Olympic history of Bulgaria

BGR

52	89	83

Bulgaria (or until 1908 Principality of Bulgaria , 1908 to 1946 Tsarism of Bulgaria and from 1946 to 1990 People's Republic of Bulgaria ) has been taking part in the Summer Olympic Games with interruptions since 1896. No Olympic team was called up in 1932 and 1948, and in 1984 Bulgaria took part in the boycott of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Bulgaria has been represented at the Winter Games since 1936. Youth athletes sent to all of the youth Olympic Games that have been held so far in summer and winter.

The National Olympic Committee is the Balgarski Olimpiyski Komitet . It was founded in 1923 and recognized by the IOC in 1924.

General

Charles Champaud

Bulgaria's Olympic debut came as early as 1896 in Athens at the first modern Olympic Games. The Swiss gymnast Charles Champaud lived in Bulgaria and worked there as a sports teacher. In Athens he started for Bulgaria in three disciplines of gymnastics. The dates of his life are unknown and the reports do not reveal which country he ultimately ran for. Nevertheless, the IOC lists him as a Bulgarian with the name Charles Shampov . Bulgaria is officially one of the first nations to take part in the modern Olympic Games. The first Bulgarian women to take part in the Olympic Games on July 22, 1952 in Helsinki were the gymnasts Swetanka Stantschewa, Ivanka Dolschewa, Saltirka Spasowa, Wasilka Stantschewa, Raina Grigorowa, Jordanka Jowkowa, Stojanka Angelowa and Penka Prisadaschka.

The first participation in the Winter Olympics took place in 1936. The first Bulgarian winter athletes were ski racers Borislaw Jordanow, Asen Zankow and Bojan Dimitrov on February 7, 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The first Bulgarian woman at the Winter Games was the cross-country skier Maria Dimowa on January 28, 1958.

The first Olympic medal was a bronze medal. It was won in the middleweight division in 1952 by the boxer Boris Nikolov . In 1956, the freestyle wrestler Nikola Stantschew became the first Bulgarian Olympic champion with his middleweight victory. The first woman in the country to win an Olympic medal was Diana Jorgowa in 1972 , who won silver in the long jump. The first female Olympic champion in 1976 was the athlete Iwanka Christowa , who won the shot put.

Ekaterina Dafowska

The first medal at the Winter Games was won by a cross-country skier. In 1980 Iwan Lebanow won bronze over 30 kilometers. The first winter Olympic victory was achieved by a woman. The biathlete Ekaterina Dafowska won gold over 15 kilometers in 1998.

Bulgaria has an athlete who competed in both summer and winter games. The short tracker Evgenija Radanowa took part in five winter games from 1994 to 2010 and won two silver and one bronze medal. In 2004 she took part in the Athens Summer Games in track cycling.

Bulgaria's most successful sport is wrestling. 69 medals were won here, 16 gold, 32 silver and 21 bronze medals. This puts Bulgaria in 6th place. Bulgaria is also one of the top nations in weightlifting with a total of 37 medals, 12 of which are Olympic victories, and it even ranks 4th in the medal table.

Bulgaria was represented by an athlete in 1896. In 1924 there were already 24 athletes at the start. In 1968, more than 100 athletes were in action for the first time. In 1980, 271 athletes traveled to the Moscow Summer Games, the largest Bulgarian Olympic team to date. The largest team at the Winter Games with 30 athletes started in Albertville in 1992.

In terms of the number of medals, the 1980 Moscow Summer Games were the most successful games for Bulgaria. A total of 41 medals could be won, which placed them in 3rd place in the medal table. Most of the Olympic victories in 1988 were in Seoul. 10 gold medals (versus eight in Moscow) were won. The most medals at the Winter Games were in Salt Lake City in 2002. One silver and two bronze medals could be won.

Applications to host the Olympic Games

The Bulgarian capital Sofia applied three times to host the Winter Olympics. In the first application to host the 16th Olympic Winter Games in 1992, the 91st IOC session in Lausanne only lost in the fifth and final ballot against the French community of Albertville . The application to host the 17th Olympic Winter Games in 1994 failed in the first ballot at the 94th IOC session in Seoul . The application to host the 22nd 2014 Winter Olympics was not accepted by the IOC.

Overview of the participations

Summer games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	Medals
	total	m	w					total	rank
1896	1	1	0
1900-1920	not participated
1924	24	24	0	Kiril Petrunov
1928	5	5	0	Todor Semow
1932	two participants in the art competitions
1936	26th	26th	0	Lyuben Doichev
1948	not participated
1952	63	54	9	Boris Nikolov			1	1	40
1956	47	44	3	Georgi Panov	1	3	1	5	19th
1960	98	89	9	Georgi Panov	1	3	3	7th	15th
1964	63	56	7th	Enjo Waltschew	3	5	2	10	11
1968	112	102	10	Prodan Gardschew	2	4th	3	9	18th
1972	130	106	24	Dimityr Slatanov	6th	10	5	21st	9
1976	158	105	53	Alexandar Tomov	6th	9	7th	22nd	7th
1980	271	183	88	Alexandar Tomov	8th	16	17th	41	3
1984	not participated
1988	172	104	68	Wassil Etropolski	10	12	13	35	7th
1992	138	87	51	Ivajlo Jordanov	3	7th	6th	16	18th
1996	110	74	36	Dimo Tonew	3	7th	5	15th	22nd
2000	91	52	39	Iwo Janakiev	5	6th	2	13	16
2004	95	49	46	Maria Grosdeva	2	1	9	12	33
2008	70	43	27	Petar Stoychev	1	1	3	5	42
2012	63	37	26th	Jordan Jovchev		2	1	3	63
2016	50	29	21st	Iwet Lalowa-Collio		1	2	3	65

Winter games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	Medals
	total	m	w					total	rank
1924-1932	not participated
1936	7th	7th	0
1948	4th	4th	0
1952	10	10	0
1956	7th	6th	1
1960	7th	4th	3
1964	7th	3	4th
1968	6th	2	4th
1972	4th	4th	0
1976	29	29	0
1980	8th	8th	0	Petar Popangelov			1	1	17th
1984	16	15th	1	Vladimir Velichkov
1988	26th	24	2	Vladimir Velichkov
1992	30th	22nd	8th	Iwa Karagyosova
1994	17th	10	7th	Nadezhda Alexieva
1998	19th	8th	11	Lyubomir Popov	1			1	15th
2002	23	13	10	Stefan Georgiev		1	2	3	20th
2006	21st	11	10	Ekaterina Dafowska		1		1	21st
2010	19th	12	7th	Alexandra Shekova
2014	18th	13	5	Maria Kirkova
2018	21st	12	9	Radoslaw Jankow

Youth Summer Games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	Medals
	total	m	w					total	rank
2010	21st	11	10	Teri Georgiev	2		1	3	30th
2014	27	13	14th		2	4th		6th	26th

Youth Winter Games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	Medals
	total	m	w					total	rank
2012	11	7th	4th	Alexandra Popova
2016	12	6th	6th				1	1	27

Overview of the sports

Summer games

badminton

-	-	-

Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992. The first Bulgarian badminton players took part in the sport's Olympic debut. In the women's singles, Neli Nedjalkowa failed in the first round to the Swiss Silvia Albrecht and Diana Kolewa to the German Katrin Schmidt . Most successful in 2004 was Petya Nedeltschewa , who reached the quarter-finals. In 2016 Linda Setschiri defeated Swiss Sabrina Jaquet in the preliminary round , but lost her round of 16 and was eliminated. The sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoewa defeated the German doubles Johanna Goliszewski and Carla Nelte in their preliminary round , but could not qualify for the quarter-finals.

basketball

-	1	1

Bulgarian basketball players first participated in 1952. In the preliminary round, Switzerland was defeated 69:58. The team was able to qualify for the quarter-finals, but failed there with only one win in three games. Bulgaria also failed in the quarter-finals in 1956. Two wins in the placement round brought the team to 5th place. In 1960, the team could only win one of their three preliminary round games. This brought you into the group for places 9 to 16. Three defeats brought the team to 16th and last place.

