Bulgarian Female Sportspersons

Stefka Kostadinova is a Bulgarian former athlete whose world record of 2.09 metres in high jump has stood since 1987. One of the most respected athletes from Bulgaria, Kostadinova has won an Olympic gold medal, two gold medals in World Championships, five gold medals in World Indoor Championships, and four gold medals in European Indoor Championships.

Five-time Olympian Bulgarian athlete Ivet Lalova-Collio is a master of the 100m and 200m sprint. She has been a European Champion and has won gold medals at the European Junior and Indoor Championships. He career almost ended after colliding with a fellow athlete during a warm-up session and breaking her right femur.

Retired Bulgarian tennis player Magdalena Maleeva has had a career-high ranking of 4 in singles and 13 in doubles. She is also a 2-time Olympian and has won 10 singles titles throughout her illustrious career. She is one of the three Maleeva sisters, the daughters of former tennis player Yuliya Berberyan.

Yordanka Donkova was 5 when she lost 3 fingers on her right hand in an accident, but that didn’t stop her from becoming one of the best Bulgarian hurdling athletes. She not just won a World Indoor Championship silver but is also an Olympic gold and bronze medalist.

While she initially represented Bulgaria, former world number 3 tennis star Manuela Maleeva began playing for Switzerland after her marriage to Swiss tennis coach François Fragnière. Politically vocal, the Olympic bronze medalist co-established the party Yes, Bulgaria! She also owns a foundation that helps disabled children.

Once world number 35 in singles, Bulgarian tennis sensation Sesil Karatantcheva is best known for beating tennis legend Venus Williams and reaching the 2005 French Open quarterfinals. From 2009 to 2014, she represented Kazakhstan internationally. She is the daughter of former MP and rower Radoslav Karatantchev.

Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Boryana Kaleyn, who began her journey with gymnastics at age 6, is not just an Olympian but has also won 3 European Championship gold medals. She is also a World Championship silver medalist and has won the Bulgarian National Championship 4 times.

Retired Bulgarian tennis player Katerina Maleeva is a former world number 6 in singles and number 24 in doubles. She is one of the 3 Maleeva sisters of world tennis, the daughters of tennis star Yuliya Berberyan, the other 2 being Manuela and Magdalena.

Retired Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Katrin Taseva was an Olympian and a World and European Championships silver winner. She also won medals at the Grand Prix Final and the European Games. She retired through an Instagram announcement soon after her 2020 Tokyo Olympic performance.