Totka Petrova
Encyclopedia
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.
, and represented the club Tundzha Yambol. She won silver medals at the 1977 and 1978 European Indoor Championships. In 1977 she was only 0.05 seconds behind the gold medallist Jane Colebrook
. Also, she continued a strong tradition of Bulgarian 800 metres runners, who had taken medals at the previous European Indoor Championships in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. Other than Petrova, these medals were taken by Svetla Zlateva
, Stefka Yordanova
, Rositsa Pekhlivanova
, Nikolina Shtereva
and Lilyana Tomova-Todorova
.
In 1977 she also won the gold medal at the 1977 World Cup
, and at the 1977 Summer Universiade
she won gold medals in both 800 and 1500 metres. In 1978 she participated at the European Championships
, finishing fourth in the 800 metres and winning the bronze medal in the 1500 metres.
At the 1980 Olympic Games
she reached the semi-final of the 800 metres and only the heats of the 1500 metres event. In 1982 she finished ninth in the 1500 metres at the European Indoor Championships, and competed at the 1982 European Championships without reaching the final. At the 1983 World Championships
she reached the semi-final of the 800 metres event
, where she was knocked out. She was also knocked out in the 1500 metres event
, in the heats.
She became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 800 metres in 1977 and 1978. As indoor champion she was both preceded and succeeded by Nikolina Shtereva
. She also became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 1500 metres in 1983. Strong rivals in this event include Rumyana Chavdarova
and Vania Gospodinova. Outdoors, she became Bulgarian 400 metres
champion in 1978, 800 metres champion in 1977, 1978 and 1983, and 1500 metres champion in 1977, 1979 and 1983.
Her personal bests in her main events were 1.56.2 minutes in the 800 metres, achieved in July 1979 in Paris
, and 3.57.4 minutes in the 1500 metres, achieved in August 1979 in Athens
. She still holds the Bulgarian record
in 1500 metres. With automatic timing
she had 1.56.59 minutes in the 800 metres, achieved in August 1978 in Prague
. She also had 51.82 seconds in the 400 metres and 2.33.0 minutes in the 1000 metres, both achieved in August 1978 in Sofia
.
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
who represented Bulgaria
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...
in the 1970s and the early 1980s. She specialized in the 800
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...
and 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...
, and won numerous international medals. She is still the Bulgarian 1500 metres record holder.
Career
She was born in YambolYambol
Yambol is a city in southeastern Bulgaria, an administrative centre of Yambol Province. It lies on both banks of the Tundzha river in the historical region of Thrace. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 72,843 inhabitants. It is occasionally spelt 'Jambol'.The administrative centres...
, and represented the club Tundzha Yambol. She won silver medals at the 1977 and 1978 European Indoor Championships. In 1977 she was only 0.05 seconds behind the gold medallist Jane Colebrook
Jane Colebrook
Katrina Jane Colebrook , known as Jane Colebrook and Jane Finch during her career, is a former British middle distance runner who specialised in the 800 metres...
. Also, she continued a strong tradition of Bulgarian 800 metres runners, who had taken medals at the previous European Indoor Championships in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. Other than Petrova, 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:...
, 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...
, Rositsa Pekhlivanova
Rositsa Pekhlivanova
Rositsa Pekhlivanova is a retired Bulgarian 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...
, 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...
and 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....
.
In 1977 she also won the gold medal at the 1977 World Cup
1977 IAAF World Cup
The 1st IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on September 2–4, 1977, at the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, West Germany.-Men:|width="50"| ...
, and at the 1977 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 1977 Summer Universiade
Athletics events were contested at the 1977 Summer Universiade in Sofia, Bulgaria.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics...
she won gold medals in both 800 and 1500 metres. In 1978 she participated at the European Championships
1978 European Championships in Athletics
The 12th European Athletics Championships were held from 29 August to 3 September 1978 in Prague, the capital city of Czechoslovakia.-Track:1971 |1974 |1978 |1982 |1986 |-Field:1971 |1974 |1978 |1982 |1986 |-Track:1971 |1974 |1978 |1982 |1986 |...
, finishing fourth in the 800 metres and winning the bronze medal in the 1500 metres.
At the 1980 Olympic Games
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
she reached the semi-final of the 800 metres and only the heats of the 1500 metres event. In 1982 she finished ninth in the 1500 metres at the European Indoor Championships, and competed at the 1982 European Championships without reaching the final. At the 1983 World Championships
1983 World Championships in Athletics
The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland between August 7 and August 14, 1983....
she reached the semi-final of the 800 metres event
1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres
These are the official results of the Women's 800 metres event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total number of 27 participating athletes, with four qualifying heats, two semi-finals and the final held on Tuesday 9 August 1983.-Medalists:-Records:Existing...
, where she was knocked out. She was also knocked out in the 1500 metres event
1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 1500 metres
These are the official results of the Women's 1,500 metres event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total number of 26 participating athletes, with three qualifying heats and the final held on Sunday 1983-08-14....
, in the heats.
She became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 800 metres in 1977 and 1978. As indoor champion she was both preceded and succeeded by 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...
. She also became Bulgarian indoor champion in the 1500 metres in 1983. Strong rivals in this event include Rumyana Chavdarova
Rumyana Chavdarova
Rumyana Chavdarova is a retired Bulgarian middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres.She finished twelfth in the 3000 metres at the 1974 European Championships...
and Vania Gospodinova. Outdoors, she became Bulgarian 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
champion in 1978, 800 metres champion in 1977, 1978 and 1983, and 1500 metres champion in 1977, 1979 and 1983.
Her personal bests in her main events were 1.56.2 minutes in the 800 metres, achieved in July 1979 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and 3.57.4 minutes in the 1500 metres, achieved in August 1979 in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. She still holds the Bulgarian record
Bulgarian records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Bulgaria maintained by the Bulgarian Athletic Federation .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:# = not recognised by federation-External links:* * * * *...
in 1500 metres. With automatic timing
Fully Automatic Time
Fully automatic time is a form of race timing in which the clock is automatically activated by the starting device, and the finish time is either automatically recorded, or timed by analysis of a photo finish. The system is commonly used in track and field as well as horse racing, dog racing,...
she had 1.56.59 minutes in the 800 metres, achieved in August 1978 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. She also had 51.82 seconds in the 400 metres and 2.33.0 minutes in the 1000 metres, both achieved in August 1978 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...
.