Yordan Yovchev

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Yordan Yovchev¹

Career and Olympics

Born in Plovdiv, Yovchev competed in men’s artistic gymnastics for Bulgaria. He took part in six consecutive Olympic Games, from 1992 to 2012. At the time of his final appearance, he shared the record for most Olympic appearances by a gymnast with Oksana Chusovitina. He was Bulgaria’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games.¹

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Yovchev won bronze medals in floor exercise and rings. Four years later in Athens, he took silver in rings with a score of 9.850 and bronze in floor exercise with 9.775. He also won two World Championship bronze medals in the all-around, in 1999 and 2001.¹

International Career

After the 1996 Summer Olympics, Yovchev, Krasimir Dunev and Ivan Ivankov moved to Detroit, Michigan, hoping to compete professionally in the United States. Yovchev later coached and trained in Norman, Oklahoma, and Houston, Texas. He turned down proposals to change his sporting allegiance and compete for the United States, and returned to Bulgaria in 2007.¹

Yovchev qualified for the rings final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after placing second in qualification with a score of 16.275. He missed a handstand in the final and finished with 15.525. He competed again in London in 2012, making his sixth Olympic appearance, and retired from the sport in February 2013.¹

Later Roles

In 2003, Yovchev was named Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year and BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year. He was elected president of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation in 2009. He is a sports commentator. In 2016, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Yovchev and his wife, Boriana, have a son, Yordan Jr.¹

He retired from gymnastics in February 2013. He is president of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation and works as a sports commentator.¹