Francisco Fernández-Ochoa
Encyclopedia
Francisco "Paquito" Fernández Ochoa (February 25, 1950 – November 6, 2006) was an alpine ski racer
from Spain
. Born in Madrid
but raised north of the city in Cercedilla
, he was the eldest of eight children whose father ran a ski school. Paquito raced in all of the alpine disciplines and specialized in the slalom
.
At the age of 21 he won an Olympic gold medal in the slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics
in Sapporo, Japan
. He is known for being the first (& only) Spaniard
to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Thirty years later, German
-born Johann Mühlegg
won three gold medals in cross-country skiing
for Spain in 2002
, but was later stripped of his gold medals for doping
offenses.
Fernández Ochoa made his international debut at age 17 at the 1968 Winter Olympics
, where he finished 38th in the downhill and giant slalom
, and 23rd in the slalom
. His first top ten finish on the World Cup circuit was the following season, a sixth place finish in the slalom at Megève
, France
, on January 26, 1969
.
He was one of five siblings that raced for the Spanish alpine ski team and competed at the Winter Olympics
(brothers Luís and Juan Manuel and sisters Dolores and Blanca). Blanca
was the only other Spanish skier to win a medal at the Winter Olympics
; she won the bronze in the women's slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville, France
.
Fernández Ochoa competed in four Winter Olympics
(1968
-80
). He won only one World Cup
race, a slalom in 1974
in Zakopane
, Poland
. Both of his career wins came over Gustav Thöni
of Italy
, the dominant technical ski racer of the early 1970s.
At the 1974 World Championships
, Fernández Ochoa won a bronze medal in the slalom. His best season was 1975
; he finished 9th in the overall standings and 7th in the slalom standings. He finished ninth in the slalom at the 1976 Winter Olympics
.
Fernández Ochoa retired from international competition at age 30, following the 1980
World Cup season, and finished with four World Cup podiums (top 3) and 30 top ten finishes. He then raced for several seasons on the pro tour in North America
.
Fernández Ochoa died of lymphatic cancer
at age 56 in Cercedilla
, Community of Madrid in November 2006. Less than two weeks before his death, a statue of him was erected in Cercedilla. He was survived by his wife María Jesús Vargas (m. 1973) and their three children: Bárbara, Paula, and Francisco.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
but raised north of the city in Cercedilla
Cercedilla
Cercedilla is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It was the hometown of Francisco Fernández Ochoa , an alpine ski racer known for being the first Spaniard to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He won the slalom in 1972 in Japan...
, he was the eldest of eight children whose father ran a ski school. Paquito raced in all of the alpine disciplines and specialized in the slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
.
At the age of 21 he won an Olympic gold medal in the slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Sapporo, Japan, from February 5–13, 1972. The downhills were held at Mount Eniwa, and the four technical events at Teine.-Downhill:February 7, 1972...
in Sapporo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He is known for being the first (& only) Spaniard
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Thirty years later, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born Johann Mühlegg
Johann Mühlegg
Johann Mühlegg is a Spanish top level cross-country skier who has competed in international competitions first representing Germany and then Spain, after becoming a Spanish citizen in 1999...
won three gold medals in cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
for Spain in 2002
Nordic skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics
At the 2002 Winter Olympics, eighteen Nordic skiing events were contested – twelve cross-country skiing events, three ski jumping events, and three nordic combined events....
, but was later stripped of his gold medals for doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
offenses.
Fernández Ochoa made his international debut at age 17 at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Grenoble, France. The six events were held at Chamrousse from February 9–17, 1968.Jean-Claude Killy won all three men's events, repeating Toni Sailer's triple-gold of 1956...
, where he finished 38th in the downhill and giant slalom
Giant Slalom skiing
Giant slalom is an alpine skiing discipline. It involves skiing between sets of poles spaced at a greater distance to each other than in slalom but less than in super G....
, and 23rd in the slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
. His first top ten finish on the World Cup circuit was the following season, a sixth place finish in the slalom at Megève
Megève
Megève is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Megève is a famous ski resort near the Mont-Blanc in the French Alps...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on January 26, 1969
1969 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The third World Cup season began in December 1968 and concluded in March 1969. Karl Schranz of Austria won the first of two consecutive overall titles...
.
He was one of five siblings that raced for the Spanish alpine ski team and competed at the Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1936, when a combined event was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. From 1948–80, the Winter Olympics also served as the World Championships in Olympic years...
(brothers Luís and Juan Manuel and sisters Dolores and Blanca). Blanca
Blanca Fernández Ochoa
Blanca Fernández Ochoa is a former World Cup alpine ski racer. She competed in four Winter Olympics, from 1980 through 1992....
was the only other Spanish skier to win a medal at the Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1936, when a combined event was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. From 1948–80, the Winter Olympics also served as the World Championships in Olympic years...
