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One of the most decorated wrestlers in history, Valentin Yordanov has not only won a gold and a bronze at the Olympics but is also a 7-time World and European Champion. He continued to represent Bulgaria even after moving to the US. He also served as the president of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation.
Three-time Olympian Greco-Roman wrestler Armen Nazaryan initially represented Armenia, his country of birth, but then switched to Bulgaria. While he won an Olympic gold and 2 European Championships for Armenia, he also bagged an Olympic gold and 4 European Championships for Bulgaria. He has also been a 3-time World Champion, representing Bulgaria.
Retired Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotoōshū Katsunori was initially a Greco-Roman wrestler but switched to sumo after gaining weight. He scripted history as the first sumo wrestler from Europe to bag the Emperor's Cup and had been an ōzeki for 47 consecutive tournaments. He later became a Japanese citizen.
Evelin Banev is a Bulgarian entrepreneur, published writer, real estate developer, and former wrestler. He came to limelight for his highly politicized and controversial prosecutions and imprisonment. Although he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison in 2013, Evelin Banev was acquitted of all charges in 2014. Banev's 10-year-old daughter was kidnapped during his imprisonment and released unharmed two months later.
