The Most Famous
SWIMMERS from Bulgaria
Top 6
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Bulgarian Swimmers of all time. This list of famous Bulgarian Swimmers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity.
1. Kristian Golomeev (b. 1993)
With an HPI of 41.37, Kristian Golomeev is the most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages on wikipedia.
Kristian Tsvetanov Gkolomeev (Bulgarian: Кристиан Цветанов Голомеев, Greek: Κριστιάν Τσβετάνοφ Γκολομέεφ, born 4 July 1993) is a Greek former professional swimmer who represented his country at the 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. He specialized in sprint freestyle and butterfly events.
2. Petar Stoychev (b. 1976)
With an HPI of 40.70, Petar Stoychev is the 2nd most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.
Petar Stoychev (Bulgarian: Петър Стойчев; born 24 October 1976 in Momchilgrad) is a Bulgarian swimmer who is one of the most successful long distance marathon swimmers in history. He is one of the greatest marathon swimmers of all time and an honor swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Stoychev has 11 consecutive titles of a major international open water marathon swimming FINA series since 2001 (World Cup winner 2001–2006, Grand Prix winner 2007–2011) with more than 60 wins in individual swimming marathons. So far, he has swum over 60,000 km in pools, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Petar Stoychev has won 11 consecutive victories at the Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog in Magog, Canada (34 km) and at Lac Saint-Jean in Roberval, Canada (32 km). Also, he has won the Ohrid Lake, North Macedonia swimming marathon 11 consecutive times (30 km). His swimming achievements include swimming around the Manhattan Island in 2010 and winning the extreme Cadiz Freedom Swim in 2011. In addition to his numerous achievements in marathon swimming, he has participated in four Olympics – 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he was the flag bearer for the Bulgarian Olympic team, and finished 6th in 10km at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Petar Stoychev was formerly the holder of the world record for crossing the English Channel (24 August 2007) and the first swimmer to make the crossing in less than 7 hours (6:57:50). The previous record from 2005 (7:03:50) belonged to Christoph Wandratch (Germany). His record was broken by Australian swimmer Trent Grimsey on 8 September 2012. English Channel Swims 2006 – 7 h 21 mins 2007 – 6 h 57 mins (WR) Petar Stoychev won the first place at 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, China during the 25 km event, thus becoming the first Bulgarian swimmer with a World Championship title. He was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in September 2009. Petar Stoychev was selected in a global online poll as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year for his victorious marathon swims throughout the year. Petar Stoychev is a member of the FINA Athletes' Commission. In August 2024, he became the first Bulgarian to complete the Oceans Seven. In September 2024, he repeated his English Channel swim to reduce total time and set the world record for fastest completed Oceans Seven.
3. Antoaneta Frenkeva (b. 1971)
With an HPI of 38.61, Antoaneta Frenkeva is the 3rd most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Antoaneta Frenkeva (Bulgarian: Антоанета Френкева, born 24 August 1971) is a former breaststroke swimmer from Bulgaria, who won the silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, just behind her teammate Tanya Dangalakova. In the same tournament the seventeen-year-old captured the bronze in the 200 m breaststroke.
4. Lyubomir Epitropov (b. 1999)
With an HPI of 24.64, Lyubomir Epitropov is the 4th most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. His biography has been translated into 10 different languages.
Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgarian: Любомир Епитропов; born 27 April 1999) is a Bulgarian swimmer. He competed in the men's 100 metre breaststroke event at the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), in Hangzhou, China. At the 2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade Epitropov took part in the 200m Breaststroke and broke the Bulgarian national record to win Gold with the time 2:09.45, tying for first place with Swedish swimmer Erik Persson.
5. Antani Ivanov (b. 1999)
With an HPI of 22.98, Antani Ivanov is the 5th most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. His biography has been translated into 6 different languages.
Antani Ivanov (Bulgarian: Антъни Иванов, born 17 July 1999) is a Bulgarian swimmer. He competed in the men's 50 metre butterfly, men's 100 metre butterfly and men's 200 metre butterfly events at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. He finished 38th in the 50 metre butterfly, 41st in the 100 metre butterfly and 8th in the 200 metre butterfly, setting a national record of 1:55.55 in the heats. His final in the 200 metre was the first for a Bulgarian swimmer since Mihail Alexandrov's 6th place at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships men's 100 metre breaststroke. He has qualified to represent Bulgaria at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the men's 200 metre butterfly event.
6. Diana Petkova (b. 2000)
With an HPI of 20.61, Diana Petkova is the 6th most famous Bulgarian Swimmer. Her biography has been translated into 6 different languages.
Diana Petkova (Bulgarian: Диана Петкова; born 10 June 2000) is a Bulgarian swimmer. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's 100 m breaststroke, and Women's 200 m individual medley.
People
Pantheon has 6 people classified as Bulgarian swimmers born between 1971 and 2000. Of these 6, 6 (100.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Bulgarian swimmers include Kristian Golomeev, Petar Stoychev, and Antoaneta Frenkeva. As of April 2024, 2 new Bulgarian swimmers have been added to Pantheon including Petar Stoychev, and Antoaneta Frenkeva.
Living Bulgarian Swimmers
Go to all Rankings
Kristian Golomeev
1993 - Present
HPI: 41.37
Petar Stoychev
1976 - Present
HPI: 40.70
Antoaneta Frenkeva
1971 - Present
HPI: 38.61
Lyubomir Epitropov
1999 - Present
HPI: 24.64
Antani Ivanov
1999 - Present
HPI: 22.98
Diana Petkova
2000 - Present
HPI: 20.61
