Maria Petrova (rhythmic gymnast)
Encyclopedia
Maria Petrova (born November 13, 1975 in Plovdiv
, Bulgaria
) is a Bulgaria
n rhythmic gymnast
. She shares the world record for the most individual world all-around rhythmic gymnastics titles of all time and has never placed lower than seventh in any competition in her entire career.
, Bulgaria
coached by Natalia Moravenova. In her first World Championship appearance in 1991, she is already coached by the great Neshka Robeva
at the Levski Sofia Club and came second in the team competition after a hoop drop.
Petrova found herself in fifth at the Barcelona Olympics after a penalty of .20 was imposed due to the zipper on the back of her leotard
that had broken during her hoop exercise. A few months later, Petrova took second place behind Oxana Kostina
and ahead of Larissa Lukyanenko.
In 1993, Petrova performed with her Panovaesque ball to an India
n melody. She also competed in a ribbon exercise, and a small-toss filled clubs routine to Suzanne Vega
's "Tom's Diner
". Her final performance to Carmina Burana
caused a great crowd ovation. She went on to win the all-around, as well as three more gold medals (ball, hoop, ribbon) and a bronze medal (clubs).
She went on to win one more European title and two more world titles (shared in 1995 with Yekaterina Serebrianskaya), tying her with countrywoman Maria Guigova for the most wins in the latter category. Although she had tried to retire several times after her first World title, Petrova continued competing as a favor to the Bulgarian national team, which was in a rebuilding phase after the Eastern European Communist collapse.
Petrova shares the world record for most individual world all-around rhythmic gymnastics titles with Maria Gigova
. Petrova's three titles were earned in 1993, 1994, and 1995 (shared).
In 1998 Petrova married Bulgarian footballer Borislav Mikhailov
. She is currently a judge in rhythmic gymnastics.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) is a Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n rhythmic gymnast
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
. She shares the world record for the most individual world all-around rhythmic gymnastics titles of all time and has never placed lower than seventh in any competition in her entire career.
Career
Petrova began her training at the age of five at Trakia Plovdiv Club in PlovdivPlovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
coached by Natalia Moravenova. In her first World Championship appearance in 1991, she is already coached by the great Neshka Robeva
Neshka Robeva
Neshka Robeva is a Bulgarian former Rhythmic Gymnast and coach.Born in Rousse, Robeva graduated from the Bulgarian State Choreography School in "Bulgarian Dances" in 1966 and since then had been a member of the Bulgarian national rhythmic gymnastics squad until 1973. She took part in four World...
at the Levski Sofia Club and came second in the team competition after a hoop drop.
Petrova found herself in fifth at the Barcelona Olympics after a penalty of .20 was imposed due to the zipper on the back of her leotard
Leotard
A leotard is a skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard ....
that had broken during her hoop exercise. A few months later, Petrova took second place behind Oxana Kostina
Oxana Kostina
Oksana A. Kostina, was a former Soviet Individual Rhythmic Gymnast. She was born in Irkutsk, Russia.For years Oksana Kostina remained in the shadow of the two Ukrainian gymnasts Oxana Skaldina and Alexandra Timoshenko, even though she won many international events before her excellent results at...
and ahead of Larissa Lukyanenko.
In 1993, Petrova performed with her Panovaesque ball to an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n melody. She also competed in a ribbon exercise, and a small-toss filled clubs routine to Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
's "Tom's Diner
Tom's Diner
"Tom's Diner" is an a cappella pop song written in 1981 by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. When first featured on one of her own studio albums, it appeared as the first track of her Solitude Standing...
". Her final performance to Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana (Orff)
Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936. It is based on 24 of the poems found in the medieval collection Carmina Burana...
caused a great crowd ovation. She went on to win the all-around, as well as three more gold medals (ball, hoop, ribbon) and a bronze medal (clubs).
She went on to win one more European title and two more world titles (shared in 1995 with Yekaterina Serebrianskaya), tying her with countrywoman Maria Guigova for the most wins in the latter category. Although she had tried to retire several times after her first World title, Petrova continued competing as a favor to the Bulgarian national team, which was in a rebuilding phase after the Eastern European Communist collapse.
Petrova shares the world record for most individual world all-around rhythmic gymnastics titles with Maria Gigova
Maria Gigova
Maria Gigova is a Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast. She was the first gymnast to become a triple world champion in rhythmic gymnastics with her titles in 1969, 1971, and 1973...
. Petrova's three titles were earned in 1993, 1994, and 1995 (shared).
In 1998 Petrova married Bulgarian footballer Borislav Mikhailov
Borislav Mikhailov
Borislav Biserov Mihaylov is a former Bulgarian football goalkeeper and currently President of Bulgarian Football Union, member of the executive committee of UEFA....
. She is currently a judge in rhythmic gymnastics.