Rowing coach moves to politics

Olympic Champion rowing coach Svilen Neykov has been named as Bulgaria’s new Minister of Sport. Neykov, 44, coached Rumyana Neykova to a gold medal in the women’s single at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Neykov received many accolades after the Beijing Olympics, highlighted especially by Neykova’s medal being the only gold medal won at Beijing for Bulgaria.

Neykov himself was a competitive rower, racing on the Bulgarian national team from 1989 until 1994. While still competing, Neykov started coaching and married five-time Olympian Neykova in 1992. He has been her coach ever since. The couple have two sons Emil aged eight and three-year-old Mario.
 
Currently Neykov is an assistant professor at the National Sports Academy where he teaches “Foundations of Sports Training.” Neykov continues to coach Neykova who is competing this year in the women’s double. The double finished third at the final Rowing World Cup earlier this month.

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