Hobbies
Making video, cars, spending time with friends. (trud.bg, 24 Oct 2019)
Occupation
Athlete
Family
Partner Erika Zafirova
Spoken languages
Bulgarian, English
Coach
Milko Tankushev [national], BUL; Damyan Ignatov [personal], BUL
Sporting relatives
His partner Erika Zafirova has represented Bulgaria in rhythmic gymnastics, and won gold in the group all-around competition at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (bnr.bg, 14 Jul 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Sep 2021)
Injuries
In June 2021 he suffered an injury to his left ankle, which affected his preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (bnr.bg, 14 Jul 2021)
In July 2018 he sustained a torn biceps muscle at a training camp in Moscow, Russian Federation, and subsequently missed the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. (insport.bg, 02 Aug 2018)
He competed at the 2014 European Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, with an ankle injury on one leg and a calf injury on the other. He also experienced back pain at the tournament. (eli-gym.com, 30 May 2014; gong.bg, 28 May 2014)
Start sporting career
He first tried gymnastics at age three in the Caribbean, and he began training seriously in 2008 after moving to Bulgaria. "My first memories were tears because I didn't like gymnastics at all. I was scared of almost everything. The only thing I loved was jumping on the trampoline and climbing ropes, which I was best at. At the time, I loved skateboarding, I was very good. I liked it a lot, and according to my mother, I was very good. I was very keen, but eventually I started doing gymnastics." (eli-gym.com, 30 May 2014)
Reason for taking up the sport
He was encouraged to take up the sport by his mother. "She is an ex-athlete and saw potential in me as a gymnast. She made me do the splits every day and taught me how to do a back flip. In 2007 my mother was talking with coach Damyan Ignatov on the phone, and she took a big step of moving from the Caribbean to Bulgaria just so I could train with him." (intlgymnast.com, 23 Sep 2019)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (bgolympic.org, 24 Jul 2021)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (24chasa.bg, 24 Jul 2021)
Hero / Idol
Bulgarian artistic gymnasts Yordan Yovchev and Krasimir Dunev, Japanese artistic gymnast Kohei Uchimura. (trud.bg, 24 Oct 2019)
Additional information
General
TO OLYMPICS WITH LOVE
He said that the presence and support of his partner, Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Erika Zafirova, at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, inspired the performance that earned him a qualification quota for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Erika's presence in the gym was the reason why I won the quota for the Tokyo Olympics. She was with me not only physically but also spiritually. We looked after each appliance. We looked at each other after every apparatus. She sent me kisses, and I replied with hearts. It was a very beautiful moment for me and her. Together we go to the Olympics. We've been talking about this for a long time. We are very happy. This is a dream." (bnr.bg, 08 Oct 2019)
HERITAGE
Born in the Netherlands to a Bulgarian mother and a US father, he has spent time living in the Caribbean, the United States of America and Bulgaria. (intlgymnast.com, 23 Sep 2019)
Last update : 2021-09-24
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