Rositsa Pekhlivanova
Encyclopedia
Rositsa Pekhlivanova is a retired Bulgaria
n middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres
.
She was born in Sliven
, and represented the clubs Sliven, Levski-Spartak Club and Tundzha Yambol during her career. She won the bronze medal in the 800 metres
at the 1975 European Indoor Championships, losing out to the silver medalist by only 0.1 seconds. The next year she won the bronze medal in 1500 metres at the 1976 European Indoor Championships. She was only 0.1 seconds behind the silver medalist Natalia Marasescu
, but beat the fourth placer with a full six seconds. She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
without reaching the final. In round one, only the top four runners in each of the initial heats progressed, and Pekhlivanova finished sixth in her heat with 4:13.11 minutes.
In winning an 800 metres medal at the 1975 European Indoor Championships, she was a part of a strong tradition of Bulgarian 800 metres runners, who won medals at the European Indoor Championships in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. Other than Pekhlivanova, these medals were taken by Svetla Zlateva
(1972), Stefka Yordanova
(1973), Nikolina Shtereva
(1976, 1979), Lilyana Tomova-Todorova
(1976) and Totka Petrova
(1977, 1978).
Pekhlivanova became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 1500 metres in 1974 and in 800 metres in 1975. She also became Bulgarian champion in cross-country running in 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1981.
Her personal best time in the 1500 metres was 4.09.0 minutes, achieved in August 1975 in Nice
. She also had 2.35.2 minutes in the 1000 metres, achieved in July 1976 in Sofia
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
.
She was born in Sliven
Sliven
Sliven is the eighth-largest city in Bulgaria and the administrative and industrial centre of Sliven Province and municipality. It is a relatively large town with 89,848 inhabitants, as of February 2011....
, and represented the clubs Sliven, Levski-Spartak Club and Tundzha Yambol during her career. She won the bronze medal in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
at the 1975 European Indoor Championships, losing out to the silver medalist by only 0.1 seconds. The next year she won the bronze medal in 1500 metres at the 1976 European Indoor Championships. She was only 0.1 seconds behind the silver medalist Natalia Marasescu
Natalia Marasescu
Natalia Mărăşescu is a retired Romanian middle distance runner who specialized mainly in the 1500 metres....
, but beat the fourth placer with a full six seconds. She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
without reaching the final. In round one, only the top four runners in each of the initial heats progressed, and Pekhlivanova finished sixth in her heat with 4:13.11 minutes.
In winning an 800 metres medal at the 1975 European Indoor Championships, she was a part of a strong tradition of Bulgarian 800 metres runners, who won medals at the European Indoor Championships in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. Other than Pekhlivanova, these medals were taken by Svetla Zlateva
Svetla Zlateva
Svetla Stefanova Zlateva is a retired Bulgarian sprinter and middle distance runner who specialized in the 400 and 800 metres. She is a former world record holder in the latter event.-Career:...
(1972), Stefka Yordanova
Stefka Yordanova
Stefka Yordanova was a Bulgarian sprinter and middle distance runner who specialized in the 400 and 800 metres.Born in Burgas, she ran at the 1971 European Indoor Championships and won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay. She then won the 800 metres gold medal at the 1973 European Indoor...
(1973), Nikolina Shtereva
Nikolina Shtereva
Nikolina Pavlova Shtereva is a retired Bulgarian middle distance runner who specialiced in the 800 and 1500 metres. She is best known for her silver medal in 800 metres at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and at the European Indoor Championships she won gold medals in 1976 and 1979 and a bronze medal in...
(1976, 1979), Lilyana Tomova-Todorova
Lilyana Tomova-Todorova
Lilyana Tomova-Todorova , born 9 August 1946) is a retired Bulgarian sprinter and middle distance runner who specialized in the 400, 800 and 1500 metres....
(1976) and Totka Petrova
Totka Petrova
Totka Nikolaeva Petrova is a retired female middle distance runner who represented Bulgaria in the 1970s and the early 1980s. She specialized in the 800 and 1500 metres, and won numerous international medals. She is still the Bulgarian 1500 metres record holder.-Career:She was born in Yambol, and...
(1977, 1978).
Pekhlivanova became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 1500 metres in 1974 and in 800 metres in 1975. She also became Bulgarian champion in cross-country running in 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1981.
Her personal best time in the 1500 metres was 4.09.0 minutes, achieved in August 1975 in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
. She also had 2.35.2 minutes in the 1000 metres, achieved in July 1976 in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
.