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 30)
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 place 2016 Riga 48 kg
European Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 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

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e 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.
edit