Petya Toneva Strashilova is a retired Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...

n middle distance runner who specialized in the 800

800 metres

The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...

 and 1500 metres

1500 metres

The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...

.

She was born in Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria, and a nationally important economic center. Located in Southern Bulgaria, it is the administrative capital of the homonymous Stara Zagora Province...

, and represented the clubs Beroe Stara Zagora, Levski-Spartak Club and Sofia. She competed at the 1995 World Indoor Championships

1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships

The 5th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain from 10 March to 12 March 1995. There were a total number of 602 participating athletes from 130 countries.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:...

, the 1995 World Championships

1995 World Championships in Athletics

The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden between August 5 and August 13.This edition featured 1804 athletes from 191 nations....

, the 1996 Summer Olympics

1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....

 (both 800 metres and 1500 metres) and the 1997 World Championships

1997 World Championships in Athletics

The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations...

 without reaching the final round.

She became Bulgarian 400 metres champion in 1995, 1997 and 1998. She became 800 metres champion in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998, and 1500 metres champion in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. She also became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 400 metres in 1990, 1994, 1995 and 1997 and in the 1500 metres in 1997.

Her personal best time in the 800 metres was 1:59.38 minutes, achieved in May 1998 in Sofia

Sofia

Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...

. She also had 2:34.8 minutes in the 1000 metres, achieved in July 1995 in Sofia, and 4:11.62 minutes in the 1500 metres, achieved in 1995.