Yordanka Lyubchova Donkova (Bulgarian: Йорданка Любчова Донкова; born 28 September 1961) is a Bulgarian former hurdling athlete, notable for winning an Olympic gold medal and bronze medal as well as nine medals at European indoor and outdoor championships. Donkova set four 100 m hurdles world records in 1986. Her fifth world record, a time of 12.21 set in 1988, stood for almost 28 years until broken in 2016 by Kendra Harrison.
 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Athletics | ||
Representing  Bulgaria
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1988 Seoul | 100 m hurdles |
 |
1992 Barcelona | 100 m hurdles |
| World Indoor Championships | ||
 |
1987 Indianapolis | 60 m hurdles |
In total, Donkova has 16 medals from major athletics tournaments.[1]
Personal life edit
Donkova suffered a childhood accident, which resulted in her losing two fingers on her right hand. She has three children. In 1991 she gave birth to a son called Zhivko Atanasov - professional football player, currently playing for Cherno More; twin girls Daniela and Desislava followed in 1996.
After the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Donkova received an offer to compete for the United States, but refused to change her national allegiance and continued to represent Bulgaria.[2]
Major achievements edit
Five-time Bulgarian National Champion at 100 m hurdles, 1980, 82, 84, 86 & 94.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Bulgaria
| |||||
| 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Soviet Union | semi-final | 100 m hurdles | 13.39 sec |
| 1982 | European Indoor Championships | Milan, Italy | 3rd | 60 m hurdles | 8.03 |
| European Championships | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 100m hurdles | 12.54 (wind: 0.4 m/s) | |
| 4th | 4 × 100 m relay | 43.10 | |||
| 1984 | European Indoor Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 3rd | 60 m hurdles | 8.09 |
| 1986 | European Championships | Stuttgart, West Germany | 1st | 100 m hurdles | 12.38 (wind: -0.7 m/s) CR |
| 2nd | 4 × 100 m | 42.68 | |||
| 1987 | European Indoor Championships | Lievin, France | 1st | 60 m hurdles | 7.79 |
| World Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, U.S. | 2nd | 60 m hurdles | 7.85 | |
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 4th | 100 m hurdles | 12.49 | |
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 1st | 100 m hurdles | 12.38 |
| 5th | 4 × 100 m | 43.02 | |||
| 1989 | European Indoor Championships | The Hague, Netherlands | 1st | 60 m hurdles | 7.87 |
| 1992 | European Indoor Championships | Genoa, Italy | 3rd | 60 m hurdles | 8.03 |
| Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | 3rd | 100 m hurdles | 12.70 | |
| 1994 | European Indoor Championships | Paris, France | 1st | 60 m hurdles | 7.85 |
| European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 3rd | 100 m hurdles | 12.93 (wind: -1.7 m/s) | |
CR = Championship Record
World records edit
Donkova set five world records for the 100 metres hurdles:
- 12.36 sec - 13 August 1986 (equalling the record of Grażyna Rabsztyn)
- 12.35 sec - 17 August 1986
- 12.29 sec - 17 August 1986
- 12.26 sec - 7 September 1986
- 12.21 sec - 20 August 1988 (the world record stood until 22 July 2016)
References edit
- ^ "Йорданка Донкова чества двадесетгодишния си световен рекорд, световният рекорд все някой ще ми го отнеме, но олимпийската титла остава, заяви Донкова". topsport.bg. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ^ Kyoseva 2014, p. 252.
Bibliography edit
- Kyoseva, Tsvetana (2014). 50-те най-влиятелни жени в българската история (1st ed.). Sofia: Репортер. ISBN 978-619-71690-1-0.
External links edit
- Yordanka Donkova at World Athletics
- Y. Donkova - Olympic record 12:38 | Seoul 1988 г. | video YouTube video
- Y. Donkova - Olympic games 3td place | Barselona 1992 г. | video
- Y. Donkova improve world record four times in 1986 | video
