Radina Velichkova: Bulgaria’s Rising Sprint Star

Early Life and Background

Radina Velichkova was born on December 15, 2007, in Bulgaria, making her 17 years old as of 2025. This young sprinter has quickly emerged as one of Europe’s most promising track and field talents, representing the next generation of Bulgarian athletics.

Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city and a cultural hub known for its ancient history and vibrant sports scene, Radina grew up in an environment that fostered athletic excellence. Her rapid ascent in the world of track and field reflects both natural talent and dedicated training.

Athletic Career and Specializations

Primary Events

Radina specializes in multiple sprint and field events, including the 60 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4×100 meters relay. Her versatility across sprint and jump disciplines makes her a particularly valuable athlete for Bulgarian national teams.

Training Base

Radina trains in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, and competes at venues including the prestigious Asics Arena, where she has set several personal bests and national records.

Major Athletic Accomplishments

Personal Best Performances

Radina’s impressive personal records demonstrate her world-class potential:

• 100 meters: 11.43 seconds (July 6, 2024) and 11.46 seconds – the latter being a national U18 record
• 60 meters (indoor): 7.37 seconds (February 8, 2025, at Asics Arena, Sofia) – also a personal best
• 200 meters: 23.73 seconds (June 16, 2024)
• Long jump: 6.29 meters (Balkan Championships) and 6.16 meters (European U18 Championships)
• 4×100 meters relay: 45.32 seconds (June 21, 2023)

Current World Ranking

As of 2025, Radina is ranked #322 in the world in women’s 100 meters according to World Athletics, an impressive ranking for such a young athlete.

Championship Achievements

2024 European Athletics U18 Championships – Historic Success

At the 2024 European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Radina achieved historic success by winning gold in the 100 meters and bronze in the long jump.

100m Gold Medal Victory: The 16-year-old Velichkova won the 100m sprint in 11.46 seconds, setting a national record for girls and winning Bulgaria’s first title in this age group at a European championship. France’s Shade Laporal came second with 11.54 seconds, and Estonia’s Miia Ott finished third in 11.62 seconds.

In her own words after the victory: “This is my dream come true. Winning my first European title – that makes me feel very happy and emotional. After all my preparation which was going well, I think I felt I was able to do that. I knew that if I manage to run faster than the preliminary rounds, I could do that. I think I managed to rest well between the runs. I stayed in the hotel and did not do much, just relaxed and it ended up with the gold medal.”

Long Jump Bronze Medal: After becoming European champion in the 100m, Radina won a second medal at the European championships, taking bronze in the long jump after achieving 6.16 metres.

2024 Balkan U18 Championships

At the 2024 Balkan U18 Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, Radina won the 100m title in a European U18 leading time of 11.48 seconds.

Balkan Athletics Championships Success

Radina became champion in the long jump at the Balkan Athletics Championships for juniors up to 18 years in Sivas, Turkey, winning convincingly with a jump of 6.29 meters. She also took second place in the 100 meters with 11.52 seconds, missing a national record by just one-hundredth of a second due to wind conditions exceeding the legal limit.

2025 Balkan U20 Indoor Championships

Most recently, in February 2025, Radina triumphed in the women’s 60m sprint at the Balkan Athletics U20 Indoor Championships in Sofia, finishing in 7.37 seconds – a personal best. She defeated Croatia’s Mia Wild (7.38 sec) and Ukraine’s Ulyana Stepanyuk (7.41 sec).

2023 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival

Radina won silver in the long jump at the 2023 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival in Maribor, showcasing her early international promise.

Championship Progression and Consistency

During the 2024 European U18 Championships, Radina demonstrated remarkable consistency and improvement throughout the competition, setting a national U18 best of 11.47 in the semifinals before improving further to 11.46 in the final.

National Impact and Recognition

Historic Achievements for Bulgaria

Radina is officially recognized as a 1X European U18 champion and 1X European U18 Championships bronze medallist. Her 100m victory marked Bulgaria’s first title in this age group at a European championship, making her a trailblazer for Bulgarian youth athletics.

