstock
birth_name =
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1978|01|25
birth_place = flagicon|Rhodesia|1928 Bulawayo, Rhodesia
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Swimmer and model
spouse = Brandon
parents = Mike and Lynette Wittstock
children =

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 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. Charlene went to the primary school Tom Newby school in Airfield Benoni South Africa and she loved it there.

Swimming career

She was a member of the women's 4×100 m 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 200 m breaststroke. In 2005 she swam for University of Pretoria [ [http://www.tios.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=3038443 Meaklim takes tally of gold medals to six at KZN championships] ] On 13 April 2007 Wittstock regained her title as South Africa’s 50 m women’s backstroke champion when she completed the 50 m 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. [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=3020&art_id=vn20070415092430463C940292 Apple of Prince Albert's eye makes a splash] ] 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."

Relationship

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. [ [http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2286475,00.html Royal wedding for SA champ] ] However, this has been denied by Wittstock's parents and the Monaco Palace. [ [http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=726851 Charlene not ready for royal plunge, The Times, 14 March 2008] ] Charlene's most recent appearance at the prominent Rose Ball shows her continued closeness with the Princely Family of Monaco, the Grimaldi's.

Likewise she was again with the Prince at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Wedding rumours

In the last two years there have been rumours now and then that Prince Albert of Monaco is to marry Charlene Wittstock, his longtime girlfriend. Until now the prince and Miss Wittstock do appear together at several social and family functions, but an official engagement has not been made public.

External links

*fr_icon [http://www.dhnet.be/dhculture/article.phtml?id=150879 Mariage en vue sur le célèbre Rocher]
* [http://babesandsports.blogspot.com/2007/08/babes-and-sports-charlene-wittstock_11.html Charlene Lynette Wittstock pictures]
* [http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Celebrities/0,,2-1225-2108_2223694,00.html A royal wedding on the way?]
* [http://www.jetstreaker.com/2007/07/25/charlene-wittstock-helps-to-fight-aids-in-monaco/ Charlene Wittstock helps to fight aids… in Monaco]
* [http://www.jetstreaker.com/2007/05/29/va-va-va-vroom-prince-albert-and-charlene-wittstock-at-monaco-grand-prix/ Va Va Va Vroom: Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock at Monaco Grand Prix]
* [http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2007/05/28/prince-albert-monaco/ Charlene joins Albert for the racing action at Monte Carlo]
* [http://www.jetstreaker.com/2007/04/16/the-other-south-african-royal-girlfriend-makes-a-splashy-return/ The other South African royal girlfriend makes a splashy return]
* [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20070415092430463C940292 Apple of Prince Albert's eye makes a splash]
* [http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2007/05/07/albert-charlene/ Charlene back at Albert's side for sporting date]
* [http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/specials/royalgirlfriends/pagina_3_1.html CHARLENE WITTSTOCK]
* [http://www.supersport.co.za/aquatics/article.aspx?id=165655 Upsets at KZN aquatic champs]
* [http://www.the-sports.org/swimming-wittstock-charlene-results-identity-s10-c2-b4-o30-w9365.html Charlene WITTSTOCK]