Blanca Fernández Ochoa
{{Short description|Spanish alpine skier (1963–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{family name hatnote|Fernández|Ochoa|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox alpine ski racer
|name = Blanca Fernández Ochoa
|image = Blanca Fernández Ochoa.jpg
|image_size = 210
|caption = Fernández Ochoa in October 2006
|disciplines = Giant slalom, slalom, combined, super-G
|club =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1963|04|22|df=y}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2019|08|23|1963|04|22|df=y}}
|death_place = La Peñota, Cercedilla, Spain
|height = 168 cm
|wcdebut =
|retired = March 1992 - (age 28)
|website =
|olympicteams = 4 – (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992)
|olympicmedals = 1 (bronze)
|olympicgolds =
|worldsteams = 6 – (1980–1991)
|worldsmedals = 0
|worldsgolds =
|wcpodiums = 20 – (12 GS, 8 SL)
|wcoveralls = 0 – (4th in 1988)
|wctitles = 0 – (3rd, three times)
|show-medals = yes
|medals =
{{MedalSport | Women's alpine skiing}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ESP}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|Winter Olympics }}
{{MedalBronze| 1992 Albertville|Slalom}}
}}
Blanca Fernández Ochoa (22 April 1963 – 23 August 2019)[https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/esqui/2019-09-04/blanca-fernandez-ochoa-descarta-muerte-accidental-violenta_2210547/ La Policía descarta la muerte accidental y violenta de Blanca Fernández Ochoa ], elconfidencial.com, 4 September 2019 was a World Cup alpine ski racer from Spain. Born in Madrid, she competed in four Winter Olympics, from 1980 through 1992.
Career
Her four siblings all competed in alpine ski racing for Spain in the Winter Olympics: Dolores, Francisco, Juan Manuel, and Luis. Francisco (1950–2006) won the gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
She received the Premio Reina Sofía for best athlete in 1983 and 1988 by Consejo Superior de Deportes at Premios Nacionales del Deporte.{{cite web |url= http://www.csd.gob.es/csd/sociedad/06distincionesDeporte/historico-de-premiados/view |title=Histórico de premiados en los Premios Nacionales del Deporte |publisher=Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte |work=Consejo Superior de Deportes |access-date=17 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008210000/http://www.csd.gob.es/csd/sociedad/06distincionesDeporte/historico-de-premiados/view |archive-date=8 October 2015 |language=es}} She also received the Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo in 1994.{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1994/12/22/MD19941222-048.pdf |title=El deporte español premia a todos sus héroes |newspaper=mundodeportivo.com |date=22 December 1994 |access-date=23 January 2017 |first=Juan Manuel |last=Merino}} At the 1992 Olympics at Albertville, France, Blanca won the bronze medal in slalom.{{Cite web |last=LdN |first=Redacción |date=19 February 2022 |title=30 años del bronce de Blanca Fernández Ochoa, la primera española en ganar una medalla olímpica |url=https://www.lugaresdenieve.com/?q=es/noticia/30-years-del-bronce-blanca-fernandez-ochoa-primera-espanola-ganar-medalla-olimpica-esqui |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=Lugares de Nieve |language=es}}
During her World Cup career, she had 4 victories, 20 podiums, and 69 top ten finishes.{{cite web |url=http://www.ski-db.com/db/profiles/wochbl.asp |work=ski-db.com |title=Blanca Fernández-Ochoa |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003210221/http://www.ski-db.com/db/profiles/wochbl.asp |archive-date=3 October 2008 |date=15 March 2008 |first=Matteo |last=Pacor |url-status=live }}
On 18 July 1991, she married Italian Daniel Fioretto in the Monastery of El Escorial. They ended up divorcing and she contracted a second marriage with David Fresneda, with whom she had two children, David (born 2000) and Olivia (born 1999), although this marriage also ended in divorce.[https://elcierredigital.com/investigacion/421639197/verdades-mentiras-incognitas-blanca-fernandez-ochoa.html Verdades, mentiras y muchas incógnitas en la desaparición de Blanca Fernández Ochoa], elcierredigital.com 3. September 2019 The children live with their father.