Bulgaria did not participate again until 1968. 5th place in the preliminary round meant qualification for the placement round for places 9 to 12. The first game against Panama was won, the defeat against Puerto Rico put the team in 10th place. In 1976, a women's team from Bulgaria also took part in the first women's tournament. The tournament field consisted of six teams, each team playing against each other. Bulgaria took 3rd place, tied with the USA, who had won the game against Bulgaria. The women's team won Bulgaria's first Olympic medal in basketball.

In 1980 the women's team won silver. After only one defeat in five games, the team reached the final, which was lost 73: 104 against the host Soviet Union. In 1988, the team managed only one win in three preliminary round games. Two wins in the placement round brought the team to fifth place. This was the last time a basketball team from Bulgaria could qualify for an Olympic tournament.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Women's national team	1980 Moscow	Women's tournament

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Women's national team	1976 Montreal	Women's tournament	first medal win

Beach volleyball

-	-	-

Beach volleyball was first played in Atlanta in 1996. A Bulgarian duo first started in 2000. The siblings Zwetalina and Petya Jantschulowa met the German couple Okka Rau and Stephanie Pohl in the 2004 preliminary round . The Bulgarians won the game in three sets and qualified for the round of 16, in which they were eliminated.

Archery

-	-	-

In 1980 in Moscow Bulgarian archers took part for the first time. Tvetanka Stojcheva's 27th place was her best so far.

Boxing

4th	5	9

Bulgarian boxers have been taking part in the Olympic Games since 1952. Boris Nikolow won a bronze medal in the middleweight division when he first participated . This was not only the first boxing medal, it was also the first ever Olympic medal for Bulgaria. His namesake Alexandar Nikolow won bronze in the light heavyweight division in 1964. Two more bronze medals were added in 1968 by Ivan Michailow in the featherweight and Georgi Stankow in the light heavyweight division.

In 1972 Bulgaria's first Olympic victory was in boxing. Georgi Kostadinow won the flyweight tournament. Angel Angelow won silver in the light welterweight division . In 1976 Vladimir Kolew won bronze light welterweight. 1980 Petar Lessow was Olympic flyweight champion. Ismail Mustafow won bronze in the light flyweight division . The native Roma had to change his name to a Bulgarian name and started as Iwajlo Marinow in 1988. In Seoul he became Olympic champion. Aleksandar Christow won silver in the bantamweight division .

Daniel Petrow won silver in the light flyweight division in 1992. Swilen Rusinow won bronze in the super heavyweight division . In 1996 Petrov became Olympic champion. Serafim Todorow won silver in the featherweight division and Tonscho Tontschew in the lightweight division. In 2004 Boris Georgiev won bronze in the light welterweight division. Terwel Pulew also won bronze in the heavyweight division in 2012.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Georgi Kostadinov	1972 Munich	Flyweight	first Olympic victory
Petar Lessow	1980 Moscow	Flyweight
Ivajlo Marinov	1988 Seoul	Light flyweight
Daniel Petrov	1996 Atlanta	Light flyweight

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Angel Angelow	1972 Munich	Light welterweight
Aleksandar Christov	1988 Seoul	Bantamweight
Daniel Petrov	1992 Barcelona	Light flyweight
Serafim Todorov	1996 Atlanta	Featherweight
Tonscho Tonschew	1996 Atlanta	lightweight

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Boris Nikolov	1952 Helsinki	medium weight	first ever medal win for Bulgaria
Alexandar Nikolov	1964 Tokyo	Light heavyweight
Ivan Mikhailov	1968 Mexico City	Featherweight
Georgi Stankow	1968 Mexico City	Light heavyweight
Vladimir Kolev	1976 Montreal	Light welterweight
Ismail Mustafov	1980 Moscow	Light flyweight
Swilen Rusinow	1992 Barcelona	Super heavyweight
Boris Georgiev	2004 Athens	Light welterweight
Terwel Pulew	2012 London	Heavyweight

• 

  Georgi Kostadinov, first boxing Olympic champion, in 2016

• 

  Serafim Todorow, silver 1996, in 2015

• 

  Terwel Pulew, bronze 2012

fencing

-	-	-

Bulgaria has been represented in Olympic fencing since 1928. The most successful ones came in 1980 in Moscow. Wassil Etropolski was fourth in the individual ranking in saber fencing , his twin brother Christo fifth.

Soccer

-	1	1

A Bulgarian soccer team first took part in an Olympic soccer tournament in 1924. Here and in the second participation in 1952, the team was eliminated in the first round. 1956 succeeded with a 6-1 victory over the United Kingdom the first victory. In the semifinals, the Soviet Union lost 2-1 after extra time and then won the bronze game against India 3-0 and won their first Olympic medal in football. In 1960 they were eliminated after the preliminary round.

In 1968 the team qualified for the quarterfinals. Against Israel it was 1-1 after extra time, the game was decided by a coin toss in favor of Bulgaria. In the semi-finals, hosts Mexico were beaten 3-2. The final against Hungary was lost with 1: 4, whereby the Bulgarians were only able to continue with seven field players due to three dismissals shortly before the half-time break.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
National team of men	1968 Mexico City	Men's tournament

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
National team of men	1956 Melbourne	Men's tournament	first medal win

Weightlifting

12	17th	8th

Bulgarian weightlifters have been taking part in the Olympic Games since 1956. The weightlifters became successful from 1972 onwards. Three gold and three silver medals were won in Munich. Norair Nurikjan became the first Bulgarian medalist and Olympic champion in weightlifting with his featherweight victory. Jordan Bikow was Olympic champion in the middleweight division . In the middle heavyweight division there was a Bulgarian double victory. Andon Nikolow won ahead of Atanas Schopow . Mladen Kutschew won silver in the lightweight and Aleksandar Krajtschew in the heavyweight division.

1976 Norair Nurikjan was again Olympic champion, this time in the bantamweight. Jordan Mitkow won the middleweight division. Georgi Todorow won silver in the featherweight division, Trendafil Stojchev in the light heavyweight division and Krastju Semerdschiew in the heavyweight division. Atanas Schopow took bronze in the middle heavyweight division.

Also in Moscow in 1980 two Bulgarians were able to become Olympic champions. Janko Russew won in the lightweight , Mintscho Paschow took bronze. In the middleweight division, Assen Slatew was Olympic champion, Nedeltscho Kolew won bronze. There were also four silver medals by Stefan Dimitrov in the featherweight, Blagoj Blagoew in the light heavyweight, Rumen Alexandrow in the middle heavyweight and Valentin Christow in the second heavyweight.

1988 in Seoul Sewdalin Marinow won the flyweight. Borislaw Gidikow was also Olympic champion in the middleweight division, here Aleksandar Werbanow took bronze. Stefan Topurow won silver in featherweight . Ivan Ivanov was Olympic flyweight champion in 1992. In the featherweight division, Nikolai Peschalow won silver. also Joto Jotow in the lightweight. In the 2nd heavyweight division, Stefan Botew took bronze. Botew emigrated to Australia shortly afterwards . For his new home he competed in the super heavyweight division in 1996 and won bronze again.

