Maria Grozdeva

Maria Zdravkova Grozdeva-Grigorova (Bulgarian: Мария Здравкова Гроздева-Григорова; born on 23 June 1972) is a Bulgarian retired sport shooter, who competed in 25 metre pistol and 10 metre air pistol. She is the only woman to have successfully defended the 25 metre pistol title at the Olympic Games. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's 25 metre pistol, and Women's 10 metre air pistol.[1]

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Zdravkova and the family name is Grozdeva.

Maria Grozdeva
Grozdeva in 2014
Personal information
Full nameMaria Zdravkova Grozdeva
Born23 June 1972 (1972-06-23) (age 51)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Medal record
Women's shooting
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 25 m pistol
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 25 m pistol
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona 10 m air pistol
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta 10 m air pistol
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens 10 m air pistol

Apart from her five Olympic medals including two gold medals, Grozdeva also has been successful at CISM World Championships and ISSF World Cups. She is also the current holder of the final world record in 25 metre pistol.[2]

Life

Grozdeva was born on 23 June 1972 in Sofia. She began shooting at the age of 11, and graduated in sports shooting from the National Sports Academy.[3] She is married to her coach Valeri Grigorov, with whom she has three children.[4]

Grozdeva announced her decision to retire from professional sports after competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5] She was among the founders of the Bulgarian Shooting Union and served as its president between 2012 and 2022, being succeeded by Vesela Letcheva.[6]

Other endeavors

In, 2009 Grozdeva competed as a house guest in the third season of the reality show VIP Brother.[7] She made it into the final three and then placed runner up for the season.[8]

Olympic results
Event 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2020
25 metre pistol 18th
574		 21st
574		 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
589+101.3		 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
585+103.2		 5th
583+203.6		 9th
583		 27th
578
10 metre air pistol 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
383+98.6		 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
389+99.5		 38th
367		 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
386+96.3		 11th
382		 24th
378		 43rd
559

Records
Current world records held in 25 metre pistol
Women (CISM) Individual 590  Li Duihong (CHN)
 Maria Grozdeva (BUL)
 Stephanie Thurmann (GER)
 Zhang Mengyuan (CHN)
 Doreen Vennekamp (GER)		 1993
1996
2015
June 2, 2018
June 2, 2018		 (NOR)
(SWE)
(KOR)
Thun (SUI)
Thun (SUI)

References
  1. "Shooting GROZDEVA Maria - Tokyo 2020 Olympics". Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. "ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation". International Shooting Sport Federation. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. Banov, Georgi (23 June 2022). "Мария Гроздева на 50: И сега не ми стига времето, но поне е без големия стрес". 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. "Мария Гроздева: Да отгледаш три деца е по-лесно, отколкото да бориш простаци, които пречат". 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). 3 October 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  5. "Мария Гроздева: Готвех се за край на кариерата от половин година". 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). 1 August 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  6. Papazyan, Edward (28 February 2022). "Весела Лечева: Изборът ми за председател на съюза по стрелба не означава напускане на политиката". 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  7. "Bulgaria Much Anticipated VIP Brother 3 Begins with Political Scandal". Novinite. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. "TV Presenter Deo Wins Bulgaria's Charity VIP Brother". Novinite. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2023.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.