F1 Legends at the Olympics: Formula 1 Drivers Who Became Glorious Olympians
As Formula 1 (F1) takes a breather following a thrilling first half of the 2024 season, many in the paddock are probably keeping an eye on the action at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Even though motorsport is not a part of the Games, a number of former Formula One drivers have competed in the Olympics, with one of them going on to earn the sport’s only medal.
Even though motorsport is not offered during the Games, some former Formula One drivers have gone on to earn Olympic medals in a range of other sports; one of them has even became the only Formula One driver to do so.
We’ve gone back in time to revisit the experiences of athletes who competed in both Formula One and the Olympic Games:
Prince Bira, Sailing – Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Munich 1972
The first driver from Thailand to compete in Formula 1 was Prince Bira, also known as Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh. Between 1950 and 1954, Prince Bira participated in various non-championship races in addition to 19 championship races.
Bira went on to compete in sailing at four Olympic Games in the following years: the Star division in Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960, the Dragon division in Tokyo 1964, and the Tempest division for Munich 1972. It’s interesting to note that Bira and Roberto Mieres, another Formula One driver, faced off in Rome, with Mieres finishing 17th and Bira in 19th.
Alfonso de Portago, Bobsleigh – Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956
Alfonso de Portago, an aristocrat, participated in five championship Grands Prix between 1956 and 1957. He also accompanied his cousins in the inaugural Spanish bobsleigh team at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. De Portago placed fourth in the two-man tournament and competed for his nation in the four-man competition.
A few months later, in May 1957, the Spaniard, then only 28 years old, perished in an accident while taking part in the Italian Mille Miglia motor event.
Divina Galica, Alpine Skiing/Speed Skiing – Innsbruck 1964, Grenoble 1968, Sapporo 1972, Albertville 1992
Divina Galica joined a Grand Prix in 1976, making history as the third of five women to do so. Galica was a successful skier even though she was unable to qualify for the three races she entered in 1976 and 1978.
At the age of 19, she participated in the downhill alpine skiing competition at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. After that, she competed in the Games in Grenoble and Sapporo. In 1992, at the age of 47, she returned to the sport of speed skiing and competed in Albertville.
Roberto Mieres, Sailing – Rome 1960
As was previously noted, Mieres faced Bira in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Between 1953 and 1955, the Argentinean participated in 17 championship races, finishing fourth in his best finish.
Mieres participated in the Star category in his only Games appearance in 1960, having participated in a variety of sports as a young man before turning to sailing again after his racing career.
Ben Pon, Shooting – Munich 1972
F1 fans would not be too familiar with Ben Pon’s name because the Dutchman only competed in one Grand Prix, in 1962. Pon gave up on his single-seater career after retiring from the race after being thrown from the car during his home event at Zandvoort two laps in.
Nevertheless, he went on to race sports cars and participated in the clay pigeon shooting competition at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.
Bob Said, Bobsleigh – Grenoble 1968, Sapporo 1972
Similar to Pon, Bob Said participated in just one Formula 1 Grand Prix, but his stint was brief. The American started his home race at the Sebring Raceway in 1959, but he was forced to retire after a spin on the opening lap.
Said’s athletic career did, however, continue at the Winter Olympics, where he took part in the Grenoble 1968 and Sapporo 1972 four-man bobsleigh events. In the first of these competitions, Said faced off against another driver who had won one Formula One race: Robin Widdows.
Robin Widdows, Bobsleigh – Innsbruck 1964, Grenoble 1968
Widdows made his début at Brands Hatch in 1968, in front of his home crowd, a few years after Said’s brief Grand Prix career. Similar to Said, the British competitor was unable to complete the race due to an ignition issue, forcing him to retire.
In addition to competing in motorsports, Widdows participated in two Winter Olympics, the first in the four-man bobsleigh in 1964 Innsbruck. He came back for Grenoble 1968, when he finished seventh, better than Said, who had finished tenth.
Alex Zanardi, Handcycling – London 2012, Rio 2016
After making his F1 debut for Jordan in 1991, Italian racer Alex Zanardi went on to win 41 Grands Prix before competing in his final race with Williams at Suzuka in 1999. Between his Formula 1 careers, Zanardi won two US CART championships.
When Zanardi rejoined the American series in 2001, he was involved in a serious accident that required the amputation of both of his legs. Less than two years after he stopped racing, the driver started handcycling and competed in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
Here, he took first place in the road race and time trial H4, and he also took second place in the mixed relay team H1-4. Four years later, during his second Games in Rio, Zanardi increased his medal total by taking home two more golds in the mixed relay H2–5 and a silver in the road race H5.
Zanardi was involved in a serious car accident in Italy in June 2020. In December 2021, the Italian went back home to resume his recuperation following a number of surgical procedures.
