Bulgarian Weightlifter and New European Champion Bozhidar Andreev: I owe everything to the people who are no longer among us
"I owe everything to the people who are no longer among us. A light finger to them. And I'm not done yet until I go to the Olympic Games and do there what I promised to them as well", said Bozhidar Andreev after he became European weightlifting champion for the second time in his career.
Andreev smashed the competition in the category up to 73 kilograms at the European Championships in Sofia with European records in the snatch and the clean and jerk with a result that guaranteed him participation in the Olympic Games in Paris. After his last successful attempt at the record 193 kg, he performed his iconic back flip to the thunderous applause of the fans in the sports arena. Bozhidar also won the gold medals in both movements.
After his triumph, he dedicated his honors to the loved ones he had lost. "I am with them at every moment, even though they are not physically with me. I'm sure right now they're looking down on me and proud of me for what I've done. My last experience was precisely for them - for all my loved ones who are no longer with me. The medals are also for them. To be honest, I am happy with everything about this European Championship. I am most pleased that what we did in training, I also did here. I'm proud that we achieved it with my coach and all the other people who support me. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. May God grant us to achieve such results in the future. I believe that we will once again show what we, the Bulgarians, can do," said Bozhidar Andreev.
The silver medal in the duel in cat. Up to 73 kg, Mohamed Ozbek from Turkey won with 336 kg, and Ritvars Suharevs (Latvia) won the bronze with 331 kg.
Andreev brought the third gold medal for Bulgaria from the European Championship in Sofia after Angel Rusev (Cat. Up to 55 kg) and Gabriel Marinov (Cat. Up to 61 kg). Ivan Dimov won a silver medal in the cat. up to 61 kg., and Dzhan Zarkov – bronze in the up to 55 kg. Thus, Bulgaria has a total of five awards so far.
Galya Shatova finished in 5th place in cat. up to 64 kg for women on the fourth day of the European Championships on home soil. The 22-year-old Bulgarian remained one successful attempt away from a bronze medal - both in the snatch and the clean and jerk. In the throw, she made three successful attempts - at 92, 94 and 96 kg. In the push, she started with success at 115 kg, then failed twice at 119 kg, which would have guaranteed her the two bronze medals. Shatova finished with a total of 211 kg.
On February 16, at 10 a.m., in the women's category up to 71 kg (Grepa S), Maria-Alexandra Arnaudova will snatch. Sofia Garcia Stefanova will compete in the women's category up to 76 kg on February 17 at 10 a.m. At 17:00, the battle for the European title in the men's 89 kg category starts with the participation of Carlos Nassar.
On February 19, at 2 p.m., Vasil Marinov will compete for medals in the men's 102 kg category. From 17:00 the battle for the title in the men's category up to 109 kg starts with the participation of Hristo Hristov. On February 20, at 1 p.m., the competition in the category over 87 kg for women will take place with the participation of Jessica Ivanova. /BGNES