At the 2024 European U18 Championships, Bulgarian track and field athletes won a total of 4 medals – Radina’s two medals (gold in the 100m and bronze in the long jump), Dimo Andreev’s silver in the hammer throw, and Hristian Kasabov’s bronze in the 110m hurdles.

National Records

The current Bulgarian U18 record for girls in the 100m stands at 11.5 seconds, set by Vyara Georgieva in 1994. Radina came close to breaking this record with her 11.52-second performance, but the wind conditions were too strong for official record recognition.

Training Philosophy and Mental Approach

Competition Preparation

Radina’s approach to major competitions reveals a mature mindset for such a young athlete. Her preparation strategy for the European Championships involved staying relaxed in the hotel between races, avoiding unnecessary activities, and focusing on rest. This disciplined approach contributed directly to her gold medal success.

Progressive Development

Throughout competitions, Radina has shown the ability to improve her times progressively, from heats through semifinals to finals, demonstrating both physical capability and mental strength under pressure.

Multi-Event Versatility

Sprint and Field Combination

Unlike many athletes who specialize in a single event, Radina excels in both sprint and field events. She was described as “multi-talented” by European Athletics officials, highlighting her rare combination of speed and jumping ability.

Relay Contributions

Radina’s involvement in the 4×100 meters relay (personal best 45.32 seconds) demonstrates her value as a team athlete in addition to her individual achievements.

International Recognition and Rankings

European Athletics Recognition

Radina was specifically mentioned in European Athletics previews as an athlete to “watch out for” due to her versatility and recent championship victories.

Competition Consistency

Her ability to perform across different championships and seasons – from European Youth Olympics to Balkan Championships to European U18 Championships – demonstrates remarkable consistency for a teenage athlete.

Education and Personal Life

Current Status

As a 17-year-old athlete born in December 2007, Radina is likely completing her secondary education while balancing the demands of elite athletic training and international competition.

Training Environment

Based in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, Radina trains at world-class facilities including the Asics Arena, where major international competitions are held. This environment provides her with access to top-level coaching and training partners.

Future Prospects and Career Aspirations

Olympic Potential

At just 17 years old, Radina’s current performance levels suggest strong potential for future Olympic participation. Her times are already competitive at senior levels in some events, particularly the 100 meters.

Senior Transition

As she transitions from junior to senior competition over the next few years, Radina’s versatility across multiple events provides flexibility in choosing her primary focus for maximum international success.

Bulgarian Athletics Legacy

Following in the footsteps of Bulgarian sprint legends like Ivet Lalova-Collio, Radina represents the future of Bulgarian sprinting and has already begun establishing her own legacy through historic championship victories.

Personal Characteristics and Mindset

Competitive Maturity

Her post-competition interviews reveal a mature understanding of preparation, race strategy, and emotional management. Her ability to remain calm and focused during major championships suggests strong mental resilience.

Goal-Oriented Approach

Radina’s statement that winning her “first European title” was a “dream come true” indicates she has clear athletic aspirations and the determination to achieve them.

Current Season and Recent Developments

2025 Performance

Radina’s 2025 season has started strongly with her personal best 60m time of 7.37 seconds achieved in February, suggesting continued improvement and development.

Training Progress

Her consistent improvement across seasons – from 2023 through 2025 – demonstrates effective training progression and physical development.

Conclusion

Radina Velichkova represents the exceptional potential of young Bulgarian athletics. At just 17 years old, she has already achieved historic success for her country, becoming Bulgaria’s first European U18 champion in track and field. Her combination of sprint speed and jumping ability, coupled with a mature competitive approach, positions her as one of Europe’s most promising young athletes.

With personal bests that are already competitive at senior levels and a track record of performing when it matters most, Radina appears destined for continued success on the international stage. Her achievements serve as inspiration for the next generation of Bulgarian athletes while carrying forward the proud tradition of Bulgarian sprinting excellence.

As she continues her development toward senior competition, the athletics world will be watching to see how this remarkable young talent evolves and what new records and championships she might claim for Bulgaria in the years ahead.

Go Radina!