Stefan Botev, aged 56, was elected, on November 8, 2024, in Sofia, President of the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation for a 5 year term. In the extraordinary Congress organized at the Sports Palace in the capital of Bulgaria, 27 sports structures from the 33 affiliated to the National Federation participated. Stefan Botev, the only remaining candidate, received the unanimous vote of confidence of the delegates present, replacing Anton Kodjabaschev.
On the occasion of the Electoral Congress, the new General Secretary, Marin Milashki, who has held this position in the past and who replaced Dimitar Dimitrov, was also elected.
Stefan Botev, member of the Weightlifting Hall of Fame (IWF, 2007), is a well-known former world-class weightlifter, being a double world champion, in Athens in 1989 and Budapest in 1990, in the 110 Kg category and he is a bronze medallist at the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992, in the same category, as representative of Bulgaria.
Botev, who also competed for Australia, has another bronze medal in his records at the supreme competition in Atlanta 1996, in the +108 Kg category and another silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships in Melbourne 1993, Istanbul 1994 and Guangzhou 1995, also in the +108 Kg BW category.
The new President of the Bulgarian Federation occupied the first step on the podium at the Commonwealth Games, also for Australia, at Victoria 1994, in the snatch and total, while in the clean and jerk, he obtained the silver medal. The former athlete from Bulgaria completes his career results with continental medals in Europe and other medals, won at prestigious competitions in the 80s and 90s for both, Bulgaria and Australia.
“I thank everyone for this vote of confidence. I will do everything possible to develop and bring back the great success of weightlifting in Bulgaria, the success that we have enjoyed for many years. I wish we will have more prestigious results and medals, of course, that will resonate all over the world. Last but not least, I want Bulgaria to be the host country for big competitions in the near future”, said Botev.
On the occasion of the Congress of the Bulgarian Federation in Sofia, the new members of the Executive Board were also elected.
The EWF addresses its sincere congratulations to the new elected President and Board, wishing all the best for the current and future activities of the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation.