Biography
Started: She became involved in sport at age 15 in Varna, Bulgaria before later switching to athletics in 2000. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024, 23 Oct 2015)
Reason: "I felt physically strong and wanted to be part of the sports community." (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024)
Ambition: To contribute to the promotion and development of the Paralympic Movement in Bulgaria. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024)
Milestones: She became the first female Bulgarian to win more than one Paralympic medal in any sport when she claimed silver in the women's F57/58 discus at the 2012 Games in London, four years after winning silver in the same event at Beijing 2008. She also won a silver medal in F57/58 shot put at London 2012, making her the second Bulgarian of any gender [after men's throwing athlete Georgi Sakelarov] to win three career Paralympic medals. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Jul 2024)
Awards: She was Bulgaria's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024)
She was named the Bulgarian Sportsperson with an Impairment of the Year for 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. (bnr.bg, 01 Sep 2014; novinite.com, 23 Dec 2014)
She was named an honorary citizen of Varna, Bulgaria. (bnr.bg, 01 Sep 2014)
Additional Info: OCCUPATION
She works as a civil servant for the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Bulgaria. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024)
OTHER STUDIES
She has also studied for a degree in coaching at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024; bnr.bg, 01 Sep 2014)
CLUB FOUNDER
In 2010 she founded the Athletics Club for People with Disabilities and Veterans in Varna, Bulgaria. (blitz.bg, 13 Sep 2013; oib.bg, 13 Dec 2012)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateJuly 18, 1975
Place of ResidenceSOFIA
OccupationGovernment Official
EducationAccounting, Economics - University of Economics, Varna, BUL
Languages SpokenBulgarian, English
CoachGeorgi Gulev [club], Georgi Sakelarov [club]; Toni Velkov [personal], BUL, from 2024
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 2 | Women's Discus Throw F57/58 | 2012 | London, GBR | 36.56 |
| 2 | Women's Shot Put F57-58 | 2012 | London, GBR | 11.38 |
| 2 | Women's Discus Throw F57/58 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 34.58 |
| 4 | Women's Shot Put F57-58 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 10.28 |
| 10 | Women's Discus Throw F42-46 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 32.22 |
| 11 | Women's Shot Put F42-46 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 9.42 |
| 12 | Women's Javelin Throw F42-46 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 13.45 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Women's Discus Throw F58 | 2006 | Assen, NED | 31.94 |
| 1 | Women's Shot Put F58 | 2006 | Assen, NED | 9.82 |
| 2 | Women's Shot Put F58 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 11.40 |
| 2 | Women's Discus Throw F57/58 | 2011 | Christchurch, NZL | 39.84 |
| 2 | Women's Shot Put F57-58 | 2011 | Christchurch, NZL | 10.54 |
| 4 | Women's Discus Throw F57/58 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 35.70 |
| 6 | Discus Throw - F57 | 2024 | Kobe, JPN | 29.79 |
| 7 | Women's Discus Throw F42-46 | 2002 | Lille, FRA | 24.12 |
| 9 | Women's Shot Put F42-46 | 2002 | Lille, FRA | 7.98 |
| 13 | Women's Javelin Throw F42-46 | 2002 | Lille, FRA | 14.45 |
| DSQ | Discus Throw - F57 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 32.25 DSQ |
| DSQ | Shot Put - F57 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 11.14 DSQ |
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