Ekaterina Dafovska
At a glance
| In Bulgarian | Екатерина Стефанова Дафовска |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 November 1975, Chepelare, Bulgaria |
| Sport | Biathlon |
| Olympic gold | 15 km Individual, Nagano 1998 |
| World Championship medals | Two bronze medals |
| Latest role | Administrator from Chepelare |
Source: Wikipedia: Ekaterina Dafovska1
Life and Career
Dafovska was born on 28 November 1975 in Chepelare, Bulgaria. She took up biathlon in 1990 and joined Bulgaria’s national team in 1993. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, she placed 29th. Her Olympic results were 29th in the sprint and 13th in the relay.1
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Dafovska won gold in the 15 km Individual. She also competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Games in Turin. Her best other individual Olympic result was fifth in the Individual event at Salt Lake City in 2002.1
Major Results
Dafovska won two bronze medals in the Individual event at the Biathlon World Championships, in 1995 and 1997. In the World Cup, her highest overall season placing was fourth in 2002–03. That season she recorded four event victories: one Individual, one Sprint and two Pursuit wins.1
In 1998, she was named Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year and BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year. As of 2026, her Nagano gold is the only gold medal won by a Bulgarian at a Winter Olympic Games.1
Later Role
Dafovska is a former biathlete and an administrator from Chepelare.1
As of 2026, her 1998 gold is still Bulgaria’s only Winter Olympic gold medal.1
Sources
Facts checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information.
