Новини
The 1st Princess Kalina Fitness Cup
SPANISH GIRLS CONQUERED SOFIA
BULGARIAN ROYAL FAMILY WATCHED THE BATTLE ON THE STAGE
by Andrew Michalak, International Federation of Body Building and Fitness
The inaugural Princes Kalina Fitness Cup in Sofia was a premier EBFF
sport event in Europe last weekend. Bulgarian Royal Family, with Tsar
Simeon II, Princess Kalina with her husband Kitin Munoz, IFBB President
Dr. Rafael Santonja with his wife Nieves, Bulgarian Deputy Sport
Minister Ivan Lekov and top Bulgarian Federation officials favoured
this event with their presence. There was a great representation of the
international press, including the meaningful presence of Mr Asis
Martin de Cabiedes, Executive Director of Europe Press, one of the
largest press agencies in the world; SIPA Paris and over 50
journalists. The top European fitness and bodyfitness women athletes
did their best to make this contest dynamic, interesting and exciting.
But first, during the opening gala, Tsar Simeon II was honoured with
the highest IFBB award, IFBB Gold Order, presented to him by Dr.
Santonja for his efforts and input into the promotion of the healthy
lifestyle. Princess Kalina, fitness enthusiast from the Royal Family
and IFBB adviser, delivered her opening speech and the contest started.
Very interesting combat on the stage took place in the fitness
category. There were two juniors world champions: Ewelina Barej of
Poland (Agrigento 2006) and her successor Oksana Orobets of Ukraine
(Budapest 2007), as well as the next Ukrainian star Tatiana Savytska,
bronze medal winner at the last year European Women Championships in
Cacak. Barej, who didn’t compete in 2006, showed very good body
condition, with impressive abs and firm, low bodyfat muscles. Moreover,
she also won the routine round, being unbeatable this day. Savytska had
to run a very close battle against Orobets, who displayed very nice
body proportions but was a bit too massive this time. We need to
remember that there is still over 2 months to the main continental
event this year, 2008 European Women Championships in Skopje.
Both bodyfitness classes were dominated by the perfectly prepared
Spanish girls. In the short class, up to 163 cm, Yolanda Esteso
unanimously won all three rounds, showing the body condition like at
the 2007 World Championships, where she won the bronze medal. Fitness
instructor form Valencia was shaped, hard, with nice, delicate
separation. Obviously, she will be among the main pretenders to the
continental victory in Skopje. The second place went to the new, young
Bulgarian star Silvia Avramova, fitness instructor from Sofia.
Avramova, 24, is gifted to bodyfitness, with nice body proportions and
uncommon charm. Her images were present at all official printed
materials, promoting this year Cup. We can await with excitement her
debut at the upcoming continental championships.
Icelandic bodyfitness master champion Kristin Kristiansdottir, who was
one week prior to her Nationals, took the 3rd position. This charming
lady with delicate frame, placed ahead of the two Bulgarian champions:
Vanya Tarkalanova and Nadia Tsvetkova.
The tall class, over 163 cm, had the longest line-up, with 14
competitors in. Once again, Spanish athlete, Miriam Sanchez, was
unbeatable. Spanish girls prepared the best condition as for this
moment of the year, with lower bodyfat level, compared to their rivals,
what was clearly visible on the stage and the judges didn’t hesitate
giving them the first paces. Sanchez, the 5th competitor of the last
year World Championships and fitness manager from San Pedro del
Pinatar, is a very interesting personality, loving Flamenco dancing and
Harley Davidson riding.
Maybe, the Polish star Katarzyna Kozakiewicz could challenge her but…
she spent the last 5 days in bed, trying to recover from bronchitis and
taking antibiotics. She could only follow her sport diet, trying to
hold her body condition. The effect was surprisingly well. Kozakiewicz
couldn’t challenge Sanchez, but placed 2nd, following tough combat
against the tall and slim Ukrainian star Natalia Kuzmyna, semifinalist
of the 2007 European Championships, who has made a big progress. The
next favourite, 2006 world and 2007 European runner-up, Ljuba
Pantovic-Subotic of Serbia, was a bit off and placed out of the top
three, finishing in the 4th position. Next two places went to new
rising fitness stars from Moscow, Russia: Natalya Gileva and Maria
Romanova. Both are coached by the former world fitness champion Iveta
Statsenko. They placed ahead of the better-known champions from Ukraine
(Natalia Sedykh) and Italy (Alice Tealdi), what can be treated as an
evidence of their high future potentials.
In the breaks, we could see the best Bulgarian bodybuilders: Yuliy
Rusev, Georgi Dimitrov and his more famous brother Dimitar Dimitrov in
their guest performances. Dimitar has been improving quickly, advancing
to the group of the top elite amateur bodybuilders of the world. During
the contest President Santonja presented him with the 2007 World
Championships bronze medal, he was finally awarded following the
changes after the doping test findings.