In 1996 for the first time no gold medals could be won. Joto Jotow won silver again, this time in the middleweight division. Sewdalin Mintschew won bronze in the flyweight, Nikolai Peschalow in the bantamweight. In 2000 in Sydney Galabin Boewski was then Olympic champion in the lightweight. His compatriot Georgi Markow was behind him on the silver rank. Alan Zagaew also won silver in the heavyweight division.

In Athens 2004 Milen Dobrew won the gold medal in the middle heavyweight division. Welitschko Tscholakow won bronze in the super heavyweight division. In 2008, for the first time, no Bulgarian weightlifters took part. In 2012 two athletes competed unsuccessfully. In the middleweight division of women, Milka Manewa was in 5th place. The three medal winners, however, were subsequently disqualified for doping: Kazakh Maija Manesa in October 2016, Turkish Sibel Şimşek in January 2017 and Russian Swetlana Zarukajewa in April 2017. Manewa was subsequently named Silver medalist declared. In 2016 there were again no Bulgarians at the start.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Norair Nurikjan	1972 Munich	Featherweight	first medal and Olympic victory
Jordan Bikow	1972 Munich	medium weight
Andon Nikolov	1972 Munich	Middle heavyweight
Norair Nurikjan	1976 Montreal	Bantamweight
Jordan Mitkow	1976 Montreal	medium weight
Yanko Russew	1980 Moscow	lightweight
Assen Slatew	1980 Moscow	medium weight
Sewdalin Marinov	1988 Seoul	Flyweight
Borislav Gidikow	1988 Seoul	medium weight
Ivan Ivanov	1992 Barcelona	Flyweight
Galabin Boewski	2000 Sydney	lightweight
Milen Dobrew	2004 Athens	Middle heavyweight

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Mladen Kuchev	1972 Munich	lightweight
Atanas Shopov	1972 Munich	Middle heavyweight
Aleksandar Krajchev	1972 Munich	Heavyweight
Georgi Todorov	1976 Montreal	Featherweight
Trendafil Stoychev	1976 Montreal	Light heavyweight
Krastju Semerjiev	1976 Montreal	Heavyweight
Stefan Dimitrov	1980 Moscow	Featherweight
Blagoy Blagoev	1980 Moscow	Light heavyweight
Rumen Alexandrov	1980 Moscow	Middle heavyweight
Valentin Christow	1980 Moscow	2. Heavyweight
Stefan Topurow	1988 Seoul	Featherweight
Nikolai Peschalov	1992 Barcelona	Featherweight
Joto Jotow	1992 Barcelona	lightweight
Joto Jotow	1996 Atlanta	medium weight
Georgi Markov	2000 Sydney	lightweight
Alan Zagaew	2000 Sydney	lightweight
Milka Manewa	2012 London	medium weight

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Atanas Shopov	1976 Montreal	Middle heavyweight
Mintscho Paschow	1980 Moscow	lightweight
Nedeltscho Kolew	1980 Moscow	medium weight
Aleksandar Verbanov	1988 Seoul	medium weight
Stefan Botew	1992 Barcelona	2. Heavyweight
Sewdalin Minchev	1992 Barcelona	Flyweight
Nikolai Peschalov	1992 Barcelona	Bantamweight
Velichko Cholakov	2004 Athens	Super heavyweight

• 

  Georgi Todorow, silver 1976

• 

  Yanko Russew, 1980 Olympic champion, in 2014

• 

  Blagoj Blagoew, silver in 1980, coached the Australian Paralympic team in 2000

Judo

-	1	2

Bulgarian judoka first took part in Olympic judo tournaments in 1976. Dimitar Zaprianow was the first Bulgarian medalist in judo in 1980. He won silver in the heavyweight division. Ilijan Nedkow won bronze in the half lightweight division. It was not until 2004 in Athens that a medal could be won again. Georgi Georgiev won bronze in the half light weight.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Dimitar Zaprianov	1980 Moscow	Heavyweight	first medal win

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Ilijan Nedkow	1980 Moscow	Half light weight
Georgi Georgiev	2004 Athens	Half light weight

Canoeing

4th	5	8th

Bulgarian canoeists have been taking part in Olympic regattas since 1960. In the two-man Canadian, Marin Gopow and Toma Sokolow reached the final over 1000 meters. You finished sixth. The same placement achieved in 1964 Bogdan Ivanov in the Canadians over 1000 meters. Boris Lyubenow was fifth on this track in 1968 and sixth in 1972. The first medal was won in 1972. Fedja Demjanow and Iwan Burtschin won the bronze medal over 1000 meters in the two-man Canadian.

In 1976 Borislaw Ananiev narrowly failed twice to achieve a medal rank. In the Canadians, he was fourth both over 500 and 1000 meters. Ivan Burtschin and Krasimir Christow took 6th place in the two-man Canadians over 500 meters and seventh place over 1000 meters. The women's two-man kayak with Marija Mintschewa and Natascha Petrowa also came in seventh over 500 meters.

In 1980, Ljubomir Lyubenow was the first Bulgarian Olympic champion in canoeing in the single-Canadian over 1000 meters. He also won silver over 500 meters. The kayak foursome and the two-man Canadians took bronze over 1000 meters with Borislaw Ananiew and Nikolai Ilkow. Wanja Geschewa won silver in the women 's kayak over 500 meters.

In 1988 Wanja Geschewa became Olympic champion in a single kayak over 500 meters. She won silver in a two-person kayak with Diana Palijska and bronze with a four-person kayak. In the single-Canadian, Martin Marinow won bronze over 500 meters and Nikolai Buchalow over 1000 meters. Dejan Bonew and Petar Boschilow took 4th place in the two-man Canadians over 500 meters.

In 1992 Nikolai Buchalow was a double Olympic champion in the single Canadian over 500 and 1000 meters. Martin Marinow and Blagowest Stojanow drove in the two-man Canadian over 500 meters to the bronze medal. They finished sixth over 1000 meters. In 1996 they finished fourth over 1000 meters and fifth over 500 meters. Andrian Duschew and Milko Kazanow won bronze in a two-man kayak over 1000 meters.

In 2000, Petar Markow won silver in a single kayak over 500 and 1000 meters. With the four-person kayak he reached fifth place. In 2004, the four-person kayak for men was fourth. The two-person kayak for women with Deljana Datschewa and Bonka Pindschewa came in sixth over 500 meters.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Lyubomir Lyubenow	1980 Moscow	C 1, 1000 meters	first Olympic victory
Vanya Geschewa	1988 Seoul	K 1,500 meters
Nikolai Bukhalov	1992 Barcelona	C 1,500 meters
Nikolai Bukhalov	1992 Barcelona	C 1, 1000 meters

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Lyubomir Lyubenow	1980 Moscow	C 1,500 meters
Vanya Geschewa	1980 Moscow	K 1,500 meters
Wanja Geschewa Diana Palijska	1988 Seoul	K 2, 500 meters
Petar Markov	2000 Sydney	K 1,500 meters
Petar Markov	2000 Sydney	K 1, 1000 meters

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Fedja Demjanow Ivan Burchin	1972 Munich	C 2, 1000 meters	first medal win
Borislaw Borisow Boschidar Milenkow Lazar Christow Iwan Manew	1980 Moscow	K 4
Borislav Ananiew Nikolai Ilkov	1980 Moscow	C 2,500 meters
Martin Marinow	1988 Seoul	C 1,500 meters
Nikolai Bukhalov	1988 Seoul	C 1, 1000 meters
Borislawa Iwanowa Ognjana Petrowa Vanja Geschewa Diana Palijska	1988 Seoul	K 4
Martin Marinow Blagowest Stojanow	1992 Barcelona	C 2,500 meters
Andrian Dushew Milko Kazanov	1996 Atlanta	K 2, 1000 meters

athletics

5	8th	6th

Bulgaria has been participating in Olympic athletics since 1924. It was not until 1964 that the first finals took place. Georgi Stojkowski reached the final in the triple jump and was seventh. The long jumper Diana Jorgowa was sixth and the discus thrower Wirschinija Michajlowa fourth. In Mexico City 1968 Stojkowski finished ninth. Over 3000 meters obstacle Michail Schelew took 6th place. Iwanka Christowa achieved the same place in the shot put.

