The best Bulgarian alpineer Albert Popov said he could achieve much more in the future. This season he recorded third place in slalom in Palisades Tahoe (USA), and now he dreams of winning a World Cup competition, which is the goal he will pursue next season.
Popov received the February Athlete of the Month award in the Presclub Bulgaria sports editors poll, and his mentor Ivaylo Borisov is #1 among coaches.
“Thank you to the media for appreciating our work throughout the year.” The season was very good. I fulfilled my childhood dream with the podium; we fulfilled the goals. Growth is very important and positive, and I believe we can achieve much more in the future”.
“I wish us to be healthy, have good preparation and achieve good results from the start of the next season. I’m looking forward to becoming a father and having the little man turn our lives around,” Popov said.
Vice President of BFSki Georgi Bobev added that Albert Popov’s achievements are enormous against the background of funding that major ski nations such as Switzerland and Austria have and what our federation receives in funding.
“Thanks for the recognition of Albert by sports journalists. It isn’t easy to evaluate what he has accomplished because it is terribly much. What Albert is doing advertising Bulgaria and winter sports is huge”.
Bobev also emphasised that the season is very successful for us as the results are visible. “I wish Albert well, many good times ahead of him, keep him motivated. The top 15 of the World Cup finals is also an outstanding achievement”.
He invited all winter sports fans to watch live the Bansko Youth Snowboarding World Championship from March 24 to 26 and the subsequent starts for the Balkan Cup, State Championship and the July Cup, which will also be held in Bansko until April 2.
“The season has passed; it was quite successful for us. We are extremely happy,” said Popov’s coach Ivaylo Borisov.
He added that the preparations will go to the same places as last year, but they hope the weather will be favourable and there will be snow.
Popov said he would keep many things the same next season.
“The change will not be drastic. Even this season, I could have a win. The competition is great. Every race is different. We will go in the same spirit; we will try to improve physics, technique, and speed.
The rest is luck and health. In a race, everyone must take risks to win. That’s what I do, so the falls do not despair me, but on the contrary – they motivate me,” said the alpine.