Tereza Marinova (Bulgaria) competing at the 2002 European Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)
A lot of disasters have overtaken Bulgaria’s athletes in 2003, and as such medal prospects seem to be thin on the ground at the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Paris 2003 Saint-Denis (23-31 August).
The Olympic women’s Triple Jump Champion Tereza Marinova will undergo a surgery for the fourth time in last four years, as after a return from injury earlier this year she is constantly feeling strong pains in her right heel. After consulting with a specialist in Finland, Marinova has decided to pass Paris in order to rest and prepare properly for the defence of her Olympic title.
Yana Kasova, the 100m Hurdles bronze medalist from 2002 European Championships in Munich, began the season with hope and a promising 12.95 clocking in Istanbul. But one day when she was fulfilling her sprint preparation at training camp in Stara Zagora, Kasova was unlucky to turn her left foot breaking some bones. Her coach Iliyan Pishtikov reacted quickly taking her to hospital, but this did not save Kasova from undergoing surgery.
The greatest prodigy of all Bulgarian prodigies, the double European Junior Champion at 100 & 200 m Yvet Lalova, will also not be in Paris, as she has decided to miss the senior championships in order as she had achieved her goals for the season and wanted to keep the mental and self confidence after her junior success rather than taking on the seniors and losing.
Aleksandar Vangelov for the IAAF
Here are the Bulgarian participants / biographies for Paris:
Men
ILIYAN EFREMOV (POLE VAULT). Born 02.08.1970 in Sofia. “AC “Levski”. Coach Miladin Parvanov (2.15 HJ). PB 5.70 (1998) & 5.70i (1998). Made 5.75 at Ostrava’s square on 12 June 2003. Balkan champion four times. Single. Other pb: HJ 190; 110 m h 14.62. SB – 5.70.
SPAS BUKHALOV (POLE VAULT). Born 14.11.1980 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv. Coach Angel Lafchiev. Pb 5.70 (2003) and 5.51 ind (2003). Balkan champion indoors 2003. Single. Distant cousin of Olympic canoe champion from Barcelona’92 Nikolay Bukhalov.
PETAR DACHEV (LONG JUMP). Born 15.06.1979 in Troyan. “CSKA”. Coach Lilyana Moneva Videva – 183 HJ). 1st at WCj in Annecy ’98 (8.14). Third at EC Budapest ’98. 11th at Oly ’00 Sydney. 1st ECi ’00. 3d at Eci ’02. 7th at WCi ’03. Pb 8.30 (2000) & 8.27 indoors (2002). Other pbs 100 m 10.58 (99). Sb 8.08 & 8.10i. Single. His sister Petya Dacheva has 13.26 at TJ (2003).
NIKOLAY ATANASOV (LONG JUMP). Born 11.12.1974 in Botevgrad. “Lokomotiv” Plovdiv. Coach Atanas Zapryanov Atanasov (8.31 record in 1984). His father Atanas Atanasov (what a coincidence!) was bulgarian record holder at 800 m (1:48.6) and 1500 m (3:40.6) from 1972 and Balkan champion 1968 &69 at 1500. Pb 8.31 (2003) /equaled his coach’s best/. Other pbs: 100m 10.56 (2003); 200 21.34 (98); 400 47.42 (97); TJ 15.40 (02); HJ 200 (98). Married, with a son – Aleksandar.
IVAYLO RUSENOV (TRIPLE JUMP). Born 09.09.1979 in Pleven. “Lokomotiv” Plovdiv. Coach Stoyko Tsonov (17.02 TJ ’96). Second WCj ’98 in Annecy. 8th at EC U23 in Amsterdam 2001. Pbs 17.02 (2003) & 17.12w (2003); LJ 795 (2003). Single. His younger brother Atanas Rusenov (1981) was Balkan Junior Champion at LJ in 2000 and has pb 7.81 (2003).