; she won the bronze in the women's slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics consisted of ten events at three venues, held near Albertville, France. Val-d'Isère hosted the men's events, except the slalom, held at Les Menuires; all five of the women's alpine events were held at Méribel...
in Albertville, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Fernández Ochoa competed in four Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1936, when a combined event was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. From 1948–80, the Winter Olympics also served as the World Championships in Olympic years...
(1968
Alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Grenoble, France. The six events were held at Chamrousse from February 9–17, 1968.Jean-Claude Killy won all three men's events, repeating Toni Sailer's triple-gold of 1956...
-80
Alpine skiing at the 1980 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1980 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Lake Placid, New York, U.S.A.. The races were held at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington from February 14–23, 1980....
). He won only one World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
race, a slalom in 1974
1974 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 8th World Cup season began in December 1973 and concluded in March 1974. Piero Gros of Italy won the overall title, denying the runner-up, countryman Gustav Thöni, of a fourth straight overall title. Annemarie Pröll of Austria won the women's overall title, her fourth of five consecutive.The...
in Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Both of his career wins came over Gustav Thöni
Gustav Thöni
Gustav Thöni is a former champion alpine ski racer from northern Italy.-Career:...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the dominant technical ski racer of the early 1970s.
At the 1974 World Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1974
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1974 were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland, from February 3-10, 1974.St. Moritz would host the event again in 2003, and hosted the 1948 Winter Olympics and the 1928 Winter Olympics .-External links:...
, Fernández Ochoa won a bronze medal in the slalom. His best season was 1975
1975 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 9th World Cup season began in December 1974 in France and concluded in March 1975 in Italy. Gustav Thöni of Italy would regain the overall title, his fourth overall title in five seasons...
; he finished 9th in the overall standings and 7th in the slalom standings. He finished ninth in the slalom at the 1976 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Innsbruck, Austria, from February 5–13, 1976.Similar to the 1964 games, the men's downhill was held on Patscherkofel , the other five events at Axamer Lizum....
.
Fernández Ochoa retired from international competition at age 30, following the 1980
1980 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 14th World Cup season began in December 1979 in France and concluded in March 1980 in Austria.Andreas Wenzel of Liechtenstein edged out Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden for the overall title...
World Cup season, and finished with four World Cup podiums (top 3) and 30 top ten finishes. He then raced for several seasons on the pro tour in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Fernández Ochoa died of lymphatic cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at age 56 in Cercedilla
Cercedilla
Cercedilla is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It was the hometown of Francisco Fernández Ochoa , an alpine ski racer known for being the first Spaniard to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He won the slalom in 1972 in Japan...
, Community of Madrid in November 2006. Less than two weeks before his death, a statue of him was erected in Cercedilla. He was survived by his wife María Jesús Vargas (m. 1973) and their three children: Bárbara, Paula, and Francisco.
World Cup podiums
| Season | Date | Location | Race | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 1974 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 8th World Cup season began in December 1973 and concluded in March 1974. Piero Gros of Italy won the overall title, denying the runner-up, countryman Gustav Thöni, of a fourth straight overall title. Annemarie Pröll of Austria won the women's overall title, her fourth of five consecutive.The... |
March 6, 1974 |  ZakopaneZakopane Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
Slalom Slalom skiing Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :... |
1st |
| March 10, 1974 |  Vysoké TatryVysoké Tatry (town) Vysoké Tatry , informally Mesto Vysoké Tatry , is a town at the feet of the Slovak part of High Tatras in Slovakia including all the major resorts in that region... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
Slalom | 3rd | |
| 1975 1975 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 9th World Cup season began in December 1974 in France and concluded in March 1975 in Italy. Gustav Thöni of Italy would regain the overall title, his fourth overall title in five seasons... |
January 19, 1975 |  KitzbühelHahnenkamm, Kitzbühel The Hahnenkamm is a mountain in Austria, directly south of Kitzbühel, in the Kitzbühel Alps. The elevation of its summit is above sea level.The Hahnenkamm is part of the ski resort of Kitzbühel, and hosts the annual World Cup alpine ski races, the Hahnenkammrennen... , Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
Combined Alpine skiing combined Combined is an alpine skiing event. Although not technically a discipline of its own, it is sometimes referred to as a fifth alpine discipline, along with downhill, super G, giant slalom, and slalom.-Traditional & Super-Combined:... |
2nd |
| February 1, 1975 |  MegèveMegève Megève is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Megève is a famous ski resort near the Mont-Blanc in the French Alps... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Combined | 2nd |
External links
- FIS-ski.com - top ten results - Francisco Fernández Ochoa
- FIS-ski.com - World Cup season standings - Francisco Fernández Ochoa - 1969-80
- Sports-Reference.com - profile - Francisco Fernández Ochoa
- YouTube.com - 1972 Winter Olympics - Men's Slalom
- Gold medal second run - from Japanese television - 1972-02-13 - elmundo.es - obituary for Francisco Fernández Ochoa - 2006-11-06
- elmundo.es - coverage of funeral of Francisco Fernández Ochoa - 2006-11-07