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

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordi ...

. She's a multiple medalist at the

European Championships The European Championships is a multi-sport tournament which brings together the existing European Championships of some of the continent's leading sports every four years. The inaugural edition in 2018 was staged by the host cities of Berlin, ...

. 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 to be part of the national junior group, coached by Rosa Menor, Paqui Maneus, Cathy Xaudaró and Berta Veiga, and she participated in the European Junior Championship in Tenerife obtaining a bronze medal along

Carmen Acedo Carmen Acedo Jorge (born February 10, 1975 in Lérida, Spain) is a retired individual rhythmic gymnast from Spain. Biography Acedo trained with Rosa Menor as a junior at club Patricia. She was first selected for the Spanish junior group in 1 ...

, Ruth Goñi, Montse Martín, Eider Mendizábal and Gemma Royo as well as Cristina Chapuli and Diana Martín as substitutes. In 1990 she was the silver medalist at the Spanish national championships, between

Ada Liberio Ada Liberio Romo (born 10 August 1974) is a retired Spanish Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She is a European and world medalist. Biography She trained at the Zaragozano Gimnasia Sports Club, being trained by Cathy Xaudaró. Along with o ...

and Mónica Ferrández. In November she was selected for the

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

where she won team bronze along Carolina Pascual and Mónica Ferrández, 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 Rosabel Espinosa de la Casa (born 18 May 1976) is a retired Spanish Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She's a multiple Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, European Championships medalist. Biography Rosabel started practicing rhythmi ...

. In 1993 she was the national runner-up being only surpassed by

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

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 Lidia Redondo Ruiz de Arévalo (born 7 March 1992) is a Spanish group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions. She participated at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She also competed at world championships, ...

. 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 also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nati ...

, and in May 2009, after the departure of

Sara Bayón Sara Bayón (born 19 May 1981) is a Spanish former Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast, former team coach of the Spanish national rhythmic gymnastics group, and current coach of the French group. She is the only Spanish gymnast who has been wor ...

, she became assistant coach of the senior group.

References

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