The first medals were won in 1972, all by women. Diana Jorgowa won the first Bulgarian athletics medal with silver in the long jump. Jordanka Blagoewa also won silver in the high jump. Iwanka Christowa won bronze in the shot put, Wassilka Stoewa in the discus throw. Lyutwijan Mollowa was fourth in the javelin throw , Nedjalka Angelowa was sixth in the pentathlon.

In 1976 in Montreal Iwanka Christowa achieved the first Bulgarian Olympic victory in athletics with her victory in the shot put. Marija Petkowa won silver in the discus throw, Nikolina Schterewa also ran over 800 meters to silver. She finished fourth over 1500 meters. Jordanka Blagoewa took bronze in the high jump. In the 800-meter run, Swetla Slatewa reached 6th place. Janko Bratanow achieved the same placement over 400 meter hurdles.

Marija Petkowa again won silver in the discus throw in Moscow in 1980. Petar Petrow also won a bronze medal over 100 meters. The men's 100-meter relay took 6th place, the women's 4th place. Atanas Tschotschew also took 6th place in the triple jump and Emanuil Djulgerow in the hammer throw. In the decathlon Atanas Andonow was seventh. In the women’s category, Nikolina Schterewa took 7th place over 800 meters. In the shot put Wirschinija Weselinowa was fifth and Elena Stojanowa sixth. Svetla Boschkowa took 8th place in the discus throw, Iwanka Wantschewa took 5th place in the javelin throw.

In 1988 Christo Markow became Olympic champion in the triple jump. Jordanka Donkowa won the 100 meter hurdles. Stefka Kostadinowa won silver in the high jump, Zwetanka Christowa bronze in the discus throw. Here Svetla Mitkova took fourth place. The women's 100-meter relay came fifth.

In Barcelona 1992 Zwetanka Christowa won silver in the discus throw, over 100 meters hurdles defending champion Jordanka Donkowa took bronze. Stefka Kostadinowa was fourth in the high jump, Svetla Dimitrova fifth in the heptathlon. Anelija Nunewa finished sixth over 100 meters and Swetla Mitkowa in the shot put. In the discus throw, the second Bulgarian in the final, Stefania Simowa, was eighth.

Stefka Kostadinova provided the only Bulgarian athletics medal in 1996. For this, this medal was made of gold, as it could win the high jump. The only other final participation was the triple jumper Galin Georgiev, he finished seventh. Also in Sydney in 2000 there was only one medal win, which was an Olympic victory. Teresa Marinowa won the triple jump.

In 2004 the Bulgarian team remained without a medal. Iwet Lalowa-Collio was fourth over 100 meters and fifth over 200 meters. Daniela Jordanowa took 5th place over 1500 meters. 2008 in Beijing not a single final could be reached. This unsuccessfulness continued in London in 2012. It was not until 2016 that Mirela Demirewa won a medal in the high jump with the silver medal. Iwet Lalowa-Collio also reached a final. She was eighth over 200 meters.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Ivanka Christowa	1976 Montreal	Shot put	first Olympic victory
Christo Markow	1988 Seoul	Triple jump
Jordanka Donkova	1988 Seoul	100 meter hurdles
Stefka Kostadinova	1996 Atlanta	high jump
Teresa Marinova	2000 Sydney	Triple jump

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Diana Jorgowa	1972 Munich	Long jump	first medal win
Jordanka Blagoewa	1972 Munich	high jump
Maria Petkova	1976 Montreal	Discus throw
Nikolina Shtereva	1976 Montreal	800 meters
Maria Petkova	1980 Moscow	Discus throw
Stefka Kostadinova	1988 Seoul	high jump
Tsvetanka Christova	1992 Barcelona	Javelin throw
Mirela Dimirewa	2016 Rio de Janeiro	high jump

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Ivanka Christowa	1972 Munich	Shot put
Wassilka Stoewa	1972 Munich	Discus throw
Jordanka Blagoewa	1976 Montreal	high jump
Petar Petrov	1980 Moscow	100 meters
Tsvetanka Christova	1988 Seoul	Javelin throw
Jordanka Donkova	1992 Barcelona	100 meter hurdles

• 

  Jordanka Donkowa, Olympic champion in 1988 and bronze in 1992, in 2013

• 

  Stefka Kostadinowa, silver in 1988 and Olympic champion in 1996, in 2012

• 

  The sprinter Iwet Lalowa-Collio

• 

  Mirela Demirewa, silver 2016

Modern pentathlon

-	-	-

The first Bulgarian pentathletes took part in 1968. The best placement with 21st place was achieved in 1976 by Stojan Slatew.

Cycling

-	-	-

In 1924 the first Bulgarian cyclists took part. The best place was a sixth place by Dimo ​​Tontschew in the 1,000-meter time trial in 1972 in Munich.

horse riding

-	1	-

The first Bulgarian riders started in 1924. At the equestrian games of 1956 in Stockholm, eventing rider Genko Raschkow was fifth on Euphoria .

The first medal was won in Moscow in 1980. The dressage team won the silver medal. The eventing rider Swetan Dontschew rode Medisson in 5th place.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Petar Mandadschiew on Shibor Svetoslav Ivanov on Aleko Georgi Gadschew on Vnimatelen	1980 Moscow	Dressage team

Wrestling

16	32	21st

The first Bulgarian wrestlers took part in 1956. The first medals were also won here. The first medal was also an Olympic victory. The freestyle wrestler Nikola Stantschew won the middleweight division and was not only the first Bulgarian Olympic champion in wrestling, he was also the first Bulgarian Olympic champion at all. Jussein Mechmedow won silver in the heavyweight division . Also got silver in the Greco-Roman style Dimitar Dobrew in the middleweight division and Petko Sirakow in the light heavyweight division.

1960 in Rome Dimitar Dobrew was then Olympic middleweight champion. In the Greco-Roman style, Krali Bimbalow also won silver in the light heavyweight division and Dinko Petrow bronze in the bantamweight division. In the freestyle, Neschdet Salew won silver in the bantamweight and Stantscho Iwanow in the featherweight and Enjo Waltschew bronze in the lightweight. 1964 Waltschew was Olympic champion in this weight class. In the middleweight division Prodan Gardschew won , in the Greco-Roman style Bojan Radew won the light heavyweight division. Other medals won in the Greco-Roman style Angel Keressow in flyweight and Kiril Petkow in welterweight, each with silver. In the freestyle, Stantscho Ivanov won in the featherweight and Lyutwi Akhmedov in the heavyweight both silver and Said Mustafow in the light heavyweight bronze.

In 1968 the Greco-Roman wrestlers ensured the Olympic victories. It won Petar Kirov in the flyweight and defending champion Bojan Radew in the light heavyweight. In freestyle, Enjo Todorow won the featherweight, Enjo Waltschew lightweight and Osman Duraliew heavyweight each silver. In the middleweight division, Prodan Gardschew won bronze. Also in 1972 the Olympic champions came from the Greco-Roman camp. Petar Kirov defended his Olympic flyweight victory, Georgi Markow won the featherweight victory. There were also two silver medals by Stojan Apostolow in the lightweight and Alexandar Tomow in the super heavyweight and a bronze medal by Stefan Angelow in the light flyweight. In freestyle, Ognjan Nikolow won silver in light flyweight and Osman Duraliew in super heavyweight. Ivan Krastew won bronze in the featherweight division.

