Tsvetanka Pavlova Khristova () (sometimes spelled Tsvetanka Hristova, 14 March 1962 – 14 November 2008) was a Bulgarian discus thrower. She won gold at the 1991 World Championships and the 1982 European Championships. She also won two Olympic medals, with bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Her best throw of 73.22 metres in 1987, ranks her eighth on the world all-time list.
Life Born in Kazanlak, Stara Zagora, she became European champion in 1982 at only 20 years of age. Nine years later she won the World Championships, and the following year won an Olympic silver medal. Khristova tested positive for steroids in 1993 and was banned from competition. In 2004, at the age of 42, she competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Her personal best was 73.22 m. That is still the Bulgarian record.
She died on 14 November 2008, of cancer.
International competitions Representing 1982European ChampionshipsAthens, Greece 1stDiscus68.34 m1983World ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland4thDiscus65.62 m1985World Student Games (Universiade)Kobe, Japan 2ndDiscus65.30 m1986Goodwill GamesMoscow, Soviet Union1stDiscus69.54 m1986European ChampionshipsStuttgart, West Germany 2ndDiscus69.52 m1987World Student Games (Universiade)Zagreb, Yugoslavia 1stDiscus67.96 m (record)World ChampionshipsRome, Italy 3rdDiscus68.82 m1988Olympic GamesSeoul, South Korea 3rdDiscus69.74 m1990European ChampionshipsSplit, Yugoslavia10thDiscus56.30 m1991World ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan 1stDiscus71.02 m1992Olympic GamesBarcelona, Spain2ndDiscus67.78 m1997World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece23rd (q)Discus53.64 m2004Olympic GamesAthens, Greece41st (q)Discus43.25 m
References
External links
Standartnews.com listing of Khristova's death - accessed November 15, 2008. Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Track & Field (Women): Discus Throw". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 359.