The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation held a ceremonial Gala Evening under the motto"Together to the Top"– a stylish and emotional event, which gathered legends, current stars, coaches, partners, and friends of the most successful team sport in Bulgaria at Sofia Crowne Plaza.
The evening was dedicated to those personalities and achievements that have permanently shaped the history and continue to define the future of Bulgarian volleyball.
The President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, opened the ceremony with an emotional address, in which he emphasized that he felt like "the happiest head of a sports federation in Bulgaria," because the current successes of young talents continue the work of the legends present in the hall.
"They are our inspiration. They are the reason Bulgaria is once again strongly heard in world volleyball,"stated Ganev.
Official guests also attended the ceremony, including the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, Vesela Lecheva.
Awards for the eternal symbols of Moscow 1980 – "Bulgarian Pride"
The ceremony focused on the legendary Olympic medalists from the games inMoscow 1980– both women and men. The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation presented special awards"Bulgarian Pride"to the ladies who won the unforgettable Olympic bronze:
Anka Uzunova
Verka Stoyanova
Galina Stancheva
Margarita Mitkova
Tanya Gogova
Rumyana Kaisheva
Tsvetana Bozhurina
The emotion of the evening was supported by the words of some of the brightest figures of that team.
The voices of legends - messages to the future
Verka Stoyanova, always colorful and direct, sent a strong and symbolic wish:
"Thank you all for everything on behalf of our team. I wish the girls after us to achieve our successes, but a little higher - to become Olympic champions, and the boys - Olympic champions."
Tanya Gogovaemphasized that their generation spoke loudest on the court:
"Congratulations to the women's world champions and the men's world vice-champions. Good luck at the 2026 European Championship. May they achieve what we did and even more."
Tsvetana Bozhurinareminded of the privilege of wearing an Olympic medal:
"We are among the few lucky ones to have Olympic medals. I wish it to all of you too."
Rumyana Kaishevahighlighted the significance of the current year:
"2025 is a memorable year for Bulgarian volleyball. Let's not stop here."
Homage to the bronze heroes of 1980 - the men
The legends from the men's team were also honored on stage, who also remain a symbol of Bulgaria's strongest years in world volleyball:
Dimitar Dimitrov
Dimitar Zlatanov
Kaspar Simeonov
Mitko Todorov
Petko Petkov
Stefan Dimitrov
Stoyan Gunchev
Hristo Iliev
Tsano Tsanov
Leading figures from that generation also shared their emotional words.
Dimitar Zlatanov, one of the greatest in the history of sports:
"For so many years we were on the courts. We sowed the seeds that are bearing fruit today. May future girls and boys achieve more than us and sow seeds for the next generations."
Kaspar Simeonov was brief, but emphatic:
"Volleyball has proven that we will continue to be among the best."
Stoyan Gunchev addressed the young people:
"May they continue to create, as they did this year, and be healthy."
The Coaches - The People Behind the Great Victories
Volleyball successes are impossible without those who nurture talent. The BFV honored the coaches who contributed to the historic placements during the year. The following were awarded plaques for their merits:
Asen Metodiev, Martin Mihaylov, Valeri Banchev, Brigita Slavova-Badzhakova, Larisa Kitipova, Petya Veneva, Eva Tsvetanova and Lyubomir Georgiev. They were greeted with sustained applause as true "volleyball awakeners".
Fourth in the world: women under 21 years old
The gala evening continued with recognition for the U21 women's national team, which finished fourth in the world. Although some team members are in active season, Bojana Boyanova, Venessa Radeva, Elena Kolarova, and Maria-Magdalena Nedyalkova were personally present and honored. A loud "bravo" echoed in the hall for all volleyball players who contributed to this historic ranking: Bojana Boyanova, Margarita Guncheva, Iva Dudova, Viktoria Dimitrova, Venessa Radeva, Elena Kolarova, Kaya Nikolova, Viktoria Koeva, Diyana Borisova, Alexandra Kitipova, Mihaela Manolova, and Maria-Magdalena Nedyalkova.
World Champions - the golden future of Bulgaria.
Volleyball remained the only team sport to bring a world title to Bulgaria – and in 2025, another gold was added to this. The U19 women's national team, led by Atanas Petrov, conquered the world in Serbia and Croatia and was crowned with gold after defeating the USA. All champions deserved the "Bulgarian Pride" award, and personally at the gala evening, the awards were received by:
Viktoria Ninova (captain), Vyara Parapunova, Denitsa Angelova, Dimana Ivanova, Kalina Veneva, Nikol Okoro, Simona Ivanova, Stefani Dyankova. Guests welcomed the champions with enthusiasm - as the future of Bulgaria's most successful team sport.
World Vice-Champions - the men's national team.
The year ended with the incredible achievement of the men's national team - world vice-champions for the first time in 55 years. Their triumph, welcomed by thousands at "Alexander Nevsky" Square, was presented in an exciting video that brought back the emotion from the Philippines and the magic of Bulgarian unity.
Emotion, symbolism, and continuity.
The "Together to the Top" gala evening showed something much more significant than a celebration – it was a lesson in continuity. A meeting between the generations who built our glory and the current stars who carry the ambition to return Bulgaria to the pinnacle of world volleyball.
The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF) emphasized respect, gratitude, and a shared mission –to continue the tradition of strong results and boldly advance towards new heights..
photos: Nikolay Varadinov.
