Nedelcho Lazarov Kolev (Bulgarian: Неделчо Лазаров Колев, born 26 March 1953 in Kableshkovo) is a Bulgarian Olympic,[1] European and World Weightlifting Champion. He had success at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and won 6 gold medals at the world championships in Manila and Havana, Cuba. He has worked as chief coach for the national teams of Bulgaria, Bahrain, India, Thailand and Indonesia. From 1965 to 1980 he competed only for CSKA Sofia club. His coaches were Angel Akrabov and Zdravko Koev. In the national team of Bulgaria was trained by Ivan Abadzhiev. Kolev has won a total of 29 medals from the Olympic Games, World and European Championships in total, snatch and clean and jerk - 11 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze. He has set 16 world records - 11 for men and 5 for juniors. He was named Sportsperson of the Year of Bulgaria for 1973.

Nedelcho Kolev
Medal record
Men's weightlifting
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Moscow -75 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Havana -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1974 Manila -75 kg
Silver medal – second place 1979 Thessaloniki -75 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Moscow -75 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Moscow -75 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Madrid -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1974 Verona -75 kg
Silver medal – second place 1979 Varna -75 kg
Silver medal – second place 1980 Belgrade -75 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Moscow -75 kg
Bulgarian Championships
Gold medal – first place 1977 Yambol -75 kg]]
Silver medal – second place 1972 Sofia -75 kg]]
Silver medal – second place 1974 Vidin -75 kg]]
Silver medal – second place 1979 Sofia -75 kg]]
Bulgarian Junior&Youth Championships
Gold medal – first place 1970 Shumen -67,5 kg]]
Gold medal – first place 1971 Plovdiv -67,5 kg]]
Silver medal – second place 1969 Asenovgrad -60 kg]]
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Burgas -56 kg]]

Kolev is the father of singer Ruth Koleva.

Kolev is former president of the Bulgarian weightlifting federation.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Nedelcho Kolev". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
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