Elitsa Yankova

Elitsa Atanasova Yankova (Bulgarian: Елица Атанасова Янкова, 18 September 1994) is a Bulgarian freestyle wrestler. She participated in the 48 kg competition in 2016 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.[2] This became the first 2016 Olympics medal for Bulgaria.[3]

Elitsa Yankova
Yankova (green) against Mariya Stadnik during the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Born18 September 1994 (1994-09-18) (age 29)
Varna, Bulgaria
Height153 cm (5.02 ft)[1]
Medal record
Women's Freestyle wrestling
Representing  Bulgaria
Summer Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 48 kg
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place2016 Riga48 kg
European Games
Silver medal – second place2015 Baku 48 kg

As an adolescent, Yankova had ambitions for short-distance running in track and field, but later switched to freestyle wrestling. Her father, Atanas Yankov, is a former Greco-Roman wrestler.[1]

In 2009, Yankova, though she failed to secure a spot at the European Championships, was noticed by coach Petar Kasabov, who convinced her to start training under him with the Levski sports club. In 2013, she became a junior world champion. She also holds a number of national titles.[1] In 2015, Yankova damaged her spine, but recovered and returned to wrestling.[1]

Yankova's hobby is folk dancing. She is a student at the South-West University.[1]

References
  1. Stankova, Krasimira (20 August 2016). "Елица Янкова – Лъвското сърце" (in Bulgarian). Trud. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  2. "Elitsa Atanasova Yankova". 2016 Summer Olympics. 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  3. "Elitsa Yankova brings first medal for team Bulgaria at Rio Olympics". Novinite.com. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
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