In 1976 there was again an Olympic victory in freestyle by Khassan Issaew in the light flyweight division. Dimo Kostow won bronze in the heavyweight division. In the Greco-Roman style, Stojan Nikolow won silver in the light heavyweight division, Kamen Goranov in the heavyweight division and Alexandar Tomov in the super heavyweight division. Stefan Angelow in the light flyweight and Iwan Kolew in the middleweight division each won bronze.

In 1980 Moscow won three Olympic gold medals. Georgi Rajkow won the heavyweight division in the Greco-Roman style . In the super heavyweight division, Alexandar Tomow won his third silver medal in a row. Mladen Mladenow in the flyweight and Pawel Pavlov in the middleweight division each won bronze. In the freestyle, Valentin Rajchev was welterweight and Ismail Abilow was Olympic champion middleweight. Micho Dukow in the featherweight, Iwan Jankow in the lightweight and Slavcho Chervenkov in the heavyweight each won silver. Nermedin Selimow won a bronze medal in the flyweight division.

In 1988 in Seoul an Olympic victory could be celebrated. In the Greco-Roman style Atanas Komtschew was Olympic champion in the light heavyweight division. Stojan Balow in bantamweight, Schiwko Wangelow in featherweight and Rangel Gerowski in super heavyweight each won silver. Bratan Zenow took bronze in the light flyweight division . In freestyle, Iwan Zonow won silver in the light flyweight division. Bronze went to Simeon Schterew in the featherweight and Rahmat Sofiadi in the welterweight. In 1992 only two medals could be won, both in freestyle. For the first time Bulgaria remained in the wrestling without an Olympic victory. Valentin Gezow won silver in the lightweight, Valentin Jordanow bronze in the flyweight. In 1996 Jordanow became Olympic champion. It remained the only Bulgarian medal in Atlanta.

2000 in Sydney came in the featherweight of the Greco-Roman style Armen Nazarjan for use. Nasaryan was Olympic flyweight champion in 1996, but started in Atlanta for his native Armenia. He has had Bulgarian citizenship since 1997, and was Olympic champion in Sydney. Serafim Barsakow won silver in the lightweight freestyle . Nazarjan won bronze again in 2004, this time in the lightweight. This remained the only medal in Athens for Bulgaria.

In 2008 in Beijing Radoslaw Velikow won the featherweight and Kiril Tersiew in the middleweight freestyle bronze. The Greco-Roman wrestler Jawor Janakiew also won bronze in the middleweight division. For the first time a Bulgarian female wrestler won an Olympic medal. Stanka Slatewa won silver in the heavyweight division. In 2012 she repeated the medal win. In London, she won Bulgaria's only wrestling medal. Also in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro there was only one medal. Eliza Jankowa won bronze in the flyweight division.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Nikola Stanchev	1956 Melbourne	Middleweight, freestyle	first medal and first ever Olympic victory by a Bulgarian
Dimitar Dobrew	1960 Rome	Middleweight, Greco-Roman
Enjo Waltschew	1964 Tokyo	Lightweight, freestyle
Prodan Gardschew	1964 Tokyo	Middleweight, freestyle
Bojan Radew	1964 Tokyo	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Petar Kirov	1968 Mexico City	Flyweight, Greco-Roman
Bojan Radew	1968 Mexico City	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Petar Kirov	1972 Munich	Flyweight, Greco-Roman
Georgi Markov	1972 Munich	Featherweight, Greco-Roman
Hassan Issaev	1976 Montreal	Light flyweight, freestyle
Georgi Rajkov	1980 Moscow	Heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Valentin Rajchev	1980 Moscow	Welterweight, freestyle
Ismail Abilov	1980 Moscow	Middleweight, freestyle
Atanas Komshev	1988 Seoul	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Valentin Jordanow	1996 Atlanta	Flyweight, freestyle
Poor Nazarjan	2000 Sydney	Featherweight, Greco-Roman

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Yussein Mechmedow	1956 Melbourne	Heavyweight, freestyle
Dimitar Dobrew	1956 Melbourne	Middleweight, Greco-Roman
Petko Sirakov	1956 Melbourne	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Krali Bimbalow	1960 Rome	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Neschdet Salew	1960 Rome	Bantamweight, freestyle
Stancho Ivanov	1960 Rome	Featherweight, freestyle
Stancho Ivanov	1964 Tokyo	Featherweight, freestyle
Lyutvi Akhmedov	1964 Tokyo	Heavyweight, freestyle
Angel Keressow	1964 Tokyo	Flyweight, Greco-Roman
Kiril Petkov	1964 Tokyo	Greterweight, Greco-Roman
Enjo Todorow	1968 Mexico City	Featherweight, freestyle
Enjo Waltschew	1968 Mexico City	Lightweight, freestyle
Osman Duraliew	1968 Mexico City	Heavyweight, freestyle
Stoyan Apostolov	1972 Munich	Lightweight, Greco-Roman
Alexandar Tomov	1972 Munich	Super heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Ognyan Nikolov	1972 Munich	Light flyweight, freestyle
Osman Duraliew	1972 Munich	Super heavyweight, freestyle
Stoyan Nikolov	1976 Montreal	Light heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Came Goranov	1976 Montreal	Heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Alexandar Tomov	1976 Montreal	Super heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Alexandar Tomov	1980 Moscow	Super heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Micho Dukow	1980 Moscow	Featherweight, freestyle
Ivan Jankov	1980 Moscow	Lightweight, freestyle
Slavcho Chervenkov	1980 Moscow	Heavyweight, freestyle
Stoyan Balov	1988 Seoul	Bantamweight, Greco-Roman
Zhivko Wangelow	1988 Seoul	Featherweight, Greco-Roman
Rangel Gerowski	1988 Seoul	Super heavyweight, Greco-Roman
Ivan Zonov	1988 Seoul	Light flyweight, freestyle
Valentin Gezow	1992 Barcelona	Lightweight, freestyle
Serafim Barsakov	2000 Sydney	Lightweight, freestyle
Stanka Slatewa	2008 Beijing	Heavyweight, freestyle
Stanka Slatewa	2012 London	Heavyweight, freestyle

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Dinko Petrov	1960 Rome	Bantamweight, Greco-Roman
Enjo Waltschew	1960 Rome	Lightweight, freestyle
Said Mustafow	1964 Tokyo	Light heavyweight, freestyle
Prodan Gardschew	1968 Mexico City	Middleweight, freestyle
Stefan Angelow	1972 Munich	Light flyweight, Greco-Roman
Ivan Krastew	1972 Munich	Featherweight, freestyle
Dimo Kostow	1976 Montreal	Heavyweight, freestyle
Stefan Angelow	1976 Montreal	Light flyweight, Greco-Roman
Ivan Kolew	1976 Montreal	Middleweight, Greco-Roman
Mladen Mladenow	1980 Moscow	Flyweight, Greco-Roman
Pavel Pavlov	1980 Moscow	Middleweight, Greco-Roman
Nermedin Selimov	1980 Moscow	Flyweight, freestyle
Bratan Zenow	1988 Seoul	Light flyweight, Greco-Roman
Simeon Schterew	1988 Seoul	Featherweight, freestyle
Rahmat Sofiadi	1988 Seoul	Welterweight, freestyle
Valentin Jordanow	1992 Barcelona	Flyweight, freestyle
Poor Nazarjan	2004 Athens	Lightweight, Greco-Roman
Yawor Janakiev	2008 Beijing	Middleweight, Greco-Roman
Radoslav Velikov	2008 Beijing	Featherweight, freestyle
Kiril Tersiev	2008 Beijing	Middleweight, freestyle
Eliza Jankowa	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Flyweight, freestyle

