Anelia Ralenkova (; born 25 December 1963) is a Bulgarian former individual

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, fle ...

. She is one of the "Golden Girls" of Bulgaria that dominated rhythmic gymnastics in the 1980s. She now works as a coach.

Biography

She won gold medals at both world and European championships, but missed competing at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics or the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, then part of the King ...

in 1984 due to the Soviet-led boycott. Her coaches were Zlatka Boneva and

Neshka Robeva Neshka Stefanova Robeva (; born 26 May 1946) is a Bulgarian former rhythmic gymnast and coach. Biography Born in Rousse, Robeva moved to Sofia at 14 to study at the Bulgarian State Choreography School. She graduated from the School in "Bulgari ...

. The 1982 European Championships were successful for Ralenkova, who placed first in the all-around and with rope and hoop, and second with clubs. At the 1983 World Championships, Ralenkova fumbled with ribbon and was defeated by teammate

Diliana Gueorguieva Diliana Georgieva (; born 18 February 1965) is a Bulgarian retired rhythmic gymnast. She was a two-time all-around World champion and one of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria that dominated Rhythmic Gymnastics in the 1980s. She was named the BTA Best ...

. Ralenkova shared the silver medal with another teammate,

Lilia Ignatova Lilia Ignatova (; born 17 May 1965) is a Bulgarian modern rhythmic gymnast. She was one of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria who dominated rhythmic gymnastics in the 1980s. Personal life Ignatova was born on 17 May 1965 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She gav ...

, and Soviet

Galina Beloglazova Galina Beloglazova (; born June 10, 1967, in Astrakhan, Soviet Union) is a Soviet individual rhythmic gymnast. She was the 1983 World All-around silver medalist and the 1984 European All-around champion. Career Beloglazova began training a ...

. Ralenkova won a collection of medals in event finals but was just edged out of every title except hoop (she also earned bronze for ball, clubs, and ribbon). At the

Friendship Games The 1984 Friendship Games, or Friendship-84 (, ''Druzhba-84''), was an international multi-sport event held between 2 July and 16 September 1984 in the Soviet Union and eight other Eastern Bloc states which boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in ...

, she moved up from fifth place on the first day of competition to second place in the all-around on the second. She retired after the 1984 European Championships in November, where she tied for all-around gold with Beloglazova after Beloglazova's last score was raised. Ralenkova expressed anger about the result, saying that "Rhythmic gymnastics is no longer a competition between athletes, but a competition between judges." She finished the individual apparatus finals with golds for hoop, ball, and clubs and a bronze for ribbon. In 1989, the U.S. Gymnastics Federation invited Ralenkova to do clinics, workshops, and sports promotions in a 35-city tour across the U.S. She began a gym in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

before moving to

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Florida, ...

in 2001 and coaching there. She has one son.

Eponymous skill

Ralenkova has one eponymous skill listed in the code of points, a turn of 360 degrees performed with the gymnast's back on the floor.

References

External links

*
Bulgarian sport profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralenkova, Anelia 1964 births Living people Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts Gymnasts from Sofia Sportspeople from Redmond, Washington Bulgarian emigrants to the United States Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Friendship Games medalists in gymnastics Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships