STOYAN DELTCHEV

Many years after his retirement from competition, Bulgaria’s Stoyan Deltchev remains part of gymnastics – and his name is also part of its vernacular.

Deltchev is credited as the international originator of a twisting release skill on high bar that bears his name. Once considered outrageously difficult, the skill is still seen in contemporary men’s high bar routines, as well as on women’s uneven bars.

A native of Plovdiv, Deltchev competed in two Olympic Games and five World Championships. He is perhaps best remembered for winning the 1980 Olympic title on high bar, but was also a very proficient all-around gymnast.

Deltchev won the 1979 European all-around title, and placed third all-around at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

In addition to winning the high bar title at the Moscow Olympics, he finished fifth in three other event finals. Deltchev tied for the gold medal on floor exercise at the 1979 World Cup in Tokyo. He placed third on pommel horse, and tied for third place on high bar, at the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France.

Today, Deltchev lends his honored name to gymnastics in a new way. As owner and head coach of Deltchev Gymnastics Academy in Reno, Nevada, he is developing new generations of talent.

In 2008 Deltchev became the first Bulgarian inductee of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.