Stela Yanchovichina to represent Bulgaria at the Winter Paralympics in Italy

Alpine skier Stela Yanchovichina will be Bulgaria’s sole competitor at the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan–Cortina, which take place from 6 to 15 March.

At a send-off ceremony at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport, Vesela Lecheva, President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, presented Yanchovichina with a large handmade martenitsa, a traditional Bulgarian symbol of health and spring, and wished her good luck.

'I’m excited to be heading to the Paralympic Games. My goal is to perform at my best and represent Bulgaria with dignity — to stay focused from start to finish and give it my all,” Yanchovichina told reporters before departing for Italy. She said qualifying for the Games had long been her dream.

Lecheva wished the skier success, expressing hope that she would follow in the footsteps of Tervel Zamfirov and Lora Hristova by returning with an Olympic medal. “Taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games is already a huge success. I admire everything you have achieved so far,’ she said, adding that she hoped for an even more festive welcome upon Yanchovichina’s return.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian athlete will spend several days preparing in Cortina d’Ampezzo with her team.

Born in the winter resort of Bansko, Yanchovichina first took up skiing under the guidance of her father, Stefan Yanchovichin, who is now her assistant coach. She currently trains with the local Ulen ski club under coach Georgi Bistrin.

In January, she won two world titles in the slalom and giant slalom events at the Para Alpine Skiing World Championships in Jasná, Slovakia. This makes her a contender for a medal, and gives her the chance to become the first Bulgarian woman to reach the podium at such a top-level event.

“The slalom competition is tougher because the competitors are separated by hundredths of a second. However, we are like a family, supporting each other and competing in our own way,” she said. She added that, although she enjoys both disciplines, she prefers giant slalom because of the higher speeds and adrenaline. “Extreme things are just for me,” said Yanchovichina.

The Bulgarian delegation will also take an icon of the Virgin Mary to Milan–Cortina for luck and support.

The Winter Paralympic Games will officially open on 6 March with a ceremony at the Verona Arena. More than 600 athletes are set to compete in 76 events across six sports.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

Posted in English by E. Radkova