She was reported as missing on 23 August 2019{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49541118 |title=Blanca Fernandez Ochoa: Winter Olympic medallist reported missing |date=1 September 2019 |access-date=3 September 2019 |work=BBC World |publisher=BBC News |agency=BBC}} and found dead by a police officer on 4 September 2019 near La Peñota, in the Guadarrama Mountains.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2019/09/04/5d6fa0a621efa06d398b465c.html|journal=El Mundo|title=Hallan muerta a Blanca Fernández Ochoa|date=4 September 2019|first=Luis F.|last=Durán|first2=Quico|last2=Alsedo}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/deportes/un-agente-fuera-de-servicio-localizo-el-cadaver-de-blanca-fernandez-ochoa-cuando-paseaba-con-su-perro_201909045d6fb0700cf258d5327f21c5.html |title=Un agente fuera de servicio localizó el cadáver de Blanca Fernández Ochoa cuando paseaba con su perro por el pico de La Peñota |date=4 September 2019 |access-date=5 September 2019 |work=La Sexta Noticias |publisher=Atresmedia Corporación de Medios de Comunicación, S.A. |language=es}} Policía Nacional believed it was not an accidental death in a safe area and there were not traumas.{{cite news |url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/mas-deporte/2019/09/04/5d7023b6fc6c83e43d8b45ba.html |title=La Policía cree que la muerte de Blanca Fernández Ochoa no fue accidental |first=Luis |last=F. Durán |first2=Quico |last2=Alsedo |date=5 September 2019 |access-date=5 September 2019 |newspaper=El Mundo |language=es |publisher=Unidad Editorial Información General, S.L.U.}} On 5 September 2019 it was declared she died from a suicide because lithium tablets and a bottle of wine were found near her body.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/abci-hallan-pastillas-junto-cadaver-blanca-fernandez-ochoa-201909051354_noticia.html |title=Hallan pastillas de litio y una botella de vino junto al cadáver de Blanca Fernández Ochoa |first=Cruz |last=Morcillo |date=5 September 2019 |access-date=5 September 2019 |newspaper=ABC |language=es |publisher=Vocento}} She died the same day of the disappearance at the age of 56.{{cite news |url=https://www.antena3.com/noticias/sociedad/blanca-fernandez-ochoa-habria-muerto-el-dia-de-su-desaparicion-y-no-presenta-un-golpe-en-la-cabeza_201909045d700f150cf20a15827afa23.html |title=Blanca Fernández Ochoa habría muerto el día de su desaparición y no presenta un golpe en la cabeza |date=4 September 2019 |access-date=5 September 2019 |work=Antena 3 Noticias |publisher=Antena 3 |agency=Atresmedia Corporación de Medios de Comunicación, S.A. |language=es}}
The Blanca Foundation
After her death from suicide Blanca's sister Lola Fernández Ochoa founded The Blanca Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Aguilera |first=Alba |date=2024-06-04 |title=La dura confesión de la hermana de Blanca Fernández Ochoa cinco años después de su suicidio |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/vida-y-estilo/20240604/dura-confesion-hermana-blanca-fernandez-ochoa-dv-103344274 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=El Periódico |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=Lola Fernández Ochoa: "Hay que hablar del suicidio para concienciar y que no pase más" |url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2024/09/09/66dd8139e9cf4a4b258b457d.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}} The foundation is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and providing support to individuals facing mental health challenges. Through its various programs and initiatives, the foundation works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, offering resources, education, and a platform for open discussions. It focuses on providing accessible mental health services, including counseling and therapeutic support, to underserved communities. By partnering with experts, organizations, and local communities, the Blanca Foundation strives to create a more inclusive, empathetic society where mental health is prioritized, and people have the tools they need to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
World Cup results
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
=Season standings=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
!Season !! Age !! Overall !! Slalom !! Giant | |||||||
| 1982 | 18 | 55 | — | 28 | rowspan=1|not run | — | — |
| 1983 | 19 | 27 | 26 | — | rowspan=3|not awarded | — | — |
| 1984 | 20 | 36 | 27 | 19 | — | — | |
| 1985 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 7 | — | 8 | |
| 1986 | 22 | 31 | — | 10 | 31 | — | 19 |
| 1987 | 23 | 8 | 18 | style="background:#c96;"|3 | 9 | — | — |
| 1988 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 5 | style="background:#c96;"|3 | — | 9 |
| 1989 | 25 | 18 | 8 | 19 | 26 | — | — |
| 1990 | 26 | colspan=6|injured, did not compete | |||||
| 1991 | 27 | 10 | style="background:#c96;"|3 | 17 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | 28 | 7 | style="background:#c96;"|3 | 8 | 53 | — | — |
Points were only awarded for top ten finishes thru 1979, top 15 thru 1991 (see scoring system).
