Maria Gigova Bulgarian gymnast Date of Birth: 24.04.1947 Country: Bulgaria

1. Biography of Maria Gigova
2. Achievements
3. Post-Gymnastics Career
4. Competitions and Awards

Biography of Maria Gigova

Maria Gigova was an exceptional Bulgarian gymnast who represented artistic gymnastics in individual exercises. She was awarded the Hero of Socialist Labor of the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Gigova was also an Honored Master of Sports of Bulgaria and the USSR, earning the title of "Honored Master of Sports of the USSR" in 1972 among the best athletes of socialist countries.

Achievements

Maria Gigova was the first gymnast to become a three-time world champion in artistic gymnastics in the all-around individual competition, winning in 1969, 1971, and 1973. She has a total of four gold medals for exercises with the hoop (1967, 1969, 1971, and 1973), an achievement that remains unmatched. Additionally, she won gold for performances with the ribbon (1971), skipping rope (1969), and without apparatus (1969). As a member of the Bulgarian national team, she won the championship title in the team competition at the World Championships in 1969 and 1971. Maria's performances were always characterized by high speed, difficulty, and originality.

Post-Gymnastics Career

Gigova retired from competitive gymnastics in 1974. After completing her education at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, she became a member of the Technical Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation from 1978 to 1992. She served as the chairperson of the committee from 1980 to 1992. Additionally, she held positions as the Vice President of the Bulgarian Artistic Gymnastics Federation from 1978 to 1982 and the Chairperson of the federation from 1982 to 1989 and 1999 to the present.

Competitions and Awards

- 1965 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia - 6th place in all-around individual competition.
- 1967 World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark - 1st place in hoop exercises.
- 1969 World Championships in Varna, Bulgaria - 1st place in all-around individual competition, exercises without apparatus, hoop, and skipping rope; 2nd place in ball exercises.
- 1971 World Championships in Havana, Cuba - 1st place in all-around individual competition, clubs; 3rd place in ribbon exercises.
- 1973 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands - 1st place in all-around individual competition, hoop; 3rd place in clubs and ribbon exercises.

Maria Gigova continues to contribute to the world of artistic gymnastics as a member of the Technical Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation and as the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Artistic Gymnastics Federation.