The Bulgarian Association of Sports Journalists and WINBET will present a special "Inspiration" award

Athlete No. 1 of Bulgaria for 2024 will be announced and awarded at a special ceremony on February 24 (Monday). The 67th "Athlete of the Year" poll is organized by the Bulgarian Association of Sports Journalists with the support of WINBET. The most prestigious sports awards in Bulgaria will be presented at the official event at Hyatt Regency Sofia. The start is at 5 PM.

In addition to the athletes who made it into the top ten, the No. 1 team and coach in Bulgaria for 2024, the audience's No. 1 athlete, and the No. 1 athlete with disabilities for the past year will be honored.

The Bulgarian Association of Sports Journalists and WINBET are also establishing a special "Inspiration" award, which will be presented for the first time at this year's ceremony.

The event will be full of many more surprises - with an ideological line for the respect that the best ambassadors of Bulgaria in the world, Bulgarian athletes, deserve.

137 sports journalists participated in the 67th "Athlete of the Year" poll. It is clear which athletes and teams will compete for the most prestigious sports award in Bulgaria.

The top ten for determining Athlete No. 1 for 2024 include(in alphabetical order):

• Alexander Vezenkov (Basketball)

• Božidar Andreev (Weightlifting)

• Boryana Kalein (Rhythmic Gymnastics)

• Grigor Dimitrov (Tennis)

• Carlos Nassar (Weightlifting)

• Kimia Alizadeh (Taekwondo)

• Kubrat Pulev (Boxing)

• Magomed Ramazanov (Wrestling)

• Semen Novikov (Wrestling)

• Javier Ibañez (Boxing)

Immediately after them in the ranking of the most deserving for 2024 are Valentina Georgieva (Artistic Gymnastics), Lyubomir Epitropov (Swimming), Albert Popov (Alpine Skiing), Radoslav Yankov (Snowboard), Stilyana Nikolova (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Nikola Tsolov (Motorsport), Desislava Angelova (Rowing), Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva (Badminton), Svetlana Kamenova (Boxing), Rami Kiwan (Boxing), Tihomir Ivanov (Athletics).

Bulgaria's Team №1 for 2024 will be chosen from:

• Men's National Weightlifting Team

• Women's National Volleyball Team U18

• National Rhythmic Gymnastics Ensemble

• PFC Ludogorets (Razgrad)

Annually, the poll is organized concurrently with the survey for the best coach. In the 41st edition of the 'Coach of Bulgaria' poll, organized by 'Trud' newspaper, 28 media outlets participated. Traditionally, the winner will receive a painting by a Bulgarian artist.

The top five in alphabetical order are:

• Antonina Zetova (Volleyball)

• Valentin Angelov (Wrestling)

• Mariana Pamukova (Rhythmic Gymnastics)

• Pavel Hristov (Weightlifting)

• Filip Yanev (Artistic Gymnastics)

The first official poll was conducted in 1958. In the survey organized by "Naroden Sport," basketball player Vanya Voynova won - the first official winner of "Athlete of the Year." Stefka Kostadinova holds the record for winning the most prestigious award - 4 times. Boyan Radev and Stanka Zlateva have been chosen as №1 3 times each. Eight great Bulgarian athletes have triumphed twice - Prodan Gardzhev, Petar Kirov, Hristo Markov, Serafim Todorov, Yordan Yovchev, Rumyana Neykova, Grigor Dimitrov, and Aleksandar Vezenkov.