13 Facts About Iliana Raeva

Iliana Raeva was one of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria that dominated Rhythmic Gymnastics in 1980s.

Iliana Raeva was born on 15 March 1963 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Iliana Raeva was raised in Sofia, on the same street as fellow gymnasts Lilia Ignatova and Anelia Ralenkova, who competed for the same Levski gymnastics club.

At 15 Iliana Raeva went on to train under Neshka Robeva who had joined the club shortly before.

Iliana Raeva placed sixth at her first European Championships in 1978 at the age of 16, and was 4th in the all round competition at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships where she won the gold medal for clubs, and the silver for ball.

Iliana Raeva won her first all around gold at the 1980 Julieta Shishmanova Cup, and went on to dominate the European Championships in Amsterdam, winning the all around gold medal, gold for rope, hoop and clubs, and placing silver with the ribbon.

One year later, at the 1980 European Championships in Amsterdam, Iliana Raeva swept the gold in the all around, rope, hoop and clubs.

Iliana Raeva claimed all around silver at the 1981 World Championships, and tied with teammate Ignatova for the silver, one tenth of a point behind the winner Ralenkova.

Iliana Raeva won silver for hoop and ribbon, and bronze for the rope.

Iliana Raeva was third at the 1982 European Championships, picking up bronze in each apparatus final.

Iliana Raeva relied on style and artistry, rather than excessively complex moves, with her 1980 ribbon routine to Zorba the Greek and clubs routine to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, which remain outstanding examples of the sport.

Iliana Raeva led the Bulgarian team in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Iliana Raeva was the coach of the Bulgarian Group, which won the bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.