Team Bulgaria - Profile

Highlights: Bulgaria's best Olympic performance came at the 1980 Games in Moscow, where athletes from the NOC won a total of 41 medals [eight gold, 16 silver, 17 bronze]. Only two Bulgarian competitors won more than one medal in Moscow. Sprint paddler Ljubomir Ljubenov claimed gold in the men's C1 1000m and silver in the C1 500m, while artistic gymnast Stoyan Deltchev secured gold on men's horizontal bar and bronze in the individual all-around competition.

Bulgaria's first Olympian was gymnast Charles Shampov. He competed on pommel horse and vault at the 1896 Games in Athens. Female athletes first represented Bulgaria at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, also competing in artistic gymnastics.

Bulgaria has had most success at the Olympic Games in wrestling. Athletes from the NOC have won a total of 37 medals in freestyle wrestling and 32 medals in Greco-Roman wrestling. Bulgaria's first Olympic gold medal in any sport was won by wrestler Nikola Stantschew in the men's 84kg freestyle in Melbourne in 1956. Bulgaria's most successful Olympic wrestlers competed in the Greco-Roman discipline. Boyan Radev claimed his first gold in the men's 90kg category in 1964 and retained his title in 1968, while Petar Kirov matched Radev's achievement in the 55kg category in 1968 and 1972.

Weightlifting has also been a source of Olympic success for Bulgaria, with the NOC winning a total of 37 medals at the Games. Norair Nurikyan is the only Bulgarian athlete to have won two Olympic gold medals in the sport, claiming back-to-back Olympic titles in 1972 and 1976.

Four Bulgarian athletes share the distinction of having competed at the Olympic Games on six occasions, including pistol shooters Maria Grozdeva and Tanyu Kiriakov. Grozdeva, who participated at consecutive editions of the Games between 1992 and 2012, has secured more Olympic podium finishes than any other Bulgarian athlete with two gold medals and three bronze medals to her name. Kiriakov made his six Olympic appearances between 1988 and 2008, winning two gold medals and one bronze medal during this period.

Additional Information: Website
http://www.bgolympic.org

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Bulgarian-Olympic-Team-674696232653833

Anthem Title: Mila Rodino [Dear Homeland]

Anthem Composer: Words and music by Tzvetan Radoslavov.

Anthem Inducted: 1964

Official NOC Name: Bulgarian Olympic Committee

Founding Date: 1923

IOC Recognition Date: 1924

Delegation President: Stefka Kostadinova

Delegation Secretary General: Belcho Goranov

First OG/PG Appearance: 1896

Number OG/PG Appearances: 21 [Tokyo 2020 included]

Summary: