44829 | 6 May 2025 | 10:42

Stefka Kostadinova is undoubtedly one of our most successful athletes in all sports. In the company of the greatest female athletes in Bulgaria, Stanka Zlateva is also included

Stefan Yordanov

 Actualno.com

 For nearly two months now, Bulgarian sports has been generating unprecedented interest on social media around two topics - the elections for a new president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation. In both organizations, there has been a change of power, but it has been met with considerable controversy. Vessela Lecheva defeated Stefka Kostadinova, but the latter is currently refusing to hand over power. Meanwhile, Stanka Zlateva defeated Grisha Ganchev, Hristo Marinov, and Dimitar Djamov, who all withdrew from the race. However, her victory was not widely accepted by the public. In both cases, there has been a wave of angry disapproval towards two of Bulgaria's greatest athletes. The question is: why?

 Why do we offend two of Bulgaria's greatest athletes? Stefka Kostadinova is the number one athlete in Bulgaria of the century. Olympic Gold from Atlanta 1996, Olympic Silver from Seoul 1988, seven world titles and five European titles - and one world record that has stood for an incredible 37 years. With such a career, Stefka is undoubtedly one of our most successful athletes in all sports, alongside our most decorated Olympic athlete, and in the company of the greatest sports ladies of Bulgaria, Stanka Zlateva surely stands out. She is the most successful woman in the most successful Bulgarian sport: our first Olympic medalist in wrestling with silver medals from Beijing 2008 and London 2012, five-time world and six-time European champion. And despite such successes, it is somehow offensive what is being poured on their address.

 On March 11, Stanka Zlateva appeared before the clubs, presented her views and received their categorical support to become the president of the wrestling federation. Even before the General Assembly, Zlateva made it very clear that her intention is to develop Bulgarian schools - the longer and thorny path to success, instead of relying on trained athletes from abroad who can be naturalized and bring medals to Bulgaria. As it was with Semyon Novikov and Magomed Ramazanov at the Olympic Games in Paris. I remember there was disapproval at the time that they were not Bulgarian athletes. However, a few months later, the attitudes changed - they turned out to be Bulgarians and were even placed above Zlateva, who couldn't even come close to their level because she didn't have an Olympic gold medal like them. And these are real comments from Bulgarians. In one word - ugly... For those who remember the tears in the eyes of Stanka after her Olympic silver in London.

 Stanka Zlateva - the straw man of the mafia After being unanimously elected as the chairperson, the first conspiracy theories appeared - she was a person of Delian Peevski. Rumors started circulating about Stanka being a straw man of the mafia and there's been no stopping them since. There isn't a single mention of Zlateva on social media without comments making the unbelievable discovery that she is a front for Peevski. Other obligatory comments include that it's one thing to be a successful athlete, but completely different to be a leader. Whatever Stanka does, her actions are commented on with animosity and mockery. She believed too much, understood nothing, carried out orders, and fell very low. It is interesting to me when did the Bulgarians start to understand so much about wrestling - and how this sport should be managed in our country. What are the current problems of wrestling and why Stanka is not able to solve them. Usually, every new leader in any organization needs time to implement their ideas. In the case of Stanka, there is not a single action of hers that is not accompanied by a wave of negative, even offensive comments.

 A targeted media attack was launched against Stanka Zlateva, contributing to the negative attitudes towards her. Many of her words and actions were distorted - and unfortunately, they remained so in the public space despite attempts to refute blatant misinformation. Stanka is not helped by the harsh tone in which she speaks, nor by the boldness with which she makes decisions. But this is who she is - sincere and straightforward. She doesn't tear into anyone - and works according to her beliefs. Whether she is right or not - time will tell. One thing is certain though - Stanka Zlateva is not the type of person who is influenced by negative comments. If she was, she would have resigned long ago. Few are the people who could handle what is being poured on her. And it is to her credit that she does not give in to attacks and continues to uphold her principles.

 Stefka Kostadinova turned out to be a big dog that does not let go of the bone so stubbornly.

 Similar is the situation with Stefka Kostadinova - at least in the part with the awful and offensive comments directed towards her. Here, we're not even talking about the case with the elections in the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. The question is how we, as a society, have reached the point of attacking athletes like vultures, who have put Bulgaria on a pedestal in the history of world sports. The most common comment that can be found about Stefka Kostadinova in the last two months is that she doesn't want to release the torch. You won't find a post on the internet that isn't accompanied by this wise opinion. No one is clear about what exactly the torch is, let alone where it will end up if Stefka accidentally drops it. The important thing is to write a comment: Stefka, release the torch. From a great athlete, she has fallen to a very pitiful creature. She is no longer a champion, no longer a sportsman.

 The insults go even further - she is now called a vampire, a witch, with a frightening appearance. Why? Who needs to stoop to such a level: to send ugly and uncivilized attacks towards athletes of such caliber. No matter what Steffi has done - she does not deserve to be insulted in this way. Criticism has long turned into cynicism, and pouring insults on social media has become something normal. Hatred, malice and envy are obviously what "feeds" us as a nation. Even Grigor Dimitrov's failure has turned into joy for Bulgarians - and an excuse to laugh at him, to tell him that he's good for nothing, that he's finished with tennis. The Bulgarian has always had this characteristic of understanding everything - from wrestling, to tennis, to politics. His position is always clear, convincing and categorical, accompanied by numerous insults for even greater certainty. That's how it is - to have and let them know it. And so we don't forget that we are still Bulgarians.