Yoto Vasilev Yotov (Bulgarian: Йото Василев Йотов, born May 22, 1969) is a Bulgarian weightlifter. Yotov is one of the greatest Bulgarian weightlifters of all time. He is a two-time Olympic silver medalist, three-time world champion, six-time European champion, winner of the 1991 World Cup. Holds a total of 51 medals from the Olympic Games, World and European Championships in total, snatch and clean and jerk - 22 gold, 22 silver and 7 bronze. Because of his long career and many medals, he has been called the Professor. He was voted Sportsperson of the Year of Bulgaria for 1997. In 2020 he was awarded the highest state honors of Bulgaria in the field of sports - the Wreath of the winner. He began training in 1984. He has competed for the clubs Minor Pernik, Levski and Dobrich. At the 1988 World and European Junior Championships in Athens became second. A year later in Fort Lauderdale, USA, he became the World Junior Champion. Following is a great career for men with three world titles, six European titles and two silver medals from the Olympics, as well as many other medals from major championships. Among them three bronze medals from the Goodwill Games in 1990 in Seattle. At the end of his career, he competed for Croatia but did not win medals.

Yoto Yotov
Personal information
BornMay 22, 1969
Medal record
Men's Weightlifting
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona -67.5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta -76 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Donaueschingen 67,5 kg
Gold medal – first place 1993 Melbourne 70 kg
Gold medal – first place 1997 Chiang Mai 76 kg
Silver medal – second place 1989 Athens 67,5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1990 Budapest 67,5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1994 Istanbul 70 kg
Silver medal – second place 1995 Guangzhou 76 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1990 Aalborg 67,5 kg
Gold medal – first place 1991 Wladyslawowo 67,5 kg
Gold medal – first place 1992 Szekszard 67,5 kg
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sofia 70 kg
Gold medal – first place 1994 Sokolov 70 kg
Gold medal – first place 1997 Rijeka 76 kg
Silver medal – second place 1989 Athens 67,5 kg
IWF World Cup Winner
Gold medal – first place 1991 Barcelona 67,5 kg
IWF World Cup Final
Silver medal – second place 1991 Barcelona 67,5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1992 Beijing 67,5 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Thessaloniki 70 kg
IWF World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1989 Burgas 75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1990 Varna 75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1991 Varna 67,5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1990 Melbourne 67,5 kg
Goodwill Games
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Seattle 67,5 Total
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Seattle 67,5 Snatch
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Seattle 67,5 Clean and Jerk
Friendship Cup
Silver medal – second place 1988 Talin 75 kg
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Fort Lauderdale 67,5 kg
Silver medal – second place 1988 Athens 67,5 kg
Junior European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1988 Athens 67,5 kg
Bulgarian Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 1990 Dobrich 75 kg

Yotov was competing as recently as October 2006. He represented Croatia in the Men's 85 kg class. He placed 17th with a snatch of 150 kg and jerk of 190 kg for a total of 340 kg.[1]

Weightlifting achievements

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  • Silver medalist in Olympic Games (1992 and 1996);
  • Senior world champion (1991, 1993, 1997);
  • Silver medalist in Senior World Championships (1989, 1990, 1994, 1995);
  • Senior European champion (1990–1994, 1997);
  • Silver medalist in Senior European Championships (1989).
  • IWF World Cup Winner (1991)
  • Silver medalist from IWF World Cup Final (1991, 1992)
  • Bronze medalist from IWF World Cup Final (1994)
  • Three bronze medals from the Goodwill Games (1990)
  • Sportsperson of the Year Bulgaria (1997)
  • Wreath of the Winner Bulgaria (2020)
  • Junior World Champion (1989)
  • Junior World Vice-Champion (1988)
  • Junior European Vice-Champion (1988)
  • Silver medalist from Friendship Cup (1988)

Notes

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  • Called "The Professor" because of his medals over a long timespan in a sport usually dominated by younger athletes.
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