Bulgaria sends its strongest team in recent decades to the Winter Olympics

Days before the Olympic Games, there is usually high spirit and anticipation of medals for the national sports elite. In Bulgaria, however, this excitement is dulled by the ongoing scandals and lawsuits in the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

Twenty winter sports competitors will represent Bulgaria at the most prestigious forum, which will take place from February 6 to 22 this year in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Although placed in extremely difficult conditions and a humiliating situation for national self-esteem, perhaps the strongest Bulgarian team in recent decades will go to the Olympic Games.

"Bulgarian sport has reached unprecedented lows, not in terms of sporting results, but in terms of administrative actions, political interference in sports and the takeover of federations and the Bulgarian Olympic Committee,“ says sports journalist Kamen Alipiev. „Although there were regularly held elections in March 2025 in BOC and the previous chairwoman - legendary high jumper Stefka Kostadinova, shook the hand of her rival Vessela Lecheva, admitting defeat, numerous cases were filed under political influence. This led to the legal absurdity of the elected chairwoman being recognized by the International Olympic Committee, but the Bulgarian court saying that this was not enough. That is why BOC is working under extremely difficult conditions and naturally, expectations from the Olympic Games are not that great."

According to the journalist, Bulgarian sports need a change in management. "There are few federations that are truly managed as good enterprises. In winter sports these are skiing and to some extent biathlon, which are on the right track and work with foreign coaches. The rest are trying to save themselves individually," he adds.

Despite the bad conditions for work, according to Vessela Lecheva, Bulgaria will be represented by competitors who are part of the world elite and who have a chance to rank among the six best in their sport.

“It is no coincidence that Radoslav Yankov is the only Bulgarian so far who has a major World Cup in snow sports, and Tervel Zamfirov won the Alpine Snowboarding World Cup,” says Kamen Alipiev about the best Bulgarian Olympic competitors, starting with snowboarding. “When she was just 16 years old, Malena Zamfirova won her first podium and continues to develop well in the new World Cup season.

In skiing, Albert Popov will participate in the giant slalom, although he is not participating in the World Cup. He is an example of how with a lot of will, work and dedication you can stay permanently in the world elite and now he has a chance to place among the top ten.

As for Vladimir Zografski, this is his best season with an excellent performance at the “Four Hills”. Being in 14th position, coming from a country that does not have a ski jumping hill, is truly an immeasurable achievement in a sport with exceptional competition.

There is a lot of buzz around biathlon – especially after Milena Todorova's performance last season, but the results from the beginning of the season in the World Cup are not very positive. I think that a place among the top 20 can be considered a great success. For figure skater Alexandra Feigin, qualifying for the Olympic Games is a success."

Unlike the Summer Olympics, where Bulgaria is not inferior to the strongest in many sports, the Winter Olympics bring episodic achievements, which, however, can serve as inspiration. The first Bulgarian mark was left by Petar Popangelov in the distant 1980, when he placed sixth in the slalom in Lake Placid and in 1984 in Sarajevo he repeated the historic achievement. The Olympic peak has so far been conquered only by biathlete Ekaterina Dafovska, while Ivan Lebanov won the bronze medal in cross-country skiing.

Perhaps for the first time, Bulgarian athletes pursuing their Olympic dream will not be sent off with an official ceremony. However, the Italian embassy is lending a hand – on January 19, the diplomatic mission is organizing an event where accreditations for the sports forum in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be given.

"There will be no very official giving of national flags, but even in these conditions, Vessela Lecheva and her media advisor Milyana Veleva made serious efforts,“ says Kamen Alipiev in conclusion. „I hope many people will become passionate about winter sports, which are extremely beautiful and interesting. I personally don't think we need to talk too much about how many medals we would win. My hope is simply that the Bulgarian athletes will show their best. And when you least expect it, a miracle can always happen."