To this day, Dafovska is the only Bulgarian who has climbed the highest step of the honorary podium of winter Olympic games.

Ekaterina Dafovska was born on November 28, 1975 in the town of Chepelare, in the Rhodope Mountains. She has been involved in biathlon since she was 15 years old. In addition to the Olympic gold, she also won a European title at the 2004 Minsk Championships, as well as two bronze medals at the 1995 and 1997 World Championships.