Despite the very early date of the contest, nearly 30 competitors
representing 9 countries form all parts of Europe created a very
interesting show at the famous “Universiada” sport hall in Sofia, the
venue of many top international sport events, including world and
continental weightlifting championships.
Princess Kalina and President Santonja created a very friendly, warm
atmosphere, personally telling thank you to each competitor on the
stage and then posing for a group picture will all participants. During
the farewell banquet at the stylish winter spa “Yastrebets”, located
high in the mountains (1500 m altitude)
some 80 km out of Sofia, Princess Kalina found enough time to talk to
each team, expressing her enthusiasm for fitness and healthy life
style. She promised to make this event annual, so I can finish this
report with a phrase – “Till the next time”.
Bulgarian Federation President, Eng. Patrik Angelov and his very
efficient team, with General Secretary Eng. Arch. Roumen Nikolov and
well-known international judge Ivan Penkov, can be proud of their so
successful and perfectly prepared first international IFBB event in
Bulgaria. For sure, it was a very good promotion of the physique sports
in this new European Union member country.
Parade of Nations
King Simeon II with the IFBB Gold Order, presented to him by the
IFBB President, Dr. Rafael Santonja (left), with the presence of
Princess Kalina.
IFBB President, Dr. Rafael Santonja, receiving the commemorative
plate from the Bulgarian Federation President, Eng. Patrik Angelov
(right).
Top fitness athletes (from L to R): Silvia Frego (4th place); Diana
Dinkova (5th place); Ewelina Barej (1st place); Tetiana Savycka (2nd
place) and Oksana
Orobets (3rd place).
Victory ceremony in fitness (from L to R): Tetiana Savycka (2nd
place); Dr. Rafael Santonja; Ewelina Barej (1st place); Princess Kalina
and Oksana Orobets
(3rd place).
Ewelina Barej with the trophies presented to her by Dr. Santonja and Princess Kalina.
The top three in fitness (from L to R): Tetiana Savycka (2nd place); Ewelina Barej (1st place) and Oksana Orobets (3rd place).
All participants with Princess Kalina and Dr. Santonja.
Ewelina Barej (1st place).
Tetiana Savycka (2nd place).
Tetiana Savycka in the routine.
Oksana Orobets (3rd place).
Oksana Orobets in the routine.
Bodyfitness up to 163 cm, top athletes (from L to R): Silvia
Avramova (2nd place); Yolanda Esteso (1st place) and Kristin
Kristiansdottir (3rd place).
Bodyfitness up to 163 cm, the finalists (from L to R): Vanya
Tarkalanova (4th place); Nadia Tsvetkova (5th place); Silvia Avramova
(2nd place); Yolanda
Esteso (1st place) and Kristin Kristiansdottir (3rd place).
Yolanda Esteso in the first round.
Yolanda Esteso (1st place).
Silvia Avramova (2nd place).
Silvia Avramova in the first round.
Kristin Kristiansdottir (3rd place).
Kristin Kristiansdottir in the first round.
The winner, Yolanda Esteso, with her trophies.
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, first round.
Natalya Kuzmyna (3rd place).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, second round (from L to R): Miriam
Sanchez (1st place); Katarzyna Kozakiewicz (2nd place); Natalya Kuzmyna
(3rd place) and Maria
Romanova (6th place).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, second round (from L to R): Miriam
Sanchez (1st place); Katarzyna Kozakiewicz (2nd place); Natalya Kuzmyna
(3rd place) and Maria
Romanova (6th place).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, third round (from L to R): Natalya
Kuzmyna (3rd place); Miriam Sanchez (1st place); Katarzyna Kozakiewicz
(2nd place); Ljuba
Pantovic-Subotic (4th place) and Maria Romanova (6th place).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, the winners (from L to R): Katarzyna
Kozakiewicz (2nd place); Miriam Sanchez (1st place); Natalya Kuzmyna
(3rd place).
Miriam Sanchez crowned by Dr. Santonja and Princess Kalina (right).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, the winners (from L to R): Katarzyna
Kozakiewicz (2nd place); Miriam Sanchez (1st place); Natalya Kuzmyna
(3rd place).
Bodyfitness over to 163 cm, victory ceremony (from L to R): Eng.
Patrik Angelov; Katarzyna Kozakiewicz (2nd place); Dr. Rafael Santonja;
Miriam Sanchez (1st
place); Princess Kalina; Natalya Kuzmyna (3rd place) and Maria Romanova (6th place).
The Royal Family watching the contest (from L to R): King Simeon II, Princess Kalina and her husband Kitin Munoz.
In the meantime, Princess Kalina received a bunch of freesias.
Dimtar Dimitrov receiving his 2007 World Men Championships bronze
medal, presented to him by the IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja.
Dimtar Dimitrov with his bronze medal.
King Simeon II with the IFBB Gold Order.