Ljudmila Ninova

Long jumper Ljudmila Ninova was born in Kula, Bulgaria, and competed in her youth for her home country before moving to Austria. She then became seven-times an Austrian outdoor champion (1991-1997) and six-time indoor champion (1991–94, 1996-97). At the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics she failed to reach the final after elimination in the qualifying round.

Representing Bulgaria, Ninova finished fifth at both the 1986 European Outdoor and Indoor Championships and was ninth at the 1987 Worlds. After receiving Austrian citizenship, Ninova placed seventh at the 1991 Worlds. In 1993, she finished seventh at the World Indoors and sixth at the World Outdoor Championships. In 1994, Ninova won her only international medal at the European Indoors with a silver medal. The same year she came fifth at the European outdoors. Occasionally she also competed in triple jump.

Ninova later worked as a sports manager and supported several international athletes. From 2004-09 she was a fitness coach for the volleyball players of her home club SVS Schwechat. In 2009, Ninova worked as a sports teacher having obtained her teaching diploma in Bulgaria some years earlier.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.09 (1994).