Blanca Fernández Ochoa - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Blanca Fernández Ochoa was a Spanish alpine skier, born on April 22, 1963, in Madrid, Spain.
- 2. She came from a family of skiers, with her father being a ski instructor and her brother, Francisco Fernández Ochoa, who won a gold medal in alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- 3. Blanca made her Olympic debut at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, where she finished in 12th place in the slalom event.
- 4. She competed in four Winter Olympics in total, with her best result coming at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where she won a bronze medal in the women's slalom event.
- 5. Blanca also had success at the World Championships, winning a silver medal in the combined event in 1987 and a bronze medal in the slalom event in 1989.
- 6. She was the first Spanish woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympics and remains the only Spanish woman to have won an Olympic medal in alpine skiing.
- 7. Blanca retired from competitive skiing in 1992 and went on to work as a ski instructor and sports commentator.
- 8. She was known for her charismatic personality and was a beloved figure in Spanish sports.
- 9. Tragically, Blanca disappeared in August 2019 while hiking in the mountains near Madrid. Her body was found weeks later, and her death was ruled a suicide.
- 10. Blanca Fernández Ochoa's legacy as a pioneer for Spanish alpine skiing and her achievements on the slopes will always be remembered by fans and fellow athletes alike.