Stanka Zlateva
Encyclopedia
Stanka Zlateva Hristova ' onMouseout='HidePop("46815")' href="/topics/Sliven_Province">Sliven Province
) is a female Bulgaria
n freestyle wrestler
. She competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
and the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, where she won a silver medal. She was named World Female Wrestler of the Year in 2006 and 2007 and Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year
in 2007 and 2010.
Zlateva has been engaged in wrestling since 1997, at age 14. Her first coach was Demir Demirev and then she trained with Valeri Raychev in the Kyustendil
sports club and in the national team, as well as with Ognyan Raychev in the national team. Since 2006, she has been competing for Levski Sofia
, where her coach is former world champion and triple Europe
an champion Simeon Shterev.
Zlateva came first in her category at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships (in Baku
and Guangzhou
respectively), fourth in 2004 (New York
), fifth in 2005 (Budapest
), seventh in 2001 (Sofia
) and eight in 2002 (Chalcis
). She's also a triple European champion, winning the 2006, 2007 and 2008 titles (Moscow
, Sofia
and Tampere
respectively), as well as coming third in 2005 (Varna
), fourth in 2003 and fifth in 2004.
She was the first Bulgarian female wrestler at the Olympics: women's wrestling debuted at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and Zlateva represented Bulgaria there, coming twelfth. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she was aspiring to win gold, but lost to the surprising Wang Jiao
of the People's Republic of China
in the final.
In late 2010, it was revealed that Zlateva had been offered to compete for Azerbaijan
at the 2012 Olympics, but had steadfastly refused to discuss any such possibility with the Azeris, as she would only be willing to represent Bulgaria
.
Sliven Province
Sliven Province is a province in southeastern Bulgaria, named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Sliven. It embraces a territory of 3,544.1 km² that is divided into 4 municipalities, with a total population, as of December 2009, of 204,887...
) is a female 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 freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
. She competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, where she won a silver medal. She was named World Female Wrestler of the Year in 2006 and 2007 and Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year
Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year
Bulgarian Sportperson of the Year is an annual award given to the best Bulgarian sportsperson of the year. The winner is selected by authorized journalists. The award was established by the Naroden Sport newspaper and specifically by Aleksandar Yasnikov. It was first given in 1958 to the...
in 2007 and 2010.
Zlateva has been engaged in wrestling since 1997, at age 14. Her first coach was Demir Demirev and then she trained with Valeri Raychev in the Kyustendil
Kyustendil
Kyustendil is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of Kyustendil Province, with a population of 44 416 . Kyustendil is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, 90 km southwest of Sofia...
sports club and in the national team, as well as with Ognyan Raychev in the national team. Since 2006, she has been competing for Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia (sports club)
Levski Sofia is a sports club from Sofia, Bulgaria, founded in 1914. The club is named after Vasil Levski, the national hero of Bulgaria. It's football team PFC Levski Sofia, is its most popular sports branch. Other important branches are BC Levski Sofia, the basketball team and VC Levski Sofia,...
, where her coach is former world champion and triple Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an champion Simeon Shterev.
Zlateva came first in her category at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships (in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
and Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
respectively), fourth in 2004 (New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
), fifth in 2005 (Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
), seventh in 2001 (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...
) and eight in 2002 (Chalcis
Chalcis
Chalcis or Chalkida , the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, is situated on the strait of the Evripos at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from antiquity and is derived from the Greek χαλκός , though there is no trace of any mines in the area...
). She's also a triple European champion, winning the 2006, 2007 and 2008 titles (Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, 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...
and Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
respectively), as well as coming third in 2005 (Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
), fourth in 2003 and fifth in 2004.
She was the first Bulgarian female wrestler at the Olympics: women's wrestling debuted at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and Zlateva represented Bulgaria there, coming twelfth. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she was aspiring to win gold, but lost to the surprising Wang Jiao
Wang Jiao
Wang Jiao is a female Chinese freestyle wrestler. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.She was a late replacement for Xu Wang at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She went on to win the gold medal.-External links:*...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in the final.
In late 2010, it was revealed that Zlateva had been offered to compete for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
at the 2012 Olympics, but had steadfastly refused to discuss any such possibility with the Azeris, as she would only be willing to represent 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...
.