Nuria Fernández Domínguez (born 16 August 1976 in Luzern, Switzerland) is a Spanish middle-distance runner. She specialises in the 1500 metres and is the Spanish record holder in the mile run and the 1500 m indoors.
Career Fernández has represented Spain at the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics as well as at the 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2011 World Championships in Athletics. She has also represented Spain at four European Championships in Athletics, three World Athletics Indoor Championships and four European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Fernández's best result came at the 2010 European Championships in Athletics where she won gold in the 1500 m, ahead of France's Hind Dehiba and Spain's Natalia Rodriguez. Following that result, she won silver at the 2011 European Indoor Championships in Athletics held in Paris, behind Russia's Elena Arzhakova. After a number of athletes were disqualified, Fernandez also won gold at the 2012 European Championships in Athletics held in Helsinki. She also finished fourth in the 1500 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics and fourth again in the 3000 m at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Although Fernández specializes in the 1500 m, she has achieved significant success in cross country events. She won bronze medals representing Spain in the team competition at both the 2009 European Cross Country Championships held in Dublin (Ireland) and the 2010 European Cross Country Championships held in Albufeira (Portugal).Magnífica actuación española en Albufeira .Real Federación Española de Atletismo (14 October 2010). Retrieved 15 December 2010. She followed this with a win at the Cross Internacional de San Sebastián in January 2011,Valiente, Emeterio (1 February 2011). Menjo and Fernández excel in San Sebastián XC while Cáceres eyes indoor success – Spanish weekend round-up. IAAF. Retrieved on 1 February 2011. and a victory at the Spanish Cross Country Championships in February 2011.RFEA. CAMPO A TRAVÉS - Campeonato de España Individual - MUJERES. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.
She ran at the Cursa Bombers 10 km race in 2010 and finished second behind Jéssica Augusto in a time of 33:03.Valiente, Emeterio (19 April 2010). Menjo blazes 27:04 10Km in Barcelona. IAAF. Retrieved on 23 April 2010. Fernández ran a world-leading and personal best time of 8:38.05 in the 3000 metres at the Gran Premio de Andalucía in Huelva, beating opposition including Ines Chenonge and Sara Moreira.Valinete, Emeterio (10 June 2010). 3000m World lead for Nuria Fernández in Huelva. IAAF. Retrieved on 14 June 2010.
On 9 December 2010 Fernández was questioned as a witness in relation to Operation Galgo, an investigation into a Spanish athletics doping ring being carried out by the Guardia Civil.La Guardia Civil interroga a Nuria Fernández y Reyes Estévez .El País (10 December 2010). Retrieved 15 December 2010. She denied all charges of doping and was allowed to remain on the team that represented Spain at the European Cross Country Championships held in Albufeira, Portugal.El agente de Nuria Fernández desmiente que haya estado detenida .Marca (10 December 2010). Retrieved 15 December 2010. El País reported that her coach, Manuel Pascua, admitted to police that he organised doping schedules for his athletes.Arribas, Carlos (31 December 2010). Nuria y 35.000 más en Vallecas. El País. Retrieved on 1 January 2011. Pascua later denied this report.Manuel Pascua: "Nunca he drogado a nadie". 20Minutos.es. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.
International competitions Representing 1993European Junior ChampionshipsSan Sebastián, Spain6th (h)800m 2:10.711994World Junior ChampionshipsLisbon, Portugal15th (sf)800m2:11.381995European Junior ChampionshipsNyíregyháza, Hungary7th (h)800m2:10.211997European U23 ChampionshipsTurku, Finland13th (h)800m2:06.05Mediterranean GamesBari, Italy8th800m2:08.871998Ibero-American ChampionshipsLisbon, Portugal 2nd1500m4:20.20European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary36th (h)800m2:04.891999World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain10th (h)1500 m4:09.392000Summer OlympicsSydney, Australia10th (sf)1500 m4:10.922001World Indoor Championships Lisbon, Portugal7th1500 m4:15.37World Championships Edmonton, Canada 12th1500 m4:17.862002European Championships Munich, Germany8th1500 m4:07.11 World Cup Madrid, Spain 7th 1500 m 4:11.562004Summer OlympicsAthens, Greece17th (sf)1500 m4:07.682005European Indoor Championships Madrid, Spain7th1500 m4:12.04Mediterranean Games Almería, Spain 3rd1500 m4:11.202006World Indoor ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia7th (h)1500 m4:17.12European ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden14th (h)1500 m4:08.912008World Athletics FinalStuttgart, Germany6th1500 m4:08.242009European Indoor ChampionshipsTurin, Italy4th3000 m8:49.49World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany4th1500 m4:04.912010Ibero-American ChampionshipsSan Fernando, Spain 1st1500 m4:05.71European ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain 1st1500 m4:00.202011European Indoor Championships Paris, France 2nd 1500 m4:14.04World Cross Country Championships Punta Umbría, Spain24th8 km26:392012European ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland 1st1500 m4:08.80Olympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom21st (sf)1500 m4:06.572014European ChampionshipsZürich, Switzerland5th5000 m15:35.592017European Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia10th3000 m9:05.17
Personal bests 800 metres - 2:00.35 min (2008) 1500 metres - 4:00.20 min (2010) Mile run - 4:21.13 min (2008) 3000 metres - 8:38.05 min (2010)
References
External links
Nuria Fernández: It's never too late, feature article from European Athletics Nuria Fernández (fanpage) Nuria Fernández Fan Page.
__NOTOC__