Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

First Olympic gold for Bulgaria from Paris 2024

Semen Novikov outperforms his opponent
Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria has its first Olympic champion from the Olympic Games in Paris. Wrestler Semen Novikov won the final against Iranian opponent Alireza Mohmadipiani in men’s 87kg Greco-Roman style. 

Mohmadipiani is the world vice-champion in the category of up to 87 kg in Greco-Roman style. However, Novikov won with a decisive result of 7:0.


The previous Olympic title for Bulgaria in men's wrestling was brought by Armen Nazaryan 24 years ago from Sydney.

Semen Sergeevich Novikov was born in Kharkiv and until 2022 competed for Ukraine. In 2020, he became the European champion up to 87 kilograms, and at the World Championships in Belgrade in 2023, he won a bronze medal in the same category.

On August 8, 2024, he won a gold medal for Bulgaria in the category of up to 87 kilograms at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Photos: EPA/BGNES



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeats Barcelona in EuroLeague opener in Sofia

The basketball team of Barcelona visited Bulgaria for the first time for their game against the team of Hapoel Tel Aviv, which chose Bulgaria as its home venue for this season’s EuroLeague. The symbolic hosts claimed a 103–87 victory (26:26,..

published on 10/1/25 9:26 AM

Bulgaria welcomes its new volleyball legends

After the official welcoming at Vasil Levski Airport this morning, the Bulgarian national volleyball team, who are vice-champions of the 2025 Men's World Championship in the Philippines, met with their fans at a special ceremony in..

published on 9/30/25 7:36 PM

Ruzhdi Ruzhdi wins sixth world title in the Men's Shot Put F55 at the World Para Athletics Championships

Bulgarian para-athlete Ruzhdi Ruzhdi won his sixth world title in the Men’s F55 Shot Put at the World Para Athletics Championships held in New Delhi, India. The two-time Paralympic champion from Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 secured first place with a..

published on 9/29/25 4:39 PM