Women
VENELINA VENEVA (HIGH JUMP). Born 13.06.1974 in Ruse. “Elit Vratsa”. Coach Georgi Dimitrov. Has made 1.93 at 15y 8m 11d in Dobrich on 24.02.1990. Second ECj ’91 at HJ. Fifth at EC ’98. Fourth ECi 2000. Ninth at Oly ’00. At WCi ’01 third. Fourth at WC Edmonton 2001. Pb 204 (2000) & 202i (2002). Other pbs: TJ 12.51; LJ 6.17i (1990). Her older sister Kremena was inaugural Bulgarian TJ record holder with 12.11i (1990). SB 195 (three times). Married with a daughter Neapola.
TANYA KOLEVA (POLE VAULT). Born 08.03.1972 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv”. Coached by Iva Prandzheva (6.90i LJ& 15.18 TJ). Was in bulgarian female football team in 1991-93 – central defender. The furst bularian over 4.00 m at PV. National record holder outdoors 4.45 (2003) & indoors 4.40 (2001&03). 20th at WCi ’99. Fifth at WCi ’01. Sixth at WCi ’03. Devorced (ex-husband Desislav Kolev (2.18 HJ ’88).
MARIYA DIMITROVA (TRIPLE JUMP). Born 07.08.1976 in Kyustendil. “Bononia Vidin”. Coach Valeri Tsvetkov (Bulgarian record holder at HJ 21.9 ’79). Pb 14.28 (2000). Sb 14.17 & 14.24w. Other pbs: LJ 6.36 (’98) & HJ 179. Single.
MONIKA GACHEVSKA (RELAY 4x400 M). Born 30.01.1974 in Pleven. “Akademik Sofiya”. Coach Khristo Stoyanov. Pbs: 100 11.30, 200 22.93 (22.3 ht), 400 m 53.70 (1997). SB 200 m 23.46. Third at Uni ’97 in Catania at 200 m. Single.
MARIYANA DIMITROVA (RELAY 4x400 M). Born 29.07.1982 in Sliven. “Akademik Sofiya”. Coach Khristo Stoyanov. Pbs: 100 11.77 (2003), 200 23.84 (23.56w) 2003; 400 52.78 (2003); 400 h 59.58 (2003). Single.
EKATERINA TOSHEVA-MASHOVA (RELAY 4x400 M). Born 01.02.1974 in Vratsa. “CLASA”. Coach Valya Demireva ( 100 m 11.38). Sixth at 200 m at ECi ’02. Winner at CE “A” 2002 at 200 m. Pbs: 100 11.20 (’02); 200 23.04 (’02); 400 53.72 (’01). Sb 12.06 & 24.39 (23.75i). Married.
NEDYALKA GAYDAROVA-NEDKOVA (RELAY 4x400 M). Born 15.03.1977 in Silistra. “Olymp’97 Silistra”. Coached by her husband Iliya Nedkov – ex marathoner. Pb 52.61 & 52.2 /ht/ (2003). Balkan Champion at 400 m & 4x400 m 2003 (along with Gachevska, Dimitrova, Mashova – 3:33.56).
DANIELA YORDANOVA (1500 M). Born 08.03.1976 in Slivnitsa. “Chendini”.Coach Dimitar Vasilev Georgiev. Bulgarian record holder at 3000 m (8:30.59 2001) & 5000 m (14:56.95 2000) and also 3000 m indoors (8:47.95 2000). Fifth at ECi 2000 in Gent at 3000 m. 10th at Oly 2000 in Sydney. Fifth at 1500 m at WCi 2001. Fifth at EC 2002 at 1500 m. Without race in 2003. Not married. PBs: 800 m 2:03.02 (2001), 1500 4:00.65 (2002); 2000 m 5:42.77 (2001); 3000 m 8:30.59 (2001); 5000 m 14:56.95 (2000); indoors 1500 m 4:06.00 & 3000 m 8:47.45 (2000).
