Noelia Fernández Navarro (born 21 September 1976) is a former Spanish

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, fle ...

. She's a multiple medalist at the

European Championships A European Championship is the top level international sports competition between European athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs. In the plural, the European Championships also refers t ...

. From 2004 to 2012 she coached the Spanish senior group in various stages.

Career

At the age of 6 she started practicing rhythmic gymnastics at the Montemar Athletic Club. In 1989 she was selected by

Emilia Boneva Emilia Boneva (21 July 1938 - 20 September 2019) was a Bulgarian coach in rhythmic gymnastics and head coach of the Spanish national team from 1982 to 1996. Her achievements included the Olympic gold won by the Niñas de Oro in Atlanta 1996, Car ...

to be part of the national junior group, coached by

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, Paqui Maneus,

Cathy Xaudaró Catherine Xaudaró Apellániz (born 30 April 1960) is a Spanish former Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She won a bronze medal at Worlds in 1975. Career Although she was born in the Philippines, due to martial law around 1970 she moved w ...

and

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, and she participated in the European Junior Championship in

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obtaining a bronze medal along

Carmen Acedo Carmen Acedo Jorge (born 10 February 1975 in Lérida, Spain) is a retired individual rhythmic gymnast from Spain. Biography Acedo competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics (, ), officially the Games of the XXV Ol ...

, Ruth Goñi, Montse Martín, Eider Mendizábal and

Gemma Royo Gemma Royo Lorte (born 20 March 1975) is a Spanish retired rhythmic gymnast. She was World champion in 1991 and two-time European champion in 1992. The generation of gymnasts that she was part of is known by the nickname "Primeras Chicas de Oro ...

as well as

Cristina Chapuli Cristina Chapuli Egido (born 18 January 1975) is a retired Spanish rhythmic gymnast. She was World champion in 1991. The generation of gymnasts that she was part of is known by the nickname "Primeras Chicas de Oro". Biography Cristina started ...

and Diana Martín as substitutes. In 1990 she was the silver medalist at the Spanish national championships, between Ada Liberio and

Mónica Ferrández Mónica Ferrández Arenas (born 25 October 1974) is a Spanish former rhythmic gymnast and coach. She is also a European and World medalist. Career Ferrández took up the sport at age 6 as an extracurricular activity. After a few months, she st ...

. In November she was selected for the

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where she won team bronze along

Carolina Pascual Carolina Pascual Gracia (born 17 June 1976 in Orihuela, Alicante) is a former Spanish Individual Rhythmic gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's rhythmic individual all-around, 1992 Olympics s ...

and

, she was as well 12th in the All-Around. After being 4th in 1991, the following year Fernández became national champion, tied with Rosabel Espinosa. In 1993 she was the national runner-up being only surpassed by

, in November she was crowned champion of the Spanish Cup in

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

both in the all-around and with the four apparatuses. In that period Noelia wanted to retire, but she was called up again for the national team. In 1998, at the age of 22, she was called to prepare for the

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

in Seville, although in the end she was not selected. Subsequently, in December 1999 she rejoined the group's training with the possibility to participating in the Olympic Games, but finally retired at the age of 23 shortly before Sydney 2000. In 2004 she was reserve coach for the senior group, with which she participated in the

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...

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, where Spain was 6th. From 2004 to 2007, she was coach of the junior group of the national team, which included gymnasts such as

Loreto Achaerandio Loreto Achaerandio Sánchez-Marín (born 13 September 1991) is a Spanish rhythmic gymnast, born in Madrid. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdo ...

Sandra Aguilar Sandra Aguilar Navarro (born 9 August 1992 in Madrid) is a Spanish group rhythmic gymnast. Career Sandra Aguilar represents her nation at international competitions. She participated at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She competed at world champion ...

and Lidia Redondo. She combined this position with her studies in physical education. Fernández later became assistant coach of Anna Baranova's team for the

2008 Beijing Olympic Games The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes fr ...

, and in May 2009, after the departure of Sara Bayón, she became assistant coach of the senior group.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Noelia 1976 births Gymnasts from Alicante Living people Spanish rhythmic gymnasts Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships Gymnastics coaches