• 

  Award ceremony 1964: in the middle Olympic champion Enjo Waltschew

• 

  Bojan Radev, Olympic champion in 1964 and 1968, in 2010

• 

  Osman Duraliew, silver 1968 and 1972

• 

  Alexandar Tomow, silver 1972, 1976 and 1980, in 2014

• 

  Valentin Rajchev (below) in his final round match against the Mongols Jamtsyn Dawaadschaw

• 

  Simeon Schterew, bronze 1988, as trainer in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro

• 

  Armen Nazarjan, Olympic champion 2000, bronze 2004

• 

  Serafim Barsakow, silver 2000, in 2014

• 

  Stanka Slatewa, silver 2008 and 2012

• 

  Eliza Jankowa, bronze 2016

rowing

3	4th	7th

Bulgaria was represented for the first time in 1968 at an Olympic rowing regatta. The men's double scull reached the finish in 4th place. The women, who started in 1976 for the first time, immediately won their first medals and Olympic victories. Both the double scull and the double without a helmsman became Olympic champions. The foursome with the helmsman won silver. Rosiza Spasowa in the single and the double fours reached fourth place. In the men, the two with helmsman came fourth. The two without a helmsman, the four with a helmsman and the double foursome came in fifth.

In 1980 in Moscow, the four-man with helmswoman won silver again. The two without helmsman and the double four won bronze. The women's eighth, the double scull and again Rosiza Spasowa in the single took 4th place. In the men, the double scull won bronze. The two and the four with a helmsman were fifth.

In 1988 it was women who won medals. The double without a helmsman won silver, the double won bronze. Also Magdalena Georgieva drove in one for the bronze medal. The four with helmsman and the double quad took 4th place, the eighth place 5. In the men's category, the two with helmsman took fifth place. In Barcelona, ​​the Bulgarian team remained medalless. The best place was achieved by the two-man without a helmsman with rank 6.

Also in 1996 no medal could be won. It was not until 2000 in Sydney that Rumjana Nejkowa won silver in the singles. In the men’s category, Iwo Janakiew rowed fifth in the single. Nejkowa and Janakiew both won bronze in Athens in 2004. The women's double scull reached fourth place. In 2008 in Beijing, Nejkowa was finally Olympic champion.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Svetla Ozetowa Sdrawka Jordanowa	1976 Montreal	Double scull	first medal and Olympic victory
Sika Kelbetschewa Stojanka Gruitschewa	1976 Montreal	Two without a helmsman
Rumiana Nejkowa	2008 Beijing	One

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Ginka Gjurowa Liljana Wasewa Reni Jordanowa Marijka Modewa Kapka Georgiewa	1976 Montreal	Foursome with a helmsman
Ginka Gjurowa Marijka Modewa Rita Todorowa Iskra Welinowa Nadija Filipowa	1980 Moscow	Foursome with a helmsman
Radka Stojanowa Lalka Berberowa	1988 Seoul	Two without a helmsman
Rumiana Nejkowa	2000 Sydney	One

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Mincho Nikolov Lyubomir Petrow Iwo Rusew Bogdan Dobrew	1980 Moscow	Double fours
Mariana Serbessowa Rumeljana Bonschewa Dolores Nakowa Anka Bakowa Ani Georgiewa	1980 Moscow	Double fours
Sika Barbulowa Stojanka Kurbatowa	1980 Moscow	Two without a helmsman
Magdalena Georgieva	1988 Seoul	One
Violeta Ninowa Stefka Madina	1988 Seoul	Double scull
Iwo Janakiev	2004 Athens	One
Rumiana Nejkowa	2004 Athens	One

shoot

4th	6th	6th

Marija Grosdewa, Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004

In 1936 a Bulgarian shooter took part for the first time. In 1964 Welitschko Welitschkow won the first Bulgarian rifle medal with silver in a three-position battle with a small-bore rifle. 1972 Dentscho Denew was seventh with the rapid-fire pistol. With the free pistol, he reached 8th place in 1976. In 1980, two bronze medals were won. Lyubcho Djakov won bronze with the free pistol, while in the prone position with the small bore rifle, Petar Zaprianov also won bronze. Here Nonka Matowa reached 7th place, in the three-position battle she was sixth.

In 1988 Tanju Kirjakow became the first Bulgarian Olympic champion in shooting with the air pistol. He finished fourth with the free pistol. Wessela Letschewa won silver in the three-position battle with the small bore rifle . In 1992 she won silver with the air rifle. Nonka Matowa won silver in a three-position battle with a small bore rifle, Letschewa came in sixth here. Marija Grosdewa won bronze with the air pistol .

Tanju Kirjakow competed with the air pistol in 1996 and won bronze. Emil Milew won silver with the rapid fire pistol, as did Diana Jorgowa with the sport pistol. Marija Grosdewa repeated her bronze medal with the air pistol. In 2000 Tanju Kirjakow became Olympic champion with the free pistol and Marija Grosdewa with the sport pistol. Emil Milew took 4th place with the rapid fire pistol.

In 2004 Marija Grosdewa defended her Olympic victory with the sport pistol. She also won bronze with the air pistol. Tanju Kirjakow reached fourth place with the air pistol. In 2008 Tanju Kirjakow was sixth with the free pistol in his sixth participation in the Olympic Games. Marija Grosdewa was fifth with the sport pistol and in 2012, when she took part sixth, she finished ninth.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Tanju Kirjakov	1988 Seoul	Air pistol	first Olympic victory
Tanju Kirjakov	2000 Sydney	free gun
Maria Grosdeva	2000 Sydney	Sport pistol
Maria Grosdeva	2004 Athens	Sport pistol

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Welitschko Welitschkow	1964 Tokyo	Small bore rifle, three position combat	first medal win
Wessela Letschewa	1988 Seoul	Small bore rifle, three position combat
Wessela Letschewa	1992 Barcelona	Air rifle
Nonka Matowa	1992 Barcelona	Small bore rifle, three position combat
Emil Milew	1996 Atlanta	Rapid fire pistol
Diana Jorgowa	1996 Atlanta	Sport pistol

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Lyubcho Djakov	1980 Moscow	free gun
Petar Sapryanov	1980 Moscow	Small caliber rifle lying
Maria Grosdeva	1992 Barcelona	Air pistol
Tanju Kirjakov	1996 Atlanta	Air pistol
Maria Grosdeva	1996 Atlanta	Air pistol
Maria Grosdeva	2004 Athens	Air pistol

swim

1	1	1

The first Bulgarian swimmers took part in 1968. A first success was in 1980 Sonja Dangalakowa's sixth place in the 400 meter medley. In 1988 a complete set of medals was won. Antoaneta Frenkewa won the first medal with bronze over 200 meters chest. Her teammate Tanja Dangalakowa finished fourth. Over the 100 meter distance, Tanja Dangalakowa became Olympic champion, Antoaneta Frenkewa won silver.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Tanja Dangalakowa	1988 Seoul	100 meters chest

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Antoaneta Frenkewa	1988 Seoul	100 meters chest

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Antoaneta Frenkewa	1988 Seoul	200 meters chest

sailing

-	-	-

The first sailing regatta with Bulgarian participation took place in 1980. The best result was also achieved here. The Tornado class boat took 10th place.

tennis

-	-	1

Tennis has been an Olympic sport again since 1988. When this sport was resumed, Manuela Maleeva won bronze in the women's singles. In 1992, she eliminated the Swiss Emanuela Zardo in the first round. In the third round she lost to the German Steffi Graf .

