Tanyu Kiryakov

In six Olympic participations, Tanyu Kiryakov earned 11 top-10 positions, and won three medals. He won his first gold at the 1988 Games, in the air pistol event. He was unlucky not to medal in the 1992 free pistol event; after qualifying as second, he suffered a malfunctioning weapon in the final, placing 8th and last. In 1996 (air pistol; bronze) and 2000 (free pistol; gold), Kiryakov did manage to reach the podium. Remarkably, Kiryakov never medalled at the World Championships, his best performances being fourth in 1987 and 1994. He did win two World Cup Finals (1988, 1991) and eight World Cup events. His medal collection also includes ten European Championship medals, including three golds - the 1998 and 2006 air pistol and the 2007 free pistol. Kiryakov is married to Olympic swimmer Nadezhda Georgieva.