Yordanka Blagoeva

Yordanka Blagoeva (Bulgarian: Йорданка Благоева; born 19 January 1947) is a former Bulgarian high jumper. She competed at the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics and finished in 17th, 2nd (silver medal), 3rd (bronze medal) and 16th place, respectively.^[1] She won the high jump at the 1965 Summer Universiade^[2] and 1973 European Athletics Indoor Championships. On 24 September 1972 she became the first Bulgarian athlete to break a world record. Next year she also set a new indoor high jump record, and was ranked as the best high jumper in Europe.^[3]

Yordanka Blagoeva

Personal information
Born	19 January 1947 (1947-01-19) (age 77) Gorno Tserovene, Montana, Bulgaria
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	High jump
Club	Septemwriyska slava, Levski-Spartak Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best	1.94 m (1972)
Medal record Representing  Bulgaria Olympic Games 1972 Munich High jump 1976 Montreal High jump European Athletics Indoor Championships 1973 Rotterdam High jump 1969 Belgrade High jump 1972 Grenoble High jump Universiade 1965 Budapest High jump

In 1972 Blagova graduated from a Sports Academy. She later served as president of Bulgarian aerobics federation.^[3]

She is considered to be one of Bulgaria's top athletes. In 2017, when she was aged 70, the documentary film Beyond the Jump was made to cover her life and career.^[4]

References

1. Yordanka Blagoeva. Sports Reference
2. Universiade. gbrathletics.com
3. Йорданка Благоева. sporta.bg
4. "Beyond the Jump - documentary about Bulgaria's first world record holder Yordanka Blagoeva".

Records
Preceded by Ulrike Meyfarth	Women's High Jump World Record Holder 24 September 1972 – 24 August 1974	Succeeded by Rosemarie Witschas
Sporting positions
Preceded by Katya Lazova	Women's Bulgarian National Champion 1972–1973	Succeeded by Stanka Valkanova
Preceded by Tatyana Kamareva	Women's Bulgarian National Champion 1979–1980	Succeeded by Lyudmila Andonova