Bulgaria Wins Five Medals on Opening Day of Down Syndrome World Championships in Sofia

Jerusalem, 16 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA)- Bulgaria won five medals on the first day of the BAUHAUS Down Syndrome World Championships Bulgaria 2026 in Sofia on Monday. BTA is a media partner of the championship.

The BAUHAUS Down Syndrome World Championships is an international multi-sport competition where athletes with Down syndrome from around the world compete in elite-level events across disciplines like athletics, gymnastics, and tennis.

Svetoslav Bogdanov secured Bulgaria’s first medal at the event. He won bronze in the 1,500-metre race walk. The Bulgarian athlete finished third with a time of 11:52.04 minutes as Turkey’s Mahmut Kutsal claimed gold in 10:34.99 minutes.

Alexander Asenov won the triathlon title with a new world record. The Bulgarian athlete amassed 2,748 points. Asenov finished the 100-metre sprint in 13.46 seconds, scored 9.13 metres in the shot put, and 4.62 metres in the long jump. Czech representatives David Vodstrcil and Stephan Schwarz finished second and third with 2,471 and 2,217 points respectively.

Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts took silver and bronze. Both medals came at the all-around competitions – Mihaela Rangelova finished second in the junior category and the Bulgarian team (Vasilena Bogdanova, Tomislava Stoyanova, Dilyana Popova, Anika Kassabova and Ivana Kirilova) finished third in the senior.

The country enjoyed success in the artistic gymnastics as well – Emiliyan Kostadinov, Ramonola Sikander and Plamen Grozdanov won the team bronze medal. Bulgaria scored 159.050 points and came in third place in the team competition behind Italy with 168.300 and Norway with 160.650.

Nearly 400 athletes from 27 countries are competing in the Championships, which run until June 19. Bulgaria is represented by 20 athletes in athletics, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis and table tennis. BTA is a media partner of the event.