Bulgaria has a strong and historic connection with sports. There is strong evidence suggesting that even during the Middle Ages, some form of sporting contests were held in the region.
In present times, the country has a sport-oriented atmosphere, with the youth taking part in many sports. Bulgaria is home to strong and competent athletes, wrestlers, and horse riders who have brought fame and honour to their homeland. With the advent of modern sports in the country, we see many sports forms becoming popular in the country.
Here is a brief account of the five most popular sports in Bulgaria.
Football In Bulgaria
Like most countries, football takes precedence over any other sport in Bulgaria as a spectator and a participatory sport. The locals closely follow their national league and other European leagues. The national league is called the Bulgarian First League or the First Professional Football League. The two top football clubs in Bulgaria are CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia, the first team to participate in the UEFA Champions League in 2006.
The national team has not been able to qualify for any major tournament since the UEFA Euro 2004. The team’s biggest achievement was when it finished in fourth place at the FIFA World Cup in 1994. It currently ranks 72 in the FIFA rankings.
Some top Bulgarian players play in major European clubs, including Dimitar Berbatov, who played for Manchester United and FC Fulham during his career. Other popular Bulgarian football players include Georgi Asparuhov, and Hristo Stoichkov, who were awarded the title of Football Player No.1 of the 20th century for Bulgaria.
Wrestling In Bulgaria
The next most popular sport on our list is wrestling. The sport’s popularity is derived from the locals’ love for fighting sports, including amateur boxing, karate, martial arts, etc. Weight lifting also happens to be quite popular as, since historic times, display of strength has been a popular activity.
Bulgarians are very fond of Sumo wrestling, which is quite popular around the country. After Japan, Bulgaria probably has the best team in the world, which has won several European championships.
Some of the best athletes in Bulgaria are wrestlers, and the country has won around 69 medals in the Olympics in the sport.
Since the sport is so popular in the country, there are plenty of clubs, and one can easily avail opportunities to learn and participate in training for wrestling.
Volleyball In Bulgaria
Another sport which is quite popular in Bulgaria is volleyball. Bulgaria has one of the strongest volleyball teams in Europe. There was a time when the men’s team ranked 4th globally. Currently, it is at number 23, according to the FIVB ranking.
The team was a regular in the top 10 teams in the early 2000s and late 1900s. It secured a prominent position at the World Cup in 2007, the Olympics in 1980, the FIVB Volleyball Championship in 1970, and the European Championship in 1951.
Track & Field In Bulgaria
Despite its small size, Bulgaria has garnered attention for its performance at athletic events. Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova holds the record for ladies’ high jumps (209 centimetres), while Yordanka Donkova holds the record for the 100-metre hurdle at 12.29 seconds.
The two athletes made these records in the 1980s. Yordanka’s record remained unbeaten till 2016 when Kendra Harrison from the US did the 100-metre hurdle at 12.20 seconds. Stefka Kostadinova made her record in 1987, which is unbeaten to date. Another Bulgarian female athlete who has been making rounds recently is Ivet Lalova-Collio, the 13th fastest woman in the history of 100 metres.
Gymnastics In Bulgaria
Lastly, we have gymnastics. Bulgarians excel at rhythmic gymnastics and sports gymnastics. Rhythmic or art gymnastics is among the most popular activities among young women and girls in Bulgaria. The sport’s history dates back more than 50 years, and based on their ample experience in the field, Bulgarians have made a name for themselves in the world.
The golden girls from Bulgaria have made their country proud on several occasions and won hundreds of medals. Most prominent of these gymnasts are Maria Petrova and Maria Gigova, both of whom hold a record of three world titles.
Sports Gymnastics is the first Olympic sport in Bulgaria. The first time a Bulgarian gymnast participated in the Olympics was in 1896. The most popular Bulgarian gymnasts from the 1900s are Velik Kapsazov, who was the first to win an Olympic medal, securing third place, and Stoyan Delchev, the first champion gymnast in the Olympics. He won a gold medal on the rings and a bronze medal for the overall competition. In recent years, the most prominent gymnast is Jordan Jovchev.
FAQs
What Is The National Sport Of Bulgaria?
The national sport of Bulgaria is a topic of some debate and perspective. While football (soccer) is immensely popular and widely regarded as the Bulgaria National Sport, weightlifting also holds a significant place in Bulgarian sports culture.
Football in Bulgaria, known as футбол (futbol) in Bulgarian, has a deep-rooted tradition and enjoys widespread popularity at all levels, from local to national competitions. The Bulgarian national soccer team, known as “The Lions,” has seen notable successes, including reaching the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 1994. The sport has a profound impact on Bulgarian culture, unifying people across the country with a shared passion.
On the other hand, weightlifting is also considered by many as the national sport of Bulgaria, despite not being officially designated as such. This consideration stems from Bulgaria’s significant international success in weightlifting, with Bulgarian weightlifters winning numerous medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships. The sport enjoys substantial support from the government and the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation, making it a popular and respected sport in the country.
It’s worth noting that other sports like wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, and volleyball also play important roles in the Bulgarian sports scene. The country has produced notable athletes in these fields and has achieved success at the international level, contributing to its reputation as a sport-oriented nation.
In summary, while football is widely acknowledged as the most popular and unifying sport in Bulgaria, weightlifting’s significant achievements and historical success position it as a strong contender for the title of Bulgaria’s national sport. Both sports, along with others like wrestling and gymnastics, illustrate the diverse and rich sporting culture of Bulgaria.
What Sport Is Bulgaria Best At?
Bulgaria has a rich sporting history with numerous achievements in various sports. One of the most notable achievements in Bulgaria sports is their performance in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where the national football team finished an impressive fourth place. This is widely regarded as Bulgaria’s greatest football achievement and marked a golden era in Bulgarian football, led by players like Hristo Stoichkov, who later won the Ballon d’Or.
In addition to football, Bulgaria has excelled in Olympic sports, particularly wrestling and weightlifting. These two sports have been the top medal-producing disciplines for the country at the Olympic Games, contributing significantly to Bulgaria’s total haul of 230 Olympic medals. The nation’s best performance came at the 1980 Summer Olympics, where they finished third in the medal table, and in the 1988 Summer Olympics, Bulgaria achieved its largest total of gold medals.
Rhythmic gymnastics is another area where Bulgaria has seen considerable success, with athletes like Maria Gigova and Maria Petrova each holding records of three world titles. The 1980s saw a generation of gymnasts known as the “Golden Girls of Bulgaria” dominate this sport.
Bulgarian athletes have also made significant achievements in athletics. Stefka Kostadinova still holds the women’s high jump world record, set in 1987. Additionally, Yordanka Donkova’s record in 100-metre hurdles, set in 1988, stood for many years as a benchmark in the discipline.
In the realm of chess, Bulgaria has produced top-class players like Veselin Topalov, a former world chess champion. The country’s strength in chess was highlighted in 2005 when both men’s and women’s world chess champions hailed from Bulgaria.
These achievements reflect the diverse and rich history of Bulgaria in the world of sports, demonstrating the country’s ability to excel in a wide range of sporting disciplines.
