Valentina Dimitrova is the NSA Athlete of the Year

In a solemn ceremony, "Athlete of the Year," the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" awarded the most successful athletes from the sports clubs at NSA and the coach with the most significant achievement for 2024.

As is tradition, the annual awards recognized students of the Academy for their podium finishes at world, European, and national championships during the calendar year.

The ranking was led by Valentina Dimitrova, who won two gold medals at the World Summer Biathlon Championship. Two other biathlon athletes also ranked in the top 10: Laura Hristova (1 gold and 1 silver medal) and Vasil Zashev – who won 5 first places at national youth championships. Representing biathlon is also the Coach of the Year – Senior Assistant Mihail Klechorov (faculty member at the "Snow Sports" department), whose success was instrumental in Laura Hristova's achievements.

The top 10 also included Anelia Tsvetkova, who won bronze at the World Championship in Karate, medalists from European Championships – Hristian Yamboliev (sambo), Mihaela Hristova (sumo), and Borislava Kirilova (karate), as well as national champions Tsvetelina Stoyanova (weightlifting), Tervel Dragoev (orienteering), and Petar Gyosharkov (snowboarding). Due to their participation in competitions, some athletes were unable to accept their awards in person.

“These impressive results were achieved through hard work, dedication, selflessness, and mastery from both the athletes and their coaches. I would like to set an example for Bulgarians in other areas of our lives – when you work hard and achieve remarkable things, it is wonderful to be rewarded at the end of the year. I thank all the students who will receive their well-deserved awards today, as well as those who competed actively and successfully. I hope we will continue to reward such serious achievements and even stronger results,” said NSA rector Prof. Krasimir Petkov.

The athletes were also congratulated by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Assoc. Prof. Stoyan Andonov: “I want to express the ministry's gratitude to the National Sports Academy 'Vasil Levski' – the only higher education institution in the country that provides the perfect conditions for training and highly qualified coaches, allowing athletes to continue their careers. I want to thank all colleagues, coaches, teachers, and student-athletes for what they have achieved, are achieving, and I hope they will continue achieving for many years to come, so that not only the National Sports Academy but also Bulgarian sports and our society can be proud of their victories,” emphasized Deputy Minister Stoyan Andonov in his speech.

The awards – trophies, certificates, and cash prizes – were presented by the rector of the Academy, Prof. Krasimir Petkov, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Krasimir Dachev, who provided a scholarship of 2,500 BGN for the Athlete of the Year. Official guests of the event included: Natalia Miteva – Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Assoc. Prof. Stoyan Andonov – Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Prof. Lachezar Dimitrov – rector of NSA from 2003-2012, Rositsa Koleva – Director of the Higher Education Directorate at the Ministry of Education and Science, Anatoly Iliev – Deputy Chairman of the Sofia – European Capital of Sports Foundation, Olympic champions Senior Assistant Teresa Marinova and Assistant Stoyka Krusteva.

The Olympic successes of NSA students at the Paris Games were recognized earlier in September during the opening of the academic year. Semen Novikov (wrestling) and Carlos Nasar (weightlifting), who won Olympic gold, as well as Boriana Kalein – a silver Olympic medalist in rhythmic gymnastics all-around, were awarded the “Honorary Medal of NSA” by the rector of the Academy, Prof. Krasimir Petkov.

During the ceremony, well-deserved applause and awards were also given to NSA students who showed bravery and courage. Among them were the lifeguards who saved lives in risky situations – Hristian Filipov (1st year, Karate) and Silvia Pantova (3rd year, Football), as well as Svetoslav Dimitrov (1st year, Football), who risked his life to help extinguish a large forest fire.

The event was hosted by Prof. Apostol Slavchev – Chairman of the NSA Sports Club, who presented a summary of the sports achievements. In total, NSA student-athletes won 7 medals at world championships in 2024, including 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze. At European sports events in 2024, NSA students won a total of 24 medals, including 16 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze.

The podium awards from NSA student-athletes in the national championships organized by the federations of each sport in 2024 totaled 335, including 140 gold, 101 silver, and 94 bronze.

TOP 10 NSA Athletes for 2024:

#10 Petar Gyosharkov – Snowboarding, 3rd year, FS, 1st place at the National Championship in Big Air, 1st place at the National Championship in Snowboard Cross, 1st place at the National Championship in Freestyle

#9 Tervel Dragoev – Orienteering, 2nd year, Balkan Championship Middle – 1st place, Balkan Championship Long – 1st place, Balkan Championship Relay – 2nd place, National Championship Ultra Long – 2nd place, National Championship Relay – 3rd place, National Championship Long Distance – 1st place

#8 Tsvetelina Stoyanova – Weightlifting, 3rd year, 1st place in the National League of Professional Weightlifting – 3 gold (snatch, clean and jerk, and total), 2nd place at the National Championship – 3 silver (snatch, clean and jerk, and total)

#7 Vasil Zashev – Biathlon, 4th year, National Championship Winter / Youth: Individual: 1st place; National Championship Winter / Youth: Sprint: 1st place; National Championship Winter / Youth: Pursuit: 1st place; National Championship Summer / Youth: Sprint: 1st place; National Championship Summer / Youth: Pursuit: 1st place.

#6 Borislava Kirilova – Karate, 2nd year, European Championship 3rd place, National Championship 2nd place +58kg. +18 years.

#5 Mihaela Hristova - Sumo, 4th year, 3rd place European Championship U23, 1st place National Championship Women

#4 Hristian Yamboliev – Sambo, 2nd year, European Championship Men - 3rd place, National Championship Men - 1st place.

#3 Anelia Tsvetkova – Karate, 1st year, World Championship 3rd place (18-20 years, 6 points)

#2 Laura Hristova – Biathlon, 3rd year, Summer World Cup Girls: Super Sprint: 1st place; Summer World Cup Girls - Pursuit: 2nd place; National Championship Winter / Girls: Individual: 3rd place; National Championship Sprint: 1st place; National Championship Pursuit: 1st place; National Championship Summer / Girls: Sprint: 1st place; National Championship Summer / Girls: Pursuit: 1st place.

#1 Valentina Dimitrova – Biathlon, 3rd year, Summer World Cup / Girls: Sprint: 1st place; Summer World Cup / Girls: Pursuit: 1st place; Winter World Cup / Girls: Sprint: 3rd place; National Championship Individual: 1st place, National Championship Sprint: 2nd place, National Championship Pursuit: 2nd place, National Championship Sprint: 2nd place, National Championship Pursuit: 3rd place.