Olympic GamesGold SL 72'' in Sapporo
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SAPPORO (Japan) - The Snows of an ancient extinct volcano make it shine medals cousins ​​Thoeni (Gustavo above). But to ruin, in part, the party in blue slalom, a Spaniard arrives in Madrid, virtually unknown, that the snow "salt" of the'' island of Hokkaido is located in wonder, Fernandez Francisco "Paco" Ochoa, the first medal '' absolute gold of Spain at the Olympic Games, not just winter. During the award ceremony evening, the Japanese did not recognize him, and they did not enter the stadium because of the'' free credit ...
Thursday 26 December 2013 6 minutes reading time
The big surprise of the 1972 Games in alpine skiing men comes from Castilla and Madrid in particular. It'' February 13, the last day of the Olympics'' Japanese. Gustavo Thoeni, blue Trafoi, has already won the gold medal in giant'' and is among the favorites of the slalom, along with French and Augert Duvillard and all'' Austrian Zwilling.
Francisco Fernandez Ochoa said Paco, was born in Madrid February 25, 1950. Nobody cares about him on the eve of the race for the rapid gates, even if it is entered twice in the top ten early in the season, 7th in Sestriere which is in Kitzbuehel. At best, has a 6th place as best result. Before the Olympic race, they went on stage 4 slalom World Cup, with the success of Palmer (American) to Sestriere, Duvillard in Berchtesgaden, Augert in Wengen and Kitzbuehel. To tell the truth even Gustavo Thoeni shone particularly, but arrived at the Games in the right form: 2nd behind Augert in Wengen, just barely beating the competition in giant and this seems in top condition. On the podium of the Polish Cup have risen even Bachleda (twice), the German Rieger, the Swiss Bruggmann, the Austrian Roffner'''' s other American Cochran. Ochoa, a few traces in the areas of the standings, as you can see. Yet.
Yet from'' island of Okkaido, "Paco" humble guy, modest and likeable, but he let himself go a forecast sincere with her mother, writing a letter to this effect: "Mom, I pray for you, not for me .'ll win and I will be a very exciting time. Stay strong. "
In fact, the first run of the slalom Japanese was crossed by a lightning Iberian unexpected (then ran in two days): Paco Ochoa, came down with the bib # 2, he tore Gustavo Thoeni (only momentarily eighth and also preceded by his cousin Rolando ) leaving it at 1 second and 33 cents in the first round. Gustavo II race staged in one of its historic comebacks, dragged behind his cousin, but the advantage gained by the Spaniard left Ochoa very quiet, So'' is true that the Spaniard lost only 32 cents from the Italian unleashed, but won with more than a second ahead of an incredible gold, silver, and with Gustavo Rolando bronze.
The problems began after: when he showed up at the stadium in Sapporo for the official prize giving ceremony in the late afternoon, "Paco" he forgot the credit'' and was not passed by security: "I have said many times to the Japanese "Hey, look at that are the Olympic champion!", but they did not want to let me know. did not believe me. And they were right, because what had happened to me she'' s incredible. " Eventually had to intervene Juan-Antonio Samaranch era'' s vice-president of the IOC (later to become the # 1) and Francisco was able to enjoy his triumph.
Such exploits elevated him on the spot to the rank of national hero and, upon his return from Japan, he was welcomed home by a large crowd who bestowed the honor and glory reserved only to the legendary bullfighters DominguÃn and El Cordobes. After the Olympic victory, Ochoa was able to win a race at the World Cup in Zakopane and 74'' in the same season to catch a bronze medal at St. Moritz, in the historic slalom world champion won by Thoeni.
Fernández Ochoa died in Cercedilla, due to a lymphatic cancer in 2006, at the age of 56 years''.
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