Yordanka Blagoeva (Bulgarian: Йорданка Благоева; born 19 January 1947) is a former Bulgarian high jumper. She competed at the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics and finished in 17th, 2nd (silver medal), 3rd (bronze medal) and 16th place, respectively.[1] She won the high jump at the 1965 Summer Universiade[2] and 1973 European Athletics Indoor Championships. On 24 September 1972 she became the first Bulgarian athlete to break a world record. Next year she also set a new indoor high jump record, and was ranked as the best high jumper in Europe.[3]

Yordanka Blagoeva
Personal information
Born19 January 1947 (1947-01-19) (age 77)
Gorno Tserovene, Montana, Bulgaria
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventHigh jump
ClubSeptemwriyska slava, Levski-Spartak Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best1.94 m (1972)
Medal record
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich High jump
Bronze medal – third place 1976 Montreal High jump
European Athletics Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Rotterdam High jump
Silver medal – second place 1969 Belgrade High jump
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Grenoble High jump
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1965 Budapest High jump

In 1972 Blagova graduated from a Sports Academy. She later served as president of Bulgarian aerobics federation.[3]

She is considered to be one of Bulgaria's top athletes. In 2017, when she was aged 70, the documentary film Beyond the Jump was made to cover her life and career.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ Yordanka Blagoeva. Sports Reference
  2. ^ Universiade. gbrathletics.com
  3. ^ a b Йорданка Благоева. sporta.bg
  4. ^ "Beyond the Jump - documentary about Bulgaria's first world record holder Yordanka Blagoeva".


Records
Preceded by Women's High Jump World Record Holder
24 September 1972 – 24 August 1974
Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Women's Bulgarian National Champion
1972–1973
Succeeded by
Preceded by Women's Bulgarian National Champion
1979–1980
Succeeded by