Maria Gigova (Bulgarian: Мария Гигова; born 24 April 1947) is a retired Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and sports official. She is a three-time (1969, 1971, 1973) World All-around champion.

Maria Gigova
Gigova in 1973
Personal information
Country represented Bulgaria
Born (1947-04-21) 21 April 1947 (age 77)
Sofia, Bulgaria
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
ClubCSKA Sofia
Head coach(es)Julieta Shishmanova
Assistant coach(es)Lili Mircheva
Retired1974
Medal record
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Representing  Bulgaria
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1967 Copenhagen Hoop
Gold medal – first place 1969 Varna All-around
Gold medal – first place 1969 Varna Free hands
Gold medal – first place 1969 Varna Hoop
Gold medal – first place 1971 Havana All-around
Gold medal – first place 1971 Havana Rope
Gold medal – first place 1971 Havana Hoop
Gold medal – first place 1973 Rotterdam All-around
Gold medal – first place 1973 Rotterdam Hoop
Silver medal – second place 1969 Varna Rope
Silver medal – second place 1969 Varna Ball
Bronze medal – third place 1973 Rotterdam Ribbon
Bronze medal – third place 1973 Rotterdam Clubs

Biography

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She was the first gymnast to become a triple world champion in rhythmic gymnastics with her titles in 1969, 1971, and 1973. Gigova has a total of four gold medals in hoop (1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973), an achievement still unmatched by any other gymnast, as well as one title in rope (1971) and free exercise (1969). As a member of the Bulgarian Team, she also earned team titles at the rhythmic gymnastics world championships in 1969 and 1971. Gigova shared the world crown in the all-around in 1971 with Soviet Galima Shugurova, Both of their ribbon routines at this Championship were to the same music – a piece from Bizet's ballet "Carmen". She was Bulgaria's first World champion and helped expand and influence the growth of rhythmic gymnastics in Bulgaria.

Gigova retired from gymnastics in 1974. After she finished her education at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, She became a member of the FIG Technical Committee, a post she held from 1978 to 1992. In 1978 she was appointed vice-president of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, to become the federation's president in 1982. Gigova served on the Administrative Council of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation from 1989 to 1999 when she was elected president of the federation again. Since 2000, Gigova has again been a member of the Technical Committee of FIG.

On 4 May 2017, Gigova received the Order of Stara Planina (1st class) from president Rumen Radev for her contributions to developing Bulgarian sport.[1]

Achievements

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References

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  1. ^ "Президентът Румен Радев връчи орден "Стара планина" 1-ва степен на Мария Гигова" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  2. ^ Panorama of the 1972 Sports Year (in Russian). Moscow: Fizkultura i sport. 1973. pp. 122–124.
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