=Race victories=
- 4 wins (1 GS, 3 SL)
- 20 podiums (12 GS, 8 SL), 69 top tens
| class="wikitable"
! Season ! Date ! Location ! Discipline | |||
| align=center|1985 | align=right|3 March 1985 | {{flagicon|USA}} Vail, USA | align=center|Giant slalom |
| align=center|1988 | align=right|26 November 1987 | {{flagicon|ITA}} Sestriere, Italy | align=center|Slalom |
| align=center|1991 | align=right|22 December 1990 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Morzine, France | align=center|Slalom |
| align=center|1992 | align=right|1 December 1991 | {{flagicon|AUT}} Lech, Austria | align=center|Slalom |
World Championship results
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
! Year !! Location !! Age !! Slalom !! Giant | |||||||
| 1980 | align=left|Lake Placid, United States | 16 | 18 | ||||
| 1982 | align=left|Schladming, Austria | 18 | |||||
| 1985 | align=left|Bormio, Italy | 21 | 14 | 9 | DNF | ||
| 1987 | align=left|Crans-Montana, Switzerland | 23 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1989 | align=left|Vail, United States | 25 | 4 | 7 | |||
| 1991 | align=left|Saalbach, Austria | 27 | DNF |
From 1948 through 1980, the Winter Olympics were also the World Championships for alpine skiing.
At the World Championships from 1954 through 1980, the combined was a "paper race" using the results of the three events (DH, GS, SL).
Olympic results
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
! Year !! Location !! Age !! Slalom !! Giant | |||||||
| 1980 | align=left|Lake Placid, United States | 16 | — | 18 | rowspan=2|not run | — | rowspan=2|not run |
| 1984 | align=left|Sarajevo, Yugoslavia | 20 | DNF2 | 6 | — | ||
| 1988 | align=left|Calgary, Canada | 24 | 5 | DNF2 | 21 | — | — |
| 1992 | align=left|Albertville, France | 28 | style="background:#c96;"|3 | 12 | — | — | — |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FIS alpine skier|16881|Blanca Fernandez-Ochoa}}
- [https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=16881&type=cups Blanca Fernandez-Ochoa] World Cup standings at the International Ski Federation
- {{Ski-DB|blanca_fernandez_ochoa_spa_wochbl|Blanca Fernandez Ochoa}}
- {{SR/Olympics profile|fe/blanca-fernandez-ochoa-1|archive=20161203042735}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez Ochoa, Blanca}}
Category:2010s missing person cases
Category:Alpine skiers at the 1980 Winter Olympics
Category:Alpine skiers at the 1984 Winter Olympics
Category:Alpine skiers at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Category:Alpine skiers at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Category:Formerly missing Spanish people
Category:Competitors at the 1985 Winter Universiade
Category:Medalists at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Category:Missing person cases in Spain
Category:Olympic alpine skiers for Spain
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Spain
Category:Olympic medalists in alpine skiing
Category:Spanish female alpine skiers
Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for Spain
Category:Winter World University Games medalists in alpine skiing