Maya Blagoeva (later ''Mitova'', ; born 25 July 1956) is a retired Bulgarian artistic gymnast. A seven-time national champion, she competed at the

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...

. Blagoeva has a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

physical education Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...

. She is married to the Olympic gymnastics coach Zarko Mitov and has a long coaching experience herself. She brought three gymnasts to the international and Olympic level, including her daughter

Silvia Mitova Silvia Zarkova Mitova (later ''Hutchinson'', , born 29 June 1976) is a retired Bulgarian artistic gymnast. She is a five-time Bulgarian Champion, the 1991 European junior silver medalist, and the 1992 European vault bronze medalist. She compete ...

. In the 1990s her family moved to the United States, where she works at the Silvia’s Gymnastics gym in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, together with her husband, daughter and son-in-law.

References

1956 births Living people Gymnasts at the 1972 Summer Olympics Olympic gymnasts for Bulgaria Bulgarian female artistic gymnasts Bulgarian emigrants to the United States {{Bulgaria-artistic-gymnastics-bio-stub