Bulgaria’s biathlon team wrapped up their participation at the Summer Biathlon World Championships in Otepää, Estonia, with a strong showing that highlighted the potential of their young athletes.
The event saw standout performances from the Bulgarian women, who captured multiple gold medals and solidified their status as rising stars in the sport.
Milena Todorova’s Mass Start
The final day of the competition saw Milena Todorova in the spotlight during the women’s 12.5 km mass start. Todorova, who began the race in 10th position, faced challenges during the shooting stages, ultimately placing 21st.
She missed 10 shots across the four shooting ranges, which impacted her final standing, finishing 4 minutes and 7 seconds behind the eventual champion.
Despite this setback, Todorova’s effort contributed to Bulgaria’s overall impressive performance at the championships.
The mass start title was claimed by Latvia’s Baiba Bendika, a 33-year-old veteran of the sport. Bendika overcame four missed shots to secure victory, finishing 24 seconds ahead of Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, who had two missed shots.
The bronze medal went to Czech biathlete Tereza Vobornikova, who also showcased her precision with only one missed shot.
Bulgaria’s Medal Haul
Bulgaria concluded the championships with an impressive tally of medals and top finishes. The Bulgarian team collected three gold medals and one silver, alongside two fourth-place, one sixth-place, one eighth-place, and one ninth-place finishes.
The results are a testament to the team’s hard work and determination, as they consistently performed at a high level throughout the competition.
One of the most memorable moments came during the women’s pursuit event, where Bulgarian athletes dominated the podium. Valentina Dimitrova claimed the gold medal, followed closely by her teammate Lora Hristova, who took silver.
Dimitrova finished the race with four missed shots, while Hristova, despite five shooting errors, crossed the finish line just 23.9 seconds behind her compatriot.
The bronze medal in the pursuit went to Czech athlete Ilona Plechacova, who also showed resilience with three missed shots and a finish 37 seconds behind the winner.
The Bulgarian women’s success extended beyond just the medalists, with the rest of the team delivering solid performances in the pursuit.
Raya Adjamova finished in 39th place with 12 missed shots, Irina Georgieva was 44th, also with 12 misses, and Nikol Klenovska finished 45th with 11 missed shots. Unfortunately, Stefani Yolova did not finish the race.
A Historic Triumph for Bulgarian Biathlon
The success of the Bulgarian women at the Summer Biathlon World Championships was not an isolated achievement. Earlier in the competition, Lora Hristova had already triumphed in the supersprint, securing Bulgaria’s first gold medal.
Valentina Dimitrova followed suit by winning the sprint event, further solidifying her status as one of Bulgaria’s top biathletes.
These victories mirrored the country’s success at last year’s World Youth Championships in Oserble, Slovakia, where Lora Hristova emerged as the most decorated female biathlete, winning gold in all disciplines.
The achievements of these young athletes are a testament to Bulgaria’s growing strength in the sport of biathlon.
Two years ago, Dimitrova, Hristova, and Stefani Yolova were part of the Bulgarian relay team that won bronze at the Girls’ World Championships in Salt Lake City.
This year, the Bulgarian women captured all the world titles in their category, marking a historic triumph for the nation.
The Youth Competition
While the women’s team enjoyed remarkable success, the Bulgarian youth team also delivered commendable performances during the championships in Otepää.
In the men’s 10 km pursuit, Ukrainian biathlete Vitaliy Mandzin took the title, but the Bulgarian youth athletes showed promise in their performances.
Konstantin Vassilev finished 12th, 1 minute and 9 seconds behind the winner, with five missed shots in the shooting stages.
Georgi Naumov placed 24th with seven misses, while Georgi Georgov finished 30th, also with seven misses. Veselin Belchinski and Nikolay Nikolov rounded out the Bulgarian contingent, finishing 33rd and 36th, respectively.
None of the athletes managed to complete the race with clean shooting, and all three medalists in the event had four missed shots.
A Look Ahead: The Road to the Winter Olympics
The Summer Biathlon World Championships in Estonia marked the final major competition for biathletes before the start of the new season, which is set to begin on November 30 with the World Cup round in Kontiolahti, Finland.
This upcoming season is particularly significant as it is a pre-Olympic winter, with athletes vying to secure participation quotas for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
For Bulgaria, the performances in Estonia provide a strong foundation as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
The country’s biathletes, particularly the women’s team, have demonstrated that they can compete at the highest level and have the potential to achieve even greater success on the global stage.
Welcoming the Champions Home
The two Bulgarian world champions, Valentina Dimitrova and Lora Hristova, are returning to Bulgaria today, August 26. They are expected to arrive at Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport at 10:35 p.m. on a flight from Frankfurt.
Their return marks the end of a successful championship campaign, and they will undoubtedly be greeted with pride and celebration by their compatriots.
As Bulgaria looks forward to the upcoming biathlon season and the road to the 2026 Winter Olympics, the accomplishments of these athletes in Estonia will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation.
With their determination, skill, and resilience, the future of Bulgarian biathlon appears brighter than ever.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members