Bulgarian triple jumper Viktoria Angelova has been named European Athletics Women’s Rising Star of 2026. The award was presented at the Golden Tracks ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday.
Angelova, who became world under-20 triple jump champion and European under-18 champion this year, is the first Bulgarian athlete to win the award since it was established in 2007.
In the poll for the accolade, Angelova prevailed over Czech athlete Linda Botkova, the European under-18 champion at 400 m hurdles, and Slovenia’s Ziva Remic, who won European and world titles in the 800 m in the under-18 and under-20 age groups this season.
The recognition follows an outstanding season for the 17-year-old Bulgarian coached by Georgi Pomashki. In July, she triumphed at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti, Italy, with a jump of 13.98 metres, a championship record and the world’s best performance of the season in the girls’ event.
Less than a month later, Angelova reached the top of the world podium, winning the triple jump title at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, US, with a jump of 13.91 metres. At just 17, the Bulgarian thus became a world champion in the older age group.
In addition to the triple jump, Angelova has also competed in the long jump.
After receiving the award, Angelova said: “I feel very good – happy, satisfied and proud to be the first [Bulgarian] recipient of this trophy.”
In a video posted on the Facebook page of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation, she also says: “To be honest, I didn’t expect the award. When I was first selected as a nominee, I didn’t expect it. Then, when I made the top three, I didn’t expect it either, and now taking first place has shocked me even more.”
Angelova adds: “Keep following Bulgarian athletics, because there are many surprises in store, and I believe we will continue to achieve success in the coming years.”
The European Athletics Rising Star award is the latest major accolade for Angelova in recent weeks. On October 14, she was named Balkan Rising Star at the Balkan Athletics Gala in Tirana, Albania.
The European Athletics Rising Star award is one of the continent’s most prestigious individual honours for young athletes. Previous winners include Olympic and world champions Nafissatou Thiam, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Femke Bol and Jessica Ennis-Hill, among others.
