Bulgarian snowboarders train in Livigno ahead of Winter Olympics

Snowboarders Malena Zamfirova, Tervel Zamfirov and Alexander Krashniak held their first training session in Livigno, not on snowboards but on skis, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee announced. They were accompanied by their coach, Anatoliy Zamfirov. The three athletes, together with Bulgaria’s other snowboarder, Radoslav Yankov, will compete in the parallel giant slalom on February 8.

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The group arrived by bus late Saturday night, checked into the Olympic Village, and just hours later held their first training session on the slopes of the famous Italian resort, which is hosting the snowboard and freestyle skiing events of the XXV Winter Olympic Games.

Radoslav Yankov is making his fourth Olympic appearance, while the other three are Olympic debutants. Bulgaria has never had four snowboard participants before. International commentators have named all four Bulgarians among the potential medal contenders, according to a Facebook post by the Bulgarian Ski Federation.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov