2024-04-17 05:25:01
At 16, to earn a quota for the Olympic Games, at 17 to become the first Bulgarian swimmer with a medal from the European Championships in the 50-meter pool, at 18 to record a debut appearance for our men’s swimming in an Olympic final, at 20 to qualify for second way to the highest sports forum and to swim again at the Olympics when you are 21.
For such achievements, many athletes struggle throughout their careers and quite often do not wait for them. Having such a business card, the Bulgarian swimming ace Yosif Miladinov reasonably pursues higher goals. At the games in Paris this summer, the national born on June 23, 2003 in Plovdiv will participate again in his crowning discipline of 100 meters butterfly, in which he took the 8th position in the final of Tokyo 2020.
“For me, things have developed much faster than others. I have been in men’s swimming since an early age and I am more or less used to the achievements. Naturally, I am happy that I will swim again at the Olympic Games. But I cannot say, that I was “wow” after winning the quota for Paris.
For many swimmers, meeting the standard is a great success. However, I have already been to the Olympics once and
it’s perfectly normal to aim higher
In Tokyo I swam in the final and finished 8th, so now I’ll be chasing a higher ranking life and health. For sure, I will need to improve my state record in the 100m butterfly (50.93 seconds – b.a.). In my opinion, the final in Paris will close at 51 seconds,” said the Plovdiv native from Switzerland, where he lives and trains.
Also in his typical direct, specific and selected speech, Yosif commented on his achievement, which he learned about from “24 Chasa”.
Miladinov is the first Bulgarian swimmer to reach the finals of the Olympics, World and European Championships. He completed a “Grand Slam” of sorts with his participation in the start of the 100m butterfly medal distribution at the Planetary Championships in Doha in February, in which he finished 8th.
“I had no idea. I understand from you. This sounds quite interesting and motivating”, are Miladinov’s words on the occasion.
In fact, even after the final in Qatar, he directly stated that he does not consider entering the final of the World Cup to be a success. Well, at least it gave him a second unique achievement in our swimming history. We mentioned the first at the beginning – a debut medal for men from the European in the traditional 50-meter pool.
For Miladinov’s story to reach this stage, everything
started 15 years ago in his native Plovdiv
Joseph’s grandfather takes him to the pool. The boy starts practicing and likes it more and more day by day.
Already in his early teenage years, winning medals and recording achievements make him aware of himself – he will be serious about swimming.
“I felt that I had talent and I was already sure that this is what I want to do,” says Miladinov. Very quickly he reaches his first significant success. Only at the age of 16, Joseph met the standard for participation in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the 100-meter butterfly. He did it with a new national record – 51.91 seconds.
In the same 2019, the Plovdiv resident earned silver in the 100m dolphin from the European championships in Kazan (Rus) and bronze in the 50m butterfly from the world championships in this age group in Budapest (Ung).
“It’s been a long time since winning the first Olympic quota and I don’t remember exactly, but there was certainly euphoria. I was joyful, a really great moment at such an age.
However, I started competing with men early on, not with my sets. I always wanted to be further and higher,” says Yosif.
Although marked by COVID-19, 2020 does not leave a mark for Miladinov. The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for 1 year, but some competitions are still taking place. At the state competition in Sofia in December, the Plovdiv resident broke the republican record in the royal swimming discipline – 100 meters freestyle, with 48.83 seconds. His time is #1 to this day.
“Basically, I swim all styles. That’s why I can participate in medley. Over the years, you understand what your style is. I feel the best in the butterfly, and specifically at 100 meters,” explains the national.
The super-successful 2021 for Miladinov is coming. Again in Budapest, he became the European vice-champion in the 100-meter dolphin with a new national record – 50.93 seconds. Next came 2 European junior titles from Rome – 50m and 100m dolphin.
At the games in Tokyo, at only 18 years old, he was Bulgaria’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony alongside shooting legend Maria Grozdeva. This was followed by a strong performance and the historic first final for Bulgarian men’s swimming at the Olympics and the first since Tanya Bogomilova and Antoineta Frenkeva from Seoul 1988.
Joseph, in addition to being direct, can also be frank. The year, apart from the furor of the European and the games in the Japanese capital, also has its negative side.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to get a medal in Budapest. I came second for better or worse. I’m glad that I managed to win silver for Bulgaria. I have my motivation anyway, but this result gave me a bit of a boost.
After the European, I took a longer break than I should have. Then at the Olympics, everything was unforgettable, but with it came the end of my strength form.
I indulged in rest again. I stepped into the pool once a month. And the return was extremely difficult. I don’t wish anyone with goals to do this to themselves. It was very difficult for me, but I managed to cope with the cost of a lot of effort,” Yosif is frank.
For nearly 1 year, he misses all major competitions as he goes through an illness of COVID-19.
He only swims in tournaments in Switzerland. It returns to the Europeans in Rome in August 2022, and fittingly so. Broke the national record in the 50m butterfly with 23.20 seconds for a final in which he finished 7th.
Returning to serious swimming, at the beginning of last year, Miladinov was remembered with a noble gesture. He auctioned his silver medal from the European Championships to help the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey. He did it impulsively. The initiative brought him BGN 4,000.
At the end of July, Joseph swam his crown event in 51.47 seconds at the world championship series in Fukuoka and covered the norm for the Paris Games.
“It’s good that I took a quota early, otherwise it’s stressful. For me, this was a goal. I think you have to define a specific race to chase a standard. And not to go crazy over races. You need a plan,” Yosif is emphatic.
In February of this year, the final of the 100 meters of the world championships in Doha came. “I confirm what I said then. For me, it is not a success to enter the final and then whatever comes. I have a goal. If I achieve it, I set myself another one,” Miladinov said.
And here’s his answer when asked if he really feels as calm and composed as he always seems to be, and yet which moment he can define as the most emotional of his career so far: “Interesting question.
I’m not really an emotional person
For some such moment, maybe I should go back to when I was 13-14 years old. When winning medals from the “Multinations” tournaments, the emotions were the best.
Otherwise, regarding peace of mind, I can say that I never experience stress. There is nothing to frighten me, to create fear in me. I know what I can do and I’m trying to do it.” Joseph really looks like that.
He will spend most of his preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris in Switzerland. He will not participate in the European in Belgrade in June, but only in tournaments in Switzerland. 2 weeks before the highest forum, he will return to Bulgaria.
After him, it is still not clear where Miladinov will go. The reason – his coach in Switzerland retired. One thing is certain –
as a big fan of “Loco” (Pd) will want
to attend a match of his “black and white” favorites. He is happy with their good form this season.
Before the Tokyo Games, Joseph got an Olympic tattoo. Now he is adamant that there will be no new one. Understandable, in view of the fact that at the age of 21 he will participate in a second Olympics and the prospect – to swim in at least 2 more, and why not 3. The important thing is that Miladinov continues to fulfill his goals. Let’s wish him that.
