Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

First Olympic gold for Bulgaria from Paris 2024

Semen Novikov outperforms his opponent
Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria has its first Olympic champion from the Olympic Games in Paris. Wrestler Semen Novikov won the final against Iranian opponent Alireza Mohmadipiani in men’s 87kg Greco-Roman style. 

Mohmadipiani is the world vice-champion in the category of up to 87 kg in Greco-Roman style. However, Novikov won with a decisive result of 7:0.


The previous Olympic title for Bulgaria in men's wrestling was brought by Armen Nazaryan 24 years ago from Sydney.

Semen Sergeevich Novikov was born in Kharkiv and until 2022 competed for Ukraine. In 2020, he became the European champion up to 87 kilograms, and at the World Championships in Belgrade in 2023, he won a bronze medal in the same category.

On August 8, 2024, he won a gold medal for Bulgaria in the category of up to 87 kilograms at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Photos: EPA/BGNES



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

"You are the Winner" sports festival in support of the "sunny children"

The track and field tournament "You are the Winner" will be held today in the capital's "Asics Arena". The event is held under the auspices of President Rumen Radev and is for a charitable cause - in support of the "sunny children"...

published on 3/8/25 7:05 AM
Viktoriya Tomova

Viktoriya Tomova defeats Olga Danilovic at Indian Wells

Viktoriya Tomova started the Indian Wells tennis tournament with a win against Olga Danilović (Serbia). Tomova won in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) after 98 minutes of play. Viktoriya   Tomova had the upper hand in all aspects of the game against..

published on 3/7/25 10:10 AM
Eddie Penev

Bulgarian gymnasts advance to the final of the World Cup in Baku

Bulgarian gymnasts Dimitar Dimitrov and Eddie Penev qualified for the floor final on  the first day of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku (Azerbaijan). This is the first competition of the year for Dimitrov, who received a score of 13.366..

published on 3/6/25 2:32 PM