Mariya Petkova

Mariya Dimitrova Petkova (Bulgarian: Мария Димитрова Петкова, née Vergova (Вергова); born 3 November 1950 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian discus thrower. In 1976 she won an Olympic silver medal behind Evelin Schlaak, a standing that would repeat itself in 1980. This year she also achieved a personal best throw of 71.80 metres. In 1982 she won a European Championship silver medal behind countrywoman Tsvetanka Khristova, who is twelve years younger. One year later Petkova won the bronze medal at the first World Championships in Athletics.

Mariya Petkova

Personal information
Native name	Мария Димитрова Леткова
Birth name	Mariya Dimitrova Vergova
Full name	Mariya Dimitrova Petkova
Born	3 November 1950 (1950-11-03) (age 74) Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	105 kg (231 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Discus throw
Achievements and titles
Personal best	71.80 m (1980)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Bulgaria Olympic Games 1976 Montreal Discus 1980 Moscow Discus World Championships 1983 Helsinki Discus European Championships 1982 Athens Discus Universiade 1975 Rome Discus throw 1977 Sofia Discus throw

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing  Bulgaria
1975	World Student Games	Rome, Italy	1st	65.28 m
1976	Summer Olympics	Montreal, Canada	2nd	67.30 m
1977	World Student Games	Sofia, Bulgaria	1st	66.34 m
1980	Summer Olympics	Moscow, USSR	2nd	67.90 m
1982	European Championships	Athens, Greece	2nd	67.94 m
1983	World Championships	Helsinki, Finland	3rd	66.44 m

In 1974 Mariya Petkova bench pressed 210 kg without the use of supportive gear of any kind. This is more than any other woman in history.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Mariya Vergova-Petkova at World Athletics
• Mariya Vergova-Petkova at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)

Records
Preceded by Evelin Jahl	Women's Discus World Record Holder 15 July 1980 – 23 May 1983	Succeeded by Galina Savinkova
Sporting positions
Preceded by Evelin Jahl	Women's Discus Best Year Performance 1980	Succeeded by Evelin Jahl