Semen Novikov is Bulgaria's first Olympic champion at the Paris 2024 Games! The freshman from the National Sports Academy won the title in the 87 kg Greco-Roman wrestling category by decisively defeating Alireza Mohammadipiani (Iran), the world silver medalist in the 82 kg category, with a score of 7-0.

Semen completely imposed his will in the final over the Iranian. He deserved his triumph in the most convincing way and became the only European to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Games.

The two began actively and moved around the mat, and with 4:50 left in the match, the Iranian was taken down into a parterre position. Novikov scored one point, and with a beautiful throw, he gained a 3-0 lead.

Semen did not allow his opponent to execute a successful move, with the first part of the match ending without any additional points for either wrestler. The first minute of the second half was very aggressive from the Bulgarian national, who provoked another parterre position for his opponent, leading 4-0. Then, with an escape from a hold and a counter push, he advanced to 5-0, and with 1:13 minutes remaining, he extended his lead to 6-0.

Novikov fended off the Iranian's attacks, once again using a counter move to push him out and lead 7-0 with half a minute left before the final whistle.

Bulgarian wrestling had been awaiting this triumph for 24 years. The previous champion was Armen Nazaryan, who won the title at the Sydney 2000 Games.

For the 26-year-old Novikov, this was his debut at the Olympic Games. He is a European champion from Rome 2020 and a bronze medalist at the World Championships in Belgrade and the European Championships in Zagreb. He is also the winner of the "Nikola Petrov" gold belt from the prestigious international tournament of the same name. Due to his successes, he was named Bulgaria's No. 1 wrestler for 2023.

Starting this academic year, Semen Novikov will study at the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski."

Photos: BOC, Lyubomir Asenov, LAP.BG