Vladimir Ivanov

Vladimir Ivanov was a Bulgarian sprinter who ran at the 1980 Moskva Olympics. He set three Bulgarian records in the 200 metres, with a best of 20.74 in 1978. After his athletic career Ivanov worked as a physical education teacher.

Ivanov married Liliyana Panayotova, who competed at two Olympics for Bulgaria as a sprinter. Their daughter, Nora Ivanova, became a top sprinter who won titles at the European (1995) and World (1996) Junior Championships. She later raced for Turkey (under the Islam name Nur Güner, after marriage to the Turk Kemal Güner) and then Austria and won gold medals in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2001 Mediterranean Games.

Vladimir Ivanov struggled in later life with health problems. In the early 2000s Nora cut short her career to return to Sofia and care for her father. He died in 2020 from complications of COVID-19.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.40 (1979); 200 – 20.74 (1978).