Adriana Dunavska (Bulgarian: Адриана Дунавска) (born 21 April 1969) is a Bulgarian individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 1988 Olympic All-around silver medallist, 1987 World All-around silver medallist, 1989 World All-around bronze medallist and the 1988 European All-around champion. She also won a gold medal at the 1987 World Championships with the rope. Her twin sister, Kamelia Dunavska was also a competitive rhythmic gymnast.

Adriana Dunavska
Country represented Bulgaria
Born (1969-04-21) 21 April 1969 (age 55)
Sofia
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
ClubCSKA Sofia
Medal record
Rhythmic gymnastics
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul All-around
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 Varna Rope
Silver medal – second place 1987 Varna All-around
Silver medal – second place 1989 Sarajevo Ball
Silver medal – second place 1989 Sarajevo Ribbon
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Sarajevo All-around
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Florence Ball
Gold medal – first place 1988 Helsinki All-around
Gold medal – first place 1988 Helsinki Ribbon
Gold medal – first place 1988 Helsinki Clubs
Gold medal – first place 1988 Helsinki Hoop
European Cup Final
Gold medal – first place 1988 Hanover Rope
Silver medal – second place 1988 Hanover All-around
Silver medal – second place 1988 Hanover Ribbon
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Hanover Hoop

Biography

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Dunavska was born on 21 April 1969. She was a star pupil at club CSKA in her hometown, where she was coached by Borislava Kuichkova until she was selected for the national team. She was one of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria that dominated Rhythmic Gymnastics in the 1980s. She made her international debut breakthrough with her 4th-place finish at the 1986 European Championships.

In 1984, rhythmic gymnastics officially became an Olympic sport . At the Olympics in Seoul, the Bulgarian Gymnasts competed against Soviet gymnasts – Marina Lobach and Olexandra Tymoshenko. Her teammate Bianka Panova dropped a club in the preliminary competition, which eventually kept her out of the medals. Dunavska performed very well. She won the silver medal in All-around competition behind soviet gymnast Marina Lobach. She is her country's only Individual Olympic medallist in rhythmic gymnastics.

Besides her Olympic silver from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Dunavska had a successful career with many gold, silver and bronze medals at World and European championships. At the European Championships in Helsinki in 1988, she became the All-around gold medalist as well as winning gold with ribbon, clubs, and hoop. A year earlier, Dunavska was second at the 1987 World Championships in Varna.

The 1989 World Championships would be Dunavska's final competition. After grabbing the bronze in the all-around she capped off her career by performing in all four event finals, where she won silvers with ball and ribbon.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Dunavska Biography". sporta.bg. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
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