Yordan Yovchev is the first Bulgarian gymnast in the history of sport who appeared on six consecutive Olympic Games between 1992 and 2012. He has four Olympic medals in his career- a silver and three bronze medals. In 2001 and 2003 he became a double world champion on both floor exercise and still rings. He also became a double world vice-champion in 2002 in the same events. After the Summer Olympics in London in 2012, Yovchev put an end of his successful career. During the last Olympiad in London he managed to overcome his multiple injuries and placed among the world’s best gymnast at the still rings contest, although he was 39 years old. He finished 7th in the final rankings at this Olympiad. The end of a very long and brilliant career will be given at a farewell performance. The show will be held on February 23 in the Arena Armeec hall in Sofia and has a charitable purpose. The money will be used for the development of the Bulgarian gymnastics. The show which was entitled “The road” will gather many popular people from the music and sports field as well as fans of Yordan Yovchev.
The organizers have prepared an 85 minute performance at the scenario of the famous Bulgarian sports journalist Vera Marinova-Atkinson. The program consists of impressive performances of athletes, acrobats and musicians. The benefit performance will be held one day before the 40th birth anniversary of the great Bulgarian athlete. Thus, Yordan Yovchev will have the chance to make his last bow to the Bulgarian audience. Young Bulgarian pop singers Orlin Pavlov and Poli Genova are among the guests who will participate in the show.
The legendary Bulgarian gymnast has many times said that perseverance, steadiness, high morals and purposefulness lie in the bottom of his successful sports career. During the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 Yovchev was badly robbed by the referees and won a silver medal at the still rings contest instead of gold which was well deserved. This motivated the Bulgarian gymnast to continue to work even harder and later became the most successful Bulgarian gymnast ever. However, the end of his active sport career does not mean an end of his sport activity. He will continue to occupy the position President of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation. Besides, he will keep on training the young Bulgarian sports talents so that the young generation will continue the fabulous deed of this great Bulgarian sportsman and person. According to Yovchev, this sport has been gaining huge popularity in the country over the last few years. This is proved by the constantly increasing number of kids practicing gymnastics in the Bulgarian sports halls with huge enthusiasm and eagerness.
Time will show whether a big Bulgarian sports talent, who can successfully replace Yordan Yovhev, will appear in the future on the world stage.
English version: Kostadin Atanasov
