Maria Petrova (rhythmic gymnast)
Maria Petrova is a Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast. She is a three-time World All-around champion and a three-time European All-around champion.
Career
Petrova began her training at the age of five at Trakia Plovdiv Club in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, coached by Natalia Moravenova. By 1991, she was coached by Neshka Robeva at the Levski Sofia Club. In her first World Championship appearance, Petrova placed second in the team competition after a hoop drop.Petrova was one of the favorites to win gold but found herself finishing in fifth in the all-around finals at the Barcelona Olympics after a penalty of.20 was imposed due to the zipper on the back of her leotard that had broken during her hoop exercise. A few months later, at the World Championships, Petrova took second place behind Russia's Oxana Kostina and ahead of Belarusian Larissa Lukyanenko.
In 1993, Petrova performed with her Panovaesque ball to an Indian melody. She also competed in a ribbon exercise, and a small-toss filled clubs routine to Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner". Her final performance to Carmina Burana caused a great crowd ovation. She went on to win the all-around World title, as well as three more gold medals and a bronze medal.
She went on to win one more European title and two more world titles, tying her with countrywoman Maria Gigova for the most wins in the latter category.
Competing in her second Olympics, Petrova was one of the front runner to win the gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, however a series of mistakes left her finishing in 5th place in the All-around Finals behind Russia's Amina Zaripova.
Although she had tried to retire several times after her first World title, Petrova continued competing as a favor to the Bulgarian national team, which was in a rebuilding phase after the Eastern European Communist collapse.
Petrova shares the world record for most individual world all-around rhythmic gymnastics titles with Maria Gigova, Evgenia Kanaeva and Yana Kudryavtseva. Petrova's three titles were earned in 1993, 1994, and 1995.
She is currently a judge in rhythmic gymnastics.
Personal life
In 1998, Petrova married Bulgarian footballer Borislav Mikhailov.Vital statistics
- Height: 1.73 m
- Weight: 108 lb
Achievements
- Petrova has who won 3 world titles for three consecutive years equaled only by fellow countrywoman Maria Gigova and Russian gymnasts Evgenia Kanaeva and Yana Kudryavtseva.
Routine music information
| Year | Apparatus | Music title |
| 1996 | Ball | She is Dead music from Leon by Eric Serra |
| 1996 | Rope | ? |
| 1996 | Clubs | Habanera, Scene music from The Carmen Ballet by Rodion Shchedrin / Bizet |
| 1996 | Ribbon | La Zarzamora by Paco de Lucia |
| 1995 | Ball | Dreaming Strings by Gheorge Zamfir |
| 1995 | Rope | ? |
| 1995 | Clubs | Wedding Celebration / The Bottle Dance music from Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock |
| 1995 | Ribbon | La Zarzamora by Paco de Lucia |
| 1994 | Ball | Dreaming Strings by Gheorge Zamfir |
| 1994 | Hoop | Carmina Burana music from Synthétiseur 6 by Synthesizer |
| 1994 | Clubs | Wedding Celebration / The Bottle Dance music from Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock |
| 1994 | Ribbon | The Lark by Balogh Kalman |
| 1993 | Ball | Toni / Making Music by Zakir Hussain |
| 1993 | Hoop | Carmina Burana music from Synthétiseur 6 by Synthesizer |
| 1993 | Clubs | Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega/DNA |
| 1993 | Ribbon | The Lark by Balogh Kalman |
| 1992 | Ball | Toni / Making Music by Zakir Hussain |
| 1992 | Hoop | Duet Improvisation and Duet Improvisation by Chick Corea Trio Music |
| 1992 | Clubs | Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega/DNA |
| 1992 | Rope | Amazonas by Strunz & Farah |
| 1991 | Ball | The First Garden from The Secret Life of Plants by Stevie Wonder |
| 1991 | Hoop | he Feeling Begins music from The Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel |
| 1991 | Clubs | Camptown Races |
| 1991 | Rope | ? |