The life of the Fernández Ochoa family was paralyzed, frozenand was never the same again on September 4, 2019. That day, lto Police and Civil Guard found the lifeless body of the former Olympic athlete Blanca Fernandez Ochoain a Peñota peak in Cercedillaa wooded area with difficult access in the Sierra de Madrid.
There were 11 very painful days of searching that ended in the worst of ways. On the verge of five years since that tragic death, Blanca’s family continues trying to live or survive. Blanca’s story has also encouraged people like her sister, Lola Fernandez Ochoa (57), to lead foundations whose objective is raise awareness about the importance of mental health.
Without going any further, last February, Lola presented the project Preparedwith which he claims that Blanca’s death don’t fall into oblivion, raising awareness among elite athletes about health care. Within the framework of this presentation, Lola spoke about the death of her sister at a conference. “She decided to commit suicide, and at first It was tremendous and I was embarrassed. because we were such a united family…”, he recently stated.
[Así es Olivia Fresneda, la hija de Blanca Fernández Ochoa: su compañera de vida y sus triunfos en el rugby]
Lola Fernández Ochoa in a photograph taken in Madrid, in February 2024.
Gtres
It is not the first time that Lola talks about this difficult passage in her life. A few weeks ago, gave an interview in RTVE Catalunyaon the occasion of the inauguration of the Mental Health and Sports Tour Blanca and Renfe Foundationand admitted: “The problem my sister had is that she was ashamed to admit that she had a mental health problem.”
And Lola added: “And he didn’t want to ask for help. I told her many times, ‘Blanca, let’s ask for help,’ and she told me no, that she was ashamed. She felt small“. At that point in the interview, Lola focused on a harsh reality: loneliness and the lack of help for retired athletes.
“I think that in this country we bury very wellWhen athletes are active, everyone takes photos with them. And once the lights run out, it’s very difficult because they don’t get any help,” said the sister of the eternal White. Lola has also explained that people who are professionally dedicated to the world of sports have to be “continually preparing for the day of his retirement don’t be something dramatic.”
Lola is strong because she knows there is a reason to be strong; her sister’s foundation and help others, but there are complicated days: “It’s a drama that I still have a hard time talking about., about my sister’s health and how her end and suicide ended. “It’s very hard to talk about it.”
Lola insists that it is vital to raise your voice and seek help when you are not well: “If a great athlete who is an idol for you has asked for help, why not. You have to ask for it and absolutely nothing happens. We have to normalize Just like if you go to the traumatologist because your knee hurts, I’m going to the psychologist because I need to reset“.
To this day, Lola Fernández Ochoa greatly regrets not having forced her sister to get help: “I respected his decision, and it’s the only thing I regret now, if I hadn’t taken her by the ears.”
Blanca’s children
The passage of time helps to heal the wounds, although the memory of the Olympic ski champion, a true reference in national and also women’s sports, remains unchanged. Above all in the hearts of her children, olivia (25) and David (24), who always keep it in mind.
“The best mother in the world. She will always be in my heart. I loved her, I love her and I will love her,” this is how David spoke about her in a tribute that was paid to her in September 2019. He has always been the one with the most media coverage, given how discreet they both are, the one who has accompanied the family in public events about his mother.
However, her sister prefers to stay in the background, focused on her life and career. On Olivia’s social networks you can see some images from the past that show the special relationship that united her with her mother.. She was her biggest supporter and keeps one of those childhood moments in the snow as her profile photo.
His death was a hard blow and these are the words he dedicated to him as farewell: “Thank you for everything you have done for us, You have given us life and now it is our turn to live it without you.. “I promise you that we are going to fight for everything, absolutely everything.”
