site.btaBulgaria's First Female Track and Field Olympic Champion Dies

Ivanka Hristova, a gold medallist in the shot put at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, died suddenly on February 24, the Bulgarian Athletic Federation said.

Hristova celebrated her 80th anniversary on November 19.

Ivanka Hristova is among Bulgaria's most decorated women athletes. In addition to her Olympic title in 1976, she won the bronze at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 and held dozens of national records both indoors and  outdoors, titles and medals from European  championships and two world records.

Hristova supported Bulgarian track and field athletics and showed keen interest in the sport to which she dedicated her life.

Last respects to the great Bulgarian athlete will be paid at the 2.30 pm on February 27 at the Boyana cemetery in Sofia.