Francisco Fernández Ochoa

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameFrancisco•Fernández Ochoa
Used nameFrancisco•Fernández Ochoa
Nick/petnamesPaquito
Born25 February 1950 in Madrid, Madrid (ESP)
Died6 November 2006 in Cercedilla, Madrid (ESP)
Measurements171 cm / 65 kg
AffiliationsClub de Esquí Arroyomolinos, Madrid (ESP)
NOC Spain
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

When Francisco Fernández Ochoa won the 1972 Olympic slalom, he became the first Spanish champion at the Winter Olympics. He was in fact the first Spanish Olympic champion since 1928, and the third of all time. His victory came as a major upset, although he had placed in the top 10 at the 1970 World Championships. Fernández’s career only saw one other international victory, winning a slalom World Cup in Zakopane (Poland) in 1974.

That same year, the Spaniard also captured a bronze medal in the World Championships slalom, again the first ever won by his country. Born in a family of eight, four of Francisco’s siblings were also successful alpine skiers and competed in the Olympics: Luis, Juan Manuel, Dolores and Blanca.

In 1992, Blanca followed in her brother’s footsteps, winning Spain’s second Winter Olympic medal. Fernández, who retired in 1980, was the only Olympian ever to carry his country’s flag twice in the same year; in both Sapporo and München, he marched into the stadium carrying the Spanish banner. “Paquito”, as he was commonly known, died of lymphatic cancer at age 56, barely a week after the unveiling of a statue in his honour.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
Downhill, Men (Olympic) 38
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) 38
Slalom, Men (Olympic) 23
1972 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) DQ
Slalom, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1976 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
Downhill, Men (Olympic) 35
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) 24
Slalom, Men (Olympic) 9
1980 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
Downhill, Men (Olympic) 27
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) 22
Slalom, Men (Olympic) 22

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1972 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
1972 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
1976 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa
1980 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony ESP Francisco Fernández Ochoa

Olympic family relations

Special Notes