Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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

Tsanko Tsankov

Tsanko Tsankov prepares to swim 100 km in the Danube

The world champion and record holder in ice swimming and one of the most successful open water swimmers, Tsanko Tsankov, is preparing for a historic swim in the waters of the Danube River. At the beginning of September, the thirty seven-year-old..

published on 8/13/24 6:15 PM

Olympic champion Karlos Nasar: My limit is still very far

One of Bulgaria's three Olympic champions from Paris, Karlos Nasar, was solemnly welcomed on Bulgarian soil after his outstanding gold medal in the French capital. The 20-year-old Bulgarian stepped on the Olympic peak in the category up to 89 kg in..

published on 8/13/24 4:30 PM

Bulgaria welcomes home Olympic wrestling champions Semen Novikov and Magomed Ramazanov

Olympic wrestling champions Semen Novikov and Magomed Ramazanov were solemnly welcomed at Sofia Airport with folklore dances, bagpipes and laurel wreaths. "I felt the support of every Bulgarian. My next goal is the world title. I became European..

published on 8/12/24 6:00 PM