Bulgarian athletics is in mourning. In the hours before Christmas, the heart of one of the most talented coaches in history, Georgi Dimitrov, stopped.
Georgi Dimitrov was born on May 5, 1948 in Boychinovtsi, Montansko.
Georgi Dimitrov is a former javelin thrower and in the 70s of the last century he started working as a coach, which brought one of the most significant successes in the history of Bulgarian athletics.
The greatest success in Dimitrov’s coaching career was the Olympic title in the 100 m hurdles of Yordanka Donkova in 1988 in Seoul. Donkova also set a world record in the discipline – 12.21 seconds, which is second in the eternal world ranking after the planetary achievement of Kendra Harrison in 2016. Donkova’s record survived 28 years.
Under the leadership of Dimitrov, Ginka Zagorcheva set a world record in the 100 m hurdles and won the world title, and together with Donkova, they made the discipline Bulgarian thanks to their numerous successes and achievements.
Dimitrov works with all disciplines in athletics. His wife, Valentina Dimitrova, won the world university heptathlon title in 1977. Vanya Stambolova was European champion in the 400m in 2006 and one of the strongest in the world in that event, as well as in the 400m hurdles and 800m.
Venelina Veneva-Mateeva was the vice-champion of Europe in the high jump in 2006 under the guidance of Dimitrov.
There are dozens of top-class athletes who have achieved records and won medals thanks to Dimitrov’s training system, and he also passes on his experience abroad.
The cult coach is also known for his unconventional thinking and opinions on all matters, not only in sports, but in all walks of life.
In recent years, Dimitrov has been engaged in the selection and training of children in kindergartens in Kostenets.
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