I am happy about the fact that there are young competitors who are successfully following the path of the big names in biathlon – Ekaterina Dafovska, Pavlina Filipova, Irina Nikulchina, and I am sure that with diligence, a lot of work and heart, they will bring new successes to your federation . This was said by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Georgi Glushkov, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Biathlon Federation, the press center of the Ministry of Sports reported.
“In your showcase there are all kinds of medals and awards, which is a certificate that for 40 years you have made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian sports. I wish the team of the federation to continue to work hard and create athletes who will bring glory to Bulgaria,” said Minister Glushkov.
The event, which officially closed the 2024 competition season, was attended by Olympic, world and European champions, coaches and figures.
Biathlon in our country began to be practiced in 1960 as a military sport in the army, two years later the first official competition was held in our country, and in 1984 the Bulgarian Biathlon Federation was founded. For four decades, Bulgarian biathlon has been written on the pages of international sports history with the Olympic gold medal of Ekaterina Dafovska from Nagano in 1988, the bronze of Irina Nikulchina from Salt Lake City in 2002, as well as with the silver medals from the world championships of Tsvetanka Krasteva from Feistritz in 1989 and to Vladimir Iliev from Ostersund in 2019.
In its history, native athletes have brought many more world and European honors in various competitions of the International Biathlon Union, and our country has hosted two World Cups, two European and one World Championships.