From rivalries reignited to a multiple medal-winner – The F1 drivers who also competed at the Olympics

While Formula 1 is catching its breath following a thrilling first half of the 2024 season, many in the paddock will most likely be keeping an eye on the action from the Paris 2024 Olympics, where some of the world’s leading athletes have been competing across a range of sports.

And while motorsport is not a feature at the Games, a number of F1 drivers from the sport’s past have become Olympians in a variety of other disciplines – with one even becoming Formula 1’s only Olympic medal-winner.

We’ve taken a trip down memory lane to relive the stories of those who tackled both F1 and the Olympic Games in their sporting careers…

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Prince Bira, Sailing – Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Munich 1972

Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh – better known as Prince Bira – was the first Thai driver to race in Formula 1, competing in a total of 19 championship races between 1950 and 1954 as well as taking part in numerous non-championship events.

In the years after, Bira went on to contend at four Olympic Games in sailing; in the Star category at Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960, Dragon at Tokyo 1964 and Tempest for Munich 1972. Interestingly, Bira went head-to-head with another F1 driver – Roberto Mieres – in Rome, where Mieres was classified 17th ahead of Bira in 19th.

Alfonso de Portago, Bobsleigh – Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956

As well as competing in five championship Grands Prix between 1956 and 1957, the aristocrat Alfonso de Portago also formed part of Spain’s first bobsleigh team – alongside his cousins – at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. In the two-man competition, De Portago finished in fourth place, while he also represented his country in the four-man contest.

Only months later in May 1957, the Spaniard was killed aged just 28 in a crash while competing in the Mille Miglia motor race in Italy.

Divina Galica, Alpine Skiing/Speed Skiing – Innsbruck 1964, Grenoble 1968, Sapporo 1972, Albertville 1992

In 1976, Divina Galica became the third of five women who have entered a Grand Prix to date. While Galica failed to qualify for the three races that she entered across 1976 and 1978, the Briton had already enjoyed success in skiing.

This saw her compete in the Winter Olympics at Innsbruck in 1964 at the age of 19, where she took part in the downhill alpine skiing category. She went on to participate in the subsequent Games in Grenoble and Sapporo, before returning to compete in speed skiing at Albertville in 1992, aged 47.

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Roberto Mieres, Sailing – Rome 1960

As previously mentioned, Mieres found himself going up against Bira in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The Argentinian had competed in 17 championship races between 1953 and 1955, with his best result being a fourth place.

Having pursued a number of sports in his youth, Mieres returned to sailing after his racing career and took part in the Star category in his sole appearance at the Games in 1960.

Ben Pon, Shooting – Munich 1972

The name of Ben Pon may not be overly familiar to F1 fans, with the Dutchman having participated in just one Grand Prix back in 1962. During his home event at Zandvoort, Pon retired two laps in following a spin that threw him from the car, after which he abandoned his single-seater career.

He did, however, continue to race in sports cars as well as appearing at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he competed in clay pigeon shooting.

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Bob Said, Bobsleigh – Grenoble 1968, Sapporo 1972

Like Pon, Bob Said took part in just one Formula 1 Grand Prix, but his appearance was short-lived. The American entered his home race in 1959 at the Sebring Raceway, yet a spin on the first lap saw him retire from the running.

Said’s sporting journey continued at the Winter Olympics, though, where he participated in the four-man bobsleigh at Grenoble 1968 and Sapporo 1972. In the former of these events, Said found himself competing against Robin Widdows, another driver with one F1 race to his name.

Robin Widdows, Bobsleigh – Innsbruck 1964, Grenoble 1968

Some years after Said’s fleeting Grand Prix career, Widdows made his debut in front of his home crowd at Brands Hatch in 1968. And, again like Said, the Briton failed to make it to the finish, having been forced to retire with an ignition problem.

Around his motorsport career, Widdows also took part in two Winter Olympics in the four-man bobsleigh, the first being Innsbruck 1964. He returned for Grenoble 1968, where he beat Said in the event after finishing in seventh, ahead of the American in 10th.

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Alex Zanardi, Handcycling – London 2012, Rio 2016

Italian racer Alex Zanardi made his F1 debut for Jordan in 1991, and from there racked up 41 Grands Prix up until his final race at Suzuka in 1999 with Williams. In between his stints in Formula 1, Zanardi won two CART championships in the US.

Upon his return to the American series in 2001, Zanardi suffered a heavy crash that resulted in both of his legs being amputated. While he resumed racing less than two years later, the driver also took up handcycling and participated in the London 2012 Paralympics.

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Here he won gold in the time trial H4 and the road race, as well as securing silver in the mixed relay team H1-4. At his second Games in Rio four years later, Zanardi added to his medals tally by winning silver in the road race H5, plus two further golds in the time trial H5 and the mixed relay H2-5.

In June 2020, Zanardi suffered severe injuries in a road accident in Italy. After undergoing several surgical procedures, the Italian returned home to continue his recovery in December 2021.