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Manuela Maleeva	1988 Seoul	Ladies singles	first medal win

• 

  Manuela Maleeva, bronze 1988

Table tennis

-	-	-

Bulgarian table tennis players have only participated in 1988 and 1992. Daniela Gergeltschewa achieved the best result when she reached the round of 16.

do gymnastics

2	4th	8th

Bianka Panowa

Maria Petrova

Bulgarian athletes have been taking part in Olympic gymnastics tournaments since 1936. It would take until 19600 before the first success could be recorded. Velik Kapsassow won bronze on the rings. 20 years later, in 1980 in Moscow, Stojan Deltschew became Bulgaria's first Olympic gymnastics champion with his victory on the horizontal bar. He also won bronze in the individual all-around competition. He was able to qualify for another three device finals. He finished fifth on rings, parallel bars and horse vaults. The all-around team took 5th place.

In Seoul, both the men's team and the women's team finished fifth in the all-around event. There were five finals among the men. Ljubomir Geraskow was Olympic champion on the pommel horse. He shared the Olympic victory with Dmitri Bilosertschew from the Soviet Union and Zsolt Borkai from Hungary. There had only been a triple Olympic victory on one device before, also on the pommel horse in London in 1948. Kalofer Christossow was fourth on the bars and on the rings and seventh on the floor. Dejan Kolew was fourth in the horse jump. In the women's category, four starters qualified for an equipment final. Diana Dudewa won bronze on the floor, Deljana Vodenitscharowa came fourth. Diana Dudewa took 6th place on the balance beam, and Borjana Stojanowa came fourth in the horse jump. In rhythmic gymnastics, Adriana Dunawska won silver, Bianka Panowa came fourth.

In 1992 only Kalofer Christossow on the rings and Silvia Mitowa on the ground reached a device finale. Both were ranked 8. In rhythmic gymnastics, Marija Petrowa was ranked 5. This placement she reached in 1996 in Atlanta. The gymnastics group won silver. In the apparatus gymnastics category, the men's all-round team took sixth place. Krassimir Dunew won silver on the horizontal bar. Ivan Ivanov was fourth in the horse jump and on the ground. Jordan Jowtschew also took fourth place on the parallel bars. Jowtschew was able to win two bronze medals on the ground and on the rings in Sydney in 2000. In the individual all-around competition he was eighth. In 2004 in Athens he repeated the bronze medal on the ground. This time he won silver on the rings. Filip Janew finished fifth in the horse jump. The gymnastics group won bronze, in the individual Simona Pejtschewa took 6th place.

In 2008 Jowchev again reached the final on the rings. This time he finished 8th in 2012, when he took part in the Olympic Games for the sixth time, he was seventh. In 2016, the gymnastics group won a bronze medal. In the singles Newjana Wladinowa was seventh.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Stoyan Delchev	1980 Moscow	Horizontal bar	first Olympic victory
Lyubomir Geraskov	1988 Seoul	Pommel horse

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Adriana Dunawska	1988 Seoul	Rhythmic sports gymnastics
Krassimir Dunew	1996 Atlanta	Horizontal bar
National gymnastics team	1996 Atlanta	Rhythmic gymnastics group
Jordan Jovchev	2004 Athens	Rings

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
Velik Kapsasov	1960 Rome	Rings	first medal win
Stoyan Delchev	1980 Moscow	All-around single
Diana Dudewa	1988 Seoul	ground
Jordan Jovchev	2000 Sydney	ground
Jordan Jovchev	2000 Sydney	Rings
Jordan Jovchev	2004 Athens	ground
National gymnastics team	2004 Athens	Rhythmic gymnastics group
National gymnastics team	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Rhythmic gymnastics group

volleyball

-	1	1

At the Olympic premiere of the sport in Tokyo in 1964, a Bulgarian men's team qualified. With five wins in nine games, she finished fifth. In 1968 they managed four wins in nine games, they lost 2: 3 against the GDR. In the end, Bulgaria was in 6th place. In 1972, the men managed four wins in five preliminary round matches. In the semifinals they lost to Japan with 2: 3 and in the game for bronze the Soviet Union with 0: 3.

In 1980 the women were also qualified. The women won two games in three preliminary rounds, then lost the semi-finals against the GDR with 2: 3. They won the bronze game against Hungary 3-2 and were the first medal winners in the country in volleyball. Only a few days later the men followed suit. They managed three wins in four preliminary round matches and met Poland in the semi-finals. A 3-0 win brought the team to the final. They lost 1: 3 against the host Soviet Union.

In 1988 only the men were there again. The team could only win two of the five preliminary round games. As fourth in the group you were qualified for the placement round for places 5 to 8. A victory over France and a defeat against the Netherlands put the team in 6th place. In 1996, the men reached the quarter-finals and lost to the Netherlands. In the placement round they were initially defeated by Cuba, but were then able to win the game for 7th place against Argentina.

It wasn't until 2008 that a men's team was qualified for an Olympic tournament again. They qualified for the quarter-finals again, but lost 3-1 to Russia. Bulgaria also reached the quarter-finals in 2012. Opponent Germany was defeated 3-0. In the semifinals they lost to Russia with 1: 3, the bronze match against Italy was lost with 1: 3.

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
National team of men	1980 Moscow	Men's tournament

Surname	Games	discipline	annotation
National team of women	1980 Moscow	Women's tournament	first medal win

Water polo

-	-	-

Two times, in 1972 and 1980, a Bulgarian water polo team took part in an Olympic tournament. In 1972 Bulgaria managed only one victory in four games. In the final round to determine the placements from 7th to 12th, only two draws are achieved. The team thus reached eleventh place. In 1980 the team did not win. All four group games were lost, as were all games in the placement group.

Diving

-	-	-

The first water divers started in 1980. Petar Georgiev was the most successful in 1980 and reached 13th place in jumping.

Winter games

1	2	3

The biathlete Nadezhda Alexieva

The ice dancing couple Maxim Stawiski and Albena Denkowa (2007)

Bulgaria has been taking part in the Winter Olympics since 1936. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the participants started in the sports of alpine skiing and cross-country skiing. At the following winter games, Bulgarian athletes competed in Nordic combined (from 1948), biathlon and ice hockey (from 1976), figure skating and ski jumping (from 1984), tobogganing and bobsleigh (from 1988), short track (from 1994), snowboarding ( 1998),

Cross-country skier Krastana Stojewa achieved her first success in 1960. Over 10 kilometers, she reached 9th place. The women's relay was 5th in 1964. At the 1976 Olympic ice hockey tournament, the Bulgarian team lost all of their six games, including 6-2 against Austria and 8-3 against Switzerland.

In 1980 the first medal was won. The cross-country skier Ivan Lebanow won the bronze medal in the race over 30 kilometers. The ski racer Petar Popangelow finished sixth in the slalom. In 1984 he was able to repeat this placement.

The biathletes attracted attention in Albertville in 1992. In the sprint, Nadezhda Alexiewa took 4th place and Silwana Blagoewa took 8th place. Both took 4th place with the relay. Alexiewa reached the finish line in fifth over 15 kilometers.

In 1998, women biathletes were also responsible for Bulgaria's first Olympic victory at the Winter Games. Ekaterina Dafowska became Olympic sprint champion. Pavlina Filipowa took 4th place. In 2002 Irina Nikultschina won bronze in the pursuit. Ekaterina Dafowska was fifth over 15 kilometers. Both finished fourth in the relay. Evgenia Radanova was able to win two medals in the short track . She won silver over 500 meters and bronze over 1500 meters. Over 1000 meters she was fifth, with the relay she was sixth. The ice dancing couple Albena Denkowa and Maxim Stawiski reached seventh place.

