Bulgaria takes gold, silver at World Calisthenics Championship in Riga

Bulgarian national competitors in calisthenics and street workout won a world title, the overall world champion's cup, a silver medal and six more top-eight finishes at the World Championship held in Riga, Latvia on August 13-15.

Bulgaria was represented by 11 competitors – Kristian Parvanov, Simeon Mihaylov, Stoyan Banov, Ilian Feodorov, Georgi Dimitrov, Elena Lyubenova, Atanas Atanasov, Daya Todorova, Andrey Andreev, Alexander Alexandrov and Pavlin Despotov, CE Report quotes BTA.

Bulgaria's biggest success came from Banov, who won the world title in the men's strength discipline in the 80 kg category and also took the overall world champion's cup. Andreev also put in an excellent performance, winning a silver medal in the men's strength discipline in the over-90 kg category.

Other Bulgarian competitors who finished among the world's best were:

Ilian Feodorov – fourth place, freestyle, men's over 90 kg;

Daya Todorova – fifth place in the final, endurance, women's open category;

Atanas Atanasov – fifth place, power, men's over 90 kg;

Simeon Mihaylov – sixth place in the final, endurance, men's over 80 kg;

Elena Lyubenova – seventh place, power, women's open category;

Pavlin Despotov – eighth place, power, men's veterans, open category.

A total of 214 athletes from 52 countries competed at the World Championship in the three main disciplines – freestyle, power and endurance.

Calisthenics and street workout are the newest disciplines within the structure of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation. The development of the sport is overseen by Federation board member Tsvetan Georgiev and Bulgarian and world gymnastics legend Yordan Yovchev.

The success in Riga comes a year after the 2025 World Championship in Sofia, where Bulgaria also put in a strong performance. In front of a home crowd, Jasmina Svilеnova won the world title, establishing herself as one of Bulgaria's leading competitors in the sport.

The next major event for Bulgaria's representatives will be the national calisthenics and street workout championship final on September 19 in Sofia's North Park, held as part of the Sofia – European Capital of Sport initiative. The event will also form part of the selection and preparation process for the athletes ahead of the 2027 World Championship, which will again be held in Riga.

Photo: Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation