Bulgaria at the Olympics

Bulgaria first participated at the Olympic Games at the inaugural 1896 Games, with a single gymnast. However, since Charles Champaud was a Swiss national living in Sofia, some sources credit his appearance to Switzerland instead.

The Bulgarian Olympic Committee was created in 1923 and first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1924. The nation has participated in every Summer Games since then, except for 1932 (during the Great Depression), 1948 (Bulgaria's role in World War II) and 1984 (part of the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics). Bulgaria first participated in the Winter Olympic Games in 1936 and has attended every Winter Games since then.

Bulgarian athletes have won a total of 239 medals, with wrestling and weightlifting as the top medal-producing sports. After the fall of the communist regime in 1989–90, in Bulgaria's turbulent transition to free-market democracy, top-notch state support for Bulgarian Olympians disintegrated. Diminishing and marginalized medal returns were evident from the 2012 Summer Olympics, where Bulgaria, a former top-10 Olympic powerhouse in the late 1980s, fell out of its former high stature. Bulgaria's best performance to date has come in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where they finished third in the medal table. In the 1988 Summer Olympics, Bulgaria ranked 7th but won the nation's largest total of gold medals. Bulgaria's most successful Winter Olympics occurred in 1998 when the country ranked 15th in the medal table.

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games

Medals by Winter Games

Medals by summer sport

Medals by winter sport

List of medalists

Summer Olympics Medal Name Games Sport Event Boris Nikolov Boxing Middleweight (-75kg) Nikola Stanchev Wrestling Freestyle 79 kg Dimitar Dobrev Wrestling Greco-Roman middleweight Petko Sirakov Wrestling Greco-Roman light heavyweight Husein Mehmedov Wrestling Freestyle +87 kg Association Football Men's team competition Dimitar Dobrev Wrestling Greco-Roman 79 kg Krali Bimbalov Wrestling Greco-Roman 87 kg Nezhdet Zalev Wrestling Freestyle 57 kg Stancho Kolev Wrestling Freestyle 62 kg Velik Kapsazov Gymnastics Rings Dinko Petrov Wrestling Greco-Roman 57 kg Enyu Valchev Wrestling Freestyle 67 kg Boyan Radev Wrestling Greco-Roman 97 kg Enyu Valchev Wrestling Freestyle 70 kg Prodan Gardzhev Wrestling Freestyle 87 kg Velichko Velichkov Shooting 50 metre rifle, three positions Angel Kerezov Wrestling Greco-Roman 52 kg Kiril Petkov Wrestling Greco-Roman 78 kg Stancho Kolev Wrestling Freestyle 63 kg Lyutvi Ahmedov Wrestling Freestyle +97 kg Alexander Nikolov Boxing Light Heavyweight (– 81 kg) Said Mustafov Wrestling Freestyle 97 kg Petar Kirov Wrestling Greco-Roman 52 kg Boyan Radev Wrestling Greco-Roman 97 kg Football Men's team competition Enyu Todorov Wrestling Freestyle 63 kg Enyu Valchev Wrestling Freestyle 70 kg Osman Duraliev Wrestling Freestyle +97 kg Ivan Mihailov Boxing Featherweight (– 57 kg) Georgi Stankov Boxing Light Heavyweight (– 81 kg) Prodan Gardzhev Wrestling Freestyle 87 kg Georgi Kostadinov Boxing Flyweight (– 51 kg) Norair Nurikyan Weightlifting 60 kg Yordan Bikov Weightlifting 75 kg Andon Nikolov Weightlifting 90 kg Petar Kirov Wrestling Greco-Roman 52 kg Georgi Markov (wrestler) Wrestling Greco-Roman 62 kg Diana Yorgova Athletics Long jump Yordanka Blagoeva Athletics High jump Angel Angelov Boxing Light Welterweight(– 63.5 kg) Mladen Kutchev Weightlifting 67.5 kg Atanas Shopov Weightlifting 90 kg Aleksandar Kraychev Weightlifting 110 kg Ognyan Nikolov Wrestling Freestyle 48 kg Osman Duraliev Wrestling Freestyle +100 kg Stoyan Apostolov Wrestling Greco-Roman 68 kg Aleksandar Tomov Wrestling Greco-Roman +100 kg Ivanka Khristova Athletics Shot put Vasilka Stoeva Athletics Discus throw Fedia DamianovIvan Burtchin Canoeing C-2 1000 metres Ivan Krastev Wrestling Freestyle 62 kg Stefan Angelov Wrestling Greco-Roman 48 kg Ivanka Khristova Athletics Shot put