Stefka Kostadinova

Stefka Kostadinova was one of the world’s leading high jumpers for about a decade. She first came to prominence in 1985, winning the World Indoor title and ranking #1 in the world for the year. In 1986 she equalled her compatriot Lyudmila Andonova’s world record, bettering it to 2.08 m several days later. At the 1987 World Championships, she improved the record further to 2.09 m, a performance that is unsurpassed as of 2010. During her career, Kostadinova won two world championships (1987 and 1995), one European gold (1986), five indoor world titles (1985, 1987, 1989, 1993 and 1997) and the 1996 Olympic gold medal, after having finished second at the 1988 Games and fourth in Barcelona 1992. Kostadinova was world-ranked in the top 10 for 13 years, from 1984-97, missing only 1990, and was ranked #1 in the world six times – 1985-88, 1993, and 1996.

For about a decade, Kostadinova was married to her coach, Nikolay Petrov, but they divorced in 1999. After ending her active career Kostadinova became a noted sports administrator, becoming vice-president of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation, and serving as deputy sports minister of her country (2003-2005). In 2005, she succeeded Ivan Slavkov as the president of the Bulgarian NOC.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.09 (1987).