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Viva, Viva, Viva – Lorena Lorena Ochoa has the game but more importantly she has heart. Not only is she the Rolex World Number One female golfer but she has a string of other firsts to her credit. By Susanne Kemper Lorena – a lover of life, a big smile, a warm open extrovert personality – is instantly likeable both on the links and off. Active, energetic, helpful, caring, magnetic Lorena leads a full life that impacts so many in positive, meaningful ways. Not just through her Foundation and La Barranca – which are her great passions – but also through many other avenues from Ecothons to a variety of global charitable appearances helping worthy causes far from her native Mexico. The 5’6” Lorena excelled in tennis and was a 1990 club champion, playing in various conference tournaments in 1991. Loving athletics she competed from 1992-96 in the 400 and 800 metre events, plus the 100 metre relays as well as a variety of swimming competitions. Competing at 17 in her first Ecothon, she was the youngest participant ever; during the five kilometre swim, Lorena fought through horrendous conditions where many got hypothermia, but finished supported by her brother, Alejandro. “Ecothons and marathons are all mental. It’s all about pushing yourself as far as you can, you learn to be tough even though you are having a bad time, you try to do the best.” Pure Lorena. As her personality portrays, she loved team sports too playing in various leagues for soccer, basketball and volleyball.
ROLEX/Fadil Berisha
During summer holidays, Ochoa helped with Mission visits to play soccer with underprivileged children. She is an avid participant in the annual soccer game raising money for the ELA charity at the Evian Masters with other golf stars like Laura Davies, Ai Miyazoto, Momoko Ueda, and World Cup notable Zinedine Zidane. Never a wallflower, always leading and supporting everyone.
94 Womens GOLF Winter/Spring 2009
The great outdoors is one of Ochoa’s favourites. Waterskiing is tops on the list of pastimes. Mountain climbing, horseback riding and hiking are close behind having grown up at the family retreat in Talpalpa in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Mountain climbing became second nature and Lorena has climbed Mt. Nevado de Colima (14,300 feet) four times and Mt. Iztacihuati (17,324 feet). Snow skiing is another love; post-season 2007, Lorena and her girlfriends hit Vail, Colorado for 10 days of fun. From Vail she disappeared to her beach house for water skiing, and workouts plus a strict regimen cutting sugar and fat in-takes in her diet. Always thin and super-fit, Ochoa for the past years works consistently on her nutrition and fitness during the off-season. Amazing as it is, “Nutella” is one of her taste treats! Lorena’s favorite cuisine is Mexican – particularly tortas ahogadas de marlyn, chilaquiles. A close second is Argentinean beef. Having travelled the world on tour, she has also become a sushi addict. Lorena loves music and concerts. Madonna’s concert in Mexico City was tops. One of her other favourites is Pavarotti. Aficionado