In 2006 Evgenia Radanova won another silver medal in the short track over 500 meters. She finished sixth over 1500 meters. In the biathlon, Ekaterina Dafowska was eighth in the mass start. The couple Denkowa / Stawiski came fifth in ice dancing. In her fifth participation in the Winter Games, Evgenia Radanova was seventh over 1500 meters in Vancouver in 2010. It was her sixth Olympic Games, she competed in cycling at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

In 2014, snowboarder Alexandra Schekowa finished 5th in boardercross. In 2018 she was sixth.

Surname	Games	sport	discipline	annotation
Ekaterina Dafowska	1998 Nagano	biathlon	sprint	first Olympic victory

Surname	Games	sport	discipline	annotation
Evgenia Radanova	2002 Salt Lake City	Short track	500 meters
Evgenia Radanova	2006 Turin	Short track	500 meters

Surname	Games	sport	discipline	annotation
Ivan Lebanov	1980 Lake Placid	biathlon	30 kilometers	first medal win
Irina Nikultschina	2002 Salt Lake City	biathlon	persecution
Evgenia Radanova	2002 Salt Lake City	Short track	1500 meters

Art competitions

Bulgarian artists were represented at the Olympic art competitions for the first time in 1932. In Los Angeles they were the only participants from Bulgaria. Kiril Schiwarow submitted his work Joueur au Ballon , Georgi Karakaschew his work Sports Poster . It is not known in which categories or disciplines these works were submitted.

In 1936 there were three painters in the competition. In the discipline paintings Nikolai Mikhailov presented his work portrait Excellency Dr. Theodor Lewald . Detschko Usunow submitted his work Winter in Bulgaria and Composition . The works could not be placed.

Youth games

Youth Summer Games

At the first edition of the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore , the Bulgarian participants, 21 young people, including eleven boys and ten girls, won a total of three medals.

The youth Olympic champions were weightlifter Georgi Schikow in the boys 'heavyweight division and Boyanka Kostova in the girls' lightweight division. The track and field athlete George Zonow won bronze in the triple jump.

Four years later, the Youth Summer Games were held in Nanjing . This time 27 young people, 13 boys and 14 girls, took part, who won six medals, two gold and four silver medals. Olympic champions were the weightlifter Boschidar Andrejew in the middleweight division and the boxer Blagoj Najdenow in the light heavyweight division. Silver went to the girls' gymnastics group, as well as the boxer Duschko Mihajlow in the featherweight division, the Greco-Roman wrestler Kiril Milow in the heavyweight division and the judoka Betina Temelkowa in the lightweight division. Another gold medal is not taken into account in the Bulgarian medal balance because it was won in a mixed team. The sports shooter Lidia Nentschewa and her Uzbek partner Vladimir Swetschnikow became Olympic champion with the air pistol.

Youth Winter Games

The first Winter Youth Games took place in Innsbruck in 2012 . The Bulgarian team consisted of eleven athletes, seven boys and four girls.

In 2016 the second Winter Youth Games were held in Lillehammer . Twelve young Bulgarians, seven boys and five girls, took part. In the short track, Katrin Manilowa won bronze over 500 meters. Two other bronze medals are not included in Bulgaria's medal balance because they were won in mixed teams. Snowboarder Valentin Miladinow won bronze in the boardercross team with Team 4 . Katrin Manilowa won bronze in the mixed relay team F .

Participants by sport

Summer games

sport	year
	1896	1924	1928	1936	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016
badminton														7th	3	4th	2	1	1	3
basketball					14th	11	12		12		12	12	12
Beach volleyball																2	2
Archery												2		1	1		1	1	1
Boxing					4th	2	6th	6th	9	9	11	11	11	7th	6th	3	5	2	4th	3
fencing			2	1			2			5	5	5	5		3				1	1
Soccer		11			11	14th	15th		18th
Weightlifting						2	7th	5	5	9	9	10	6th	10	10	9	9		2
Judo											4th	4th	5	5	1	2	2		1	2
Canoeing							5	2	3	7th	12	12	12	11	11	7th	7th	2	1	2
athletics		4th		2	4th		8th	9	9	18th	19th	47	22nd	21st	17th	22nd	19th	15th	8th	11
Modern pentathlon									3	3	3	3		2		1				1
Cycling		7th		10	5		5	1		4th	6th	6th		1			3	2	2	1
horse riding		2	3	3	3	4th	5			4th		11		1		3	1
Wrestling						8th	16	16	16	20th	20th	20th	20th	20th	12	8th	13	12	9	11
rowing									5	8th	33	52	35	15th	5	4th	6th	3		2
shoot				1	6th		5	4th	6th	5	7th	11	6th	13	9	6th	3	4th	4th	3
swim									3	3	5	13	8th	5	1	6th	8th	4th	4th	3
sailing												5				1	2	1	2
tennis													2	3	2		1	1	2	2
Table tennis													2	1
do gymnastics				7th	16	6th	12	8th	11	12	12	12	14th	14th	16	13	11	10	9	6th
volleyball								12	12	12		22nd	12		12			12	12
Water polo										11		11
Diving												2		1	1

Winter games

sport	year
	1936	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1994	1998	2002	2006	2010	2014	2018
biathlon									2	2	3	5	10	5	5	5	6th	6th	6th	10
Bobsleigh												5	5	2		2
ice Hockey									18th
figure skating											2	2	1	1	4th	3	5
Nordic combination		1
Sledding												3	3	2			1	2	1	1
Short track														1	2	7th	1	3
Alpine skiing	3	2	4th	3	3	1	1	2	5	4th	4th	4th	3	2	5	3	4th	3	4th	3
Cross-country skiing	4th	2	6th	4th	4th	6th	5	2	4th	2	4th	6th	6th	4th	2	2	1	3	4th	3
Ski jumping											3	2	3			1	2		1	1
Snowboard															1		1	2	2	3

Medal table

Olympic games

				total	rank
Olympic Summer Games	51	87	80	218	21st
winter Olympics	1	2	3	6th	34
total	52	89	83	224	23

Youth Olympic Games

				total	rank
Youth Olympic Summer Games	4th	4th	1	9	24
Youth Olympic Winter Games	0	0	1	1	31
total	4th	4th	2	10	32

Medals by sport

Summer games

sport	gold	silver	bronze	total
Wrestling	16	32	21st	69
Weightlifting	12	17th	8th	37
athletics	5	8th	6th	19th
shoot	4th	6th	6th	16
Boxing	4th	5	9	18th
Canoeing	4th	5	8th	17th
rowing	3	4th	7th	14th
do gymnastics	2	4th	8th	14th
swim	1	1	1	3
Judo	0	1	2	3
Wrestling	3	7th	7th	17th
basketball	0	1	1	2
Soccer	0	1	1	2
volleyball	0	1	1	2
horse riding	0	1	0	1
tennis	0	0	1	1
total	51	87	80	218

Winter games

sport	gold	silver	bronze	total
biathlon	1	0	1	2
Short track	0	2	1	3
Cross-country skiing	0	0	1	1
total	1	2	3	6th

See also

• List of Olympic medalists from Bulgaria
• Category: Olympian (Bulgaria)

Web links

Commons : Bulgaria at Olympic Games  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Bulgaria in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
• International Olympic Committee

Individual evidence

1. ^ IOC entry
2. ↑ including the four athletes at the Equestrian Games in Stockholm had participated
3. ↑ Euronews on October 27, 2016
4. ↑ IOC announcement of January 12, 2017 (Eng.)
5. ↑ IOC announcement of April 5, 2017 (Eng.)
6. ↑ The cross-country skier Nikola Delew also competed in the Nordic combined