Yordan Yanchev (53.37 min., Sandanski Sports Complex) and Vasiliki Kadoglu (61.13 min., Asteri-Varna Sports Complex) are the winners in the 80th anniversary edition of the Galata – Varna swimming marathon. 221 participants started the event. 198 of them finished within the control time. Thanks to the high level of organization, the event was very successful.

The forum is organized by the Navy of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Municipality of Varna and the Bulgarian swimming champion sports club “Black sea”. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the anniversary edition is the mayor of Varna Ivan Portnih, and the event is held under the patronage of the Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev.

This year the event had a new meeting point – for the first time the participants started from the “Quarantine” area. For the first time in the history of the Galata – Varna swimming marathon, they finished on the beach Ofitserski – East.

The male and female winners received cash prizes: First place – 1200 BGN; Second place – BGN 800; Third place – BGN 600; Forth place – BGN 500; Fifth place – BGN 400; Sixth place – BGN 300. The total prize fund is BGN 12,000, BGN 9,000 were distributed as cash prizes.

The men’s champion Yordan Yanchev and the leader among the fair sex Vasiliki Kadoglu are a new wave of talents in Bulgarian swimming. Yanchev is 7th at the World Junior Swimming Championship in Budapest in 2019 in the 400m freestyle. He is a participant in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

Vasiliki Kadoglu wins the Galata-Varna marathon for the third time. She swam it for the first time in 2016, and only a week ago won another marathon – in Burgas.

Second among men is Radostin Krastev (55.52, SC “Sandanski”), followed by: Georgi Kolev – 57.04, Boris Andreev – 57.08, Georgi Tsurev – 57.18 and Nikola Sabotinov – 57.40. Among the ladies following Kadoglou from second to sixth place have finished as follows: Eva Hristova – Asteri, 68,13; Petya Boneva – 69.13, Asteri; Gergana Stoyanova – 1.10.14; Sofia Naidenova – 1.10.18 and Manuela Nikolova – 1.10.43.

Yanchev and Krastev admitted that they had previously made plans for the first two winners of the marathon to be from Sandanski and shared that they were happy to fulfill their dream. World champion Petar Stoychev expressed the impression that they are both even better than himself.

The award ceremony was attended by the Minister of Sports Krasen Kralev, the Mayor of Varna Ivan Portnih, vice-admiral Kiril Mihailov – Commander of the Navy, Stoyan Pasev – Regional Governor of Varna, Hristo Atanasov – Deputy Chairman of the Council of Varna, Petar Stoychev – World Champion in swimming, Philip Rombaut, Chairman of the Board of SC “Black Sea”.

Many individual prizes were awarded during the marathon. Vasiliki Kadoglou and George Curlew were awarded as the best participants-residents of Varna. Tsurev won the Dobri Dinev Cup.

In memory of the giant in marathon swimming Dobri Dinev, a commemorative wreath was thrown into the sea by his brother Spas Dinev.

Andrzej Georgiev and Plamen Ivanov won prizes for the best swimmers with disabilities. Miroslav Ivanov was awarded for the largest number of participations in the Galata – Varna – a total of 36.

Chief judge of the marathon is Vili Tsekov, and chief judge at sea is Capt. I Rank Kamen Kukurov – Chief of Staff of the Navy.