Svetla OtsetovaZdravka Yordanova Rowing Double sculls Siyka KelbechevaStoyanka Kurbatova-Gruicheva Rowing Coxless pairs Norair Nurikyan Weightlifting 56 kg Yordan Mitkov Weightlifting 75 kg Hasan Isaev Wrestling Freestyle 48 kg Nikolina Shtereva Athletics 800 metres Mariya Petkova Athletics Discus throw Ginka GyurovaLilyana VasevaReni YordanovaMariyka ModevaKapka Georgieva Rowing Coxed fours Georgi Todorov Weightlifting 60 kg Trendafil Stoychev Weightlifting 82.5 kg Krastyu Semerdzhiev Weightlifting 110 kg Stoyan Nikolov Wrestling Greco-Roman 90 kg Kamen Goranov Wrestling Greco-Roman 100 kg Aleksandar Tomov Wrestling Greco-Roman +100 kg Yordanka Blagoeva Athletics High jump Basketball Women's team competition Vladimir Kolev Boxing Light Welterweight(– 63.5 kg) Atanas Shopov Weightlifting 90 kg Dimo Kostov Wrestling Freestyle 100 kg Stefan Angelov Wrestling Greco-Roman 48 kg Ivan Kolev Wrestling Greco-Roman 82 kg Petar Lesov Boxing Flyweight (– 51 kg) Lyubomir Lyubenov Canoeing C-1 1000 meters Stoyan Deltchev Gymnastics Horizontal bar Yanko Rusev Weightlifting 67.5 kg Asen Zlatev Weightlifting 75 kg Valentin Raychev Wrestling Freestyle 74 kg Ismail Abilov Wrestling Freestyle 82 kg Georgi Raykov Wrestling Greco-Roman 100 kg Mariya Petkova Athletics Discus throw Basketball Women's team competition Lyubomir Lyubenov Canoeing C-1 500 meters Vanja Gesheva Canoeing K-1 500 meters Petar MandazhievSvetoslav IvanovGeorgi Gadjev Equestrian Team Dressage Dimitar Zapryanov Judo Heavyweight (+95 kg) Ginka GyurovaMariyka ModevaRita TodorovaIskra VelinovaNadiya Filipova Rowing Coxed fours Volleyball Men's team competition Stefan Dimitrov Weightlifting 60 kg Blagoy Blagoev Weightlifting 82.5 kg Rumen Aleksandrov Weightlifting 90 kg Valentin Hristov Weightlifting 110 kg Miho Dukov Wrestling Freestyle 62 kg Ivan Yankov Wrestling Freestyle 68 kg Slavcho Chervenkov Wrestling Freestyle 100 kg Aleksandar Tomov Wrestling Greco-Roman +100 kg Petar Petrov Athletics 100 metres Ivailo Marinov Boxing Light Flyweight (– 48 kg) Borislav AnanievNikolai Ilkov Canoeing C-2 500 meters Borislav BorisovBozhidar MilenkovLazar KhristovIvan Manev Canoeing K-4 1000 meters Stoyan Deltchev Gymnastics Individual all-around Ilian Nedkov Judo Half Lightweight (65 kg) Mincho NikolovLyubomir PetrovIvo RusevBogdan Dobrev Rowing Quadruple sculls (coxless) Mariana SerbezovaRumelyana BonchevaDolores NakovaAnka BakovaAnka Georgieva Rowing Quadruple sculls (coxed) Siyka KelbechevaStoyanka Kurbatova-Gruicheva Rowing Coxless pairs Lyubcho Dyakov Shooting 50 metre pistol Petar Zapryanov Shooting 50 metre rifle prone Volleyball Women's team competition Mincho Pashov Weightlifting 67.5 kg Nedelcho Kolev Weightlifting 75 kg Nermedin Selimov Wrestling Freestyle 52 kg Mladen Mladenov Wrestling Greco-Roman 52 kg Pavel Pavlov Wrestling Greco-Roman 82 kg Khristo Markov Athletics Triple jump Yordanka Donkova Athletics 100 metres hurdles Ivailo Marinov Boxing Light Flyweight (– 48 kg) Vanja Gesheva Canoeing K-1 500 metres Lubomir Geraskov Gymnastics Pommel horse Tanyu Kiryakov Shooting 10 metre air pistol Tanya Dangalakova Swimming 100 metre breaststroke Sevdalin Marinov Weightlifting 52 kg Borislav Gidikov Weightlifting 75 kg Atanas Komchev Wrestling Greco-Roman 90 kg Stefka Kostadinova Athletics High jump Aleksandar Khristov Boxing Bantamweight (– 54 kg) Vanja GeshevaDiana Paliiska Canoeing K-2 500 metres Adriana Dunavska Gymnastics Individual all-around Radka StoyanovaLalka Berberova Rowing Coxless pairs Vesela Letcheva Shooting 50 metre rifle three positions Antoaneta Frenkeva Swimming 100 metre breaststroke Stefan Topurov Weightlifting 60 kg Ivan Tsonov Wrestling Freestyle 48 kg Stoyan Balov Wrestling Greco-Roman 57 kg Zhivko Vangelov Wrestling Greco-Roman 62 kg Rangel Gerovski Wrestling Greco-Roman 130 kg Tsvetanka Khristova Athletics Discus throw Martin Marinov Canoeing C-1 500 metres Nikolay Bukhalov Canoeing C-1 1000 metres Vanja GeshevaDiana PaliiskaOgniana PetkovaBorislava Ivanova Canoeing K-4 500 metres