Spanish Olympic champ dies

Fernandez Ochoa won gold in the men's slalom in the Sapporo Olympics in 1972. His sister Blanca is Spain's only other Winter Olympic medallist, taking bronze in the women's slalom in Albertville in 1992.

The Cadena Ser radio station said that Fernandez Ochoa died at home on Monday morning.

Only a week ago he received a tribute at his home town of Cercedilla in the mountains near Madrid with princesses Cristina and Elena unveiling a statue of the skier.

"He was a great champion and a magnificent person," sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky told Radio Marca. "We all remember his triumph as if it were yesterday and no one has been able to equal his achievement since."

German-born cross country skier Johann Muehlegg won three events in the 2002 Winter Olympic while competing for Spain but was disqualified and then stripped of his medals after giving a positive dope test during the Games.