Diana Doudeva Gymnastics Floor Magdalena Georgieva Rowing Single sculls Violeta NinovaStefka Madina Rowing Double sculls Antoaneta Frenkeva Swimming 200 metre breaststroke Manuela Maleeva Tennis Women's singles Aleksandar Varbanov Weightlifting 75 kg Simeon Shterev Wrestling Freestyle 62 kg Rahmat Sofiadi Wrestling Freestyle 74 kg Bratan Tsenov Wrestling Greco-Roman 48 kg Nikolay Bukhalov Canoeing C-1 500 metres Nikolay Bukhalov Canoeing C-1 1000 metres Ivan Ivanov Weightlifting 52 kg Tsvetanka Khristova Athletics Discus throw Daniel Petrov Boxing Light Flyweight (– 48 kg) Vesela Letcheva Shooting 10 metre air rifle Nonka Matova Shooting 50 metre rifle three positions Nikolay Peshalov Weightlifting 60 kg Yoto Yotov Weightlifting 67.5 kg Valentin Getsov Wrestling Freestyle 68 kg Yordanka Donkova Athletics 100 metres hurdles Svilen Rusinov Boxing Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) Martin MarinovBlagovest Stoyanov Canoeing C-2 500 metres Mariya Grozdeva Shooting 10 metre air pistol Stefan Botev Weightlifting 110 kg Valentin Yordanov Wrestling Freestyle 52 kg Stefka Kostadinova Athletics High jump Daniel Petrov Boxing Light Flyweight (– 48 kg) Valentin Yordanov Wrestling Freestyle 52 kg Serafim Todorov Boxing Featherweight (– 57 kg) Tontcho Tontchev Boxing Lightweight (– 60 kg) Krasimir Dounev Gymnastics Horizontal bar Ina DelchevaValentina KevliyanMaria KolevaMaya TabakovaIvelina TalevaVjara Vatachka Gymnastics Group all-around Emil Milev Shooting 25 metre rapid fire pistol Diana Iorgova Shooting 25 metre pistol Yoto Yotov Weightlifting 76 kg Andrian DushevMilko Kazanov Canoeing K-2 1000 metres Tanyu Kiryakov Shooting 10 metre air pistol Mariya Grozdeva Shooting 10 metre air pistol Sevdalin Minchev Weightlifting 54 kg Nikolay Peshalov Weightlifting 59 kg Tereza Marinova Athletics Triple jump Tanyu Kiryakov Shooting 50 metre pistol Mariya Grozdeva Shooting 25 metre pistol Galabin Boevski Weightlifting 69 kg Armen Nazaryan Wrestling Greco-Roman 58 kg Petar Merkov Canoeing K-1 500 metres Petar Merkov Canoeing K-1 1000 metres Rumyana Neykova Rowing Single sculls Georgi Markov Weightlifting 69 kg Alan Tsagaev Weightlifting 105 kg Serafim Barzakov Wrestling Freestyle 63 kg Yordan Yovchev Gymnastics Floor Yordan Yovchev Gymnastics Rings Mariya Grozdeva Shooting 25 metre pistol Milen Dobrev Weightlifting 94 kg Yordan Yovchev Gymnastics Rings Boris Georgiev Boxing Light welterweight Yordan Yovchev Gymnastics Floor Zhaneta IlievaEleonora KezhovaZornitsa MarinovaKristina RangelovaGalina TanchevaVladislava Tancheva Gymnastics Group all-around Georgi Georgiev Judo Half-lightweight (66 kg) Ivo Yanakiev Rowing Single sculls Rumyana Neykova Rowing Single sculls Mariya Grozdeva Shooting 10 metre air pistol Velichko Cholakov Weightlifting +105 kg Armen Nazaryan Wrestling Greco-Roman 60 kg Rumyana Neykova Rowing Single sculls Stanka Zlateva Wrestling Freestyle 72 kg Radoslav Velikov Wrestling Freestyle 55 kg Kiril Terziev Wrestling Freestyle 74 kg Yavor Yanakiev Wrestling Greco-Roman 74 kg Milka Maneva Weightlifting Women's 63 kg Stanka Zlateva Wrestling Freestyle 72 kg Tervel Pulev Boxing Heavyweight Mirela Demireva Athletics Women's high jump Elitsa Yankova Wrestling Women's freestyle 48 kg Lyubomira KazanovaReneta KamberovaMihaela MaevskaHristiana TodorovaTsvetelina Naydenova Gymnastics Group all-around Ivet Goranova Karate Women's 55 kg Stoyka Krasteva Boxing Women's flyweight Simona DyankovaStefani KiryakovaMadlen RadukanovaLaura TraetsErika Zafirova Gymnastics Group all-around Antoaneta Kostadinova Shooting Women's 10m air pistol Taybe Yusein Wrestling Women's freestyle 62 kg Evelina Nikolova Wrestling Women's freestyle 57 kg Semen Novikov Wrestling Greco-Roman 87 kg Magomed Ramazanov Wrestling Men's freestyle 86 kg Karlos Nasar Weightlifting Men's 89 kg Boryana Kaleyn Gymnastics Individual all-around Kimia Alizadeh Taekwondo Women's 57 kg Bozhidar Andreev Weightlifting Men's 73 kg Javier Ibáñez Boxing Men's featherweight

Winter Olympics