Boyan Radev

Boyan Radev
Personal information
Birth nameBoyan Radev Aleksandrov Bulgarian: Боян Радев
NationalityBulgarian
Born (1942-02-25) February 25, 1942 (age 82)
Morshino (now Pernik)
Height5"11
Weight87–97 kg (192–214 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
StyleGreco-Roman
ClubLevski Spartak
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo Light Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico Light Heavyweight
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1962 Toledo Light Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1966 Toledo Light Heavyweight
Silver medal – second place 1967 Bucharest Light Heavyweight
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1968 Light Heavyweight

Boyan Radev (Bulgarian: Боян Радев; born February 25, 1942, in Moshino, Pernik) is a former Greco Roman wrestler from Bulgaria. He was the first Bulgarian two-time Olympic Games champion (1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico) and one-time world champion. Radev is also an art collector and artist sponsor.

Professional Wrestling

Boyan Radev wrestled for Minyor Pernik, Orlin Pirdop, CSKA Sofia and Spartak Sofia.

Radev is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (1964 and 1968) and a 1966 world champion. He has also silver medals at the 1962 and 1967 World Cups as well as the 1968 European Championships.[1][2]

Awards

Radev has been awarded Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year in 1964, 1967, and 1968. He has been given the title Merited Master of Sport of Bulgaria.

Inducted in the United World Wrestling Greco-Roman Hall of Fame in 2009[3]

Awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal in 2009.[4]

Elected Levski Sofia Sportsman of 20th Century.[5]

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Committee for State Security

Radev ended his wrestling career shortly after the merger of Spartak Sofia and Levski Sofia in 1971. Thereafter, he worked for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Bulgaria. He also worked for the Bulgarian Committee for State Security from 1964 onwards.[6] Radev was a colonel at the time of his retirement.[7]

Art collection

As Radev said himself, he became a vivid art collector after he was given a painting by the artist Stoyan Illiev.[8] Since then, Radev has devoted part of his time to art collecting and philanthropy in Bulgaria.[9] Radev has donated all of his wrestling medals as well as his Madara (Bulgarian State Order) and Peter the Great (Russian State Order) to the National Historical Museum (Bulgaria) – making him the number one donor to the museum.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Боян Радев: Подариха ми една картина и станах колекционер". 24chasa. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Boyan Radev wrestling". sporta.bg. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame – Greco-Roman". United World Wrestling. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Boyan Radev get a medal "Pierre de Coubertin – part 1". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Боян Радев: Подариха ми една картина и станах колекционер". 24chasa. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Службата на Боян Радев в ДС". Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Боян Радев: Подариха ми една картина и станах колекционер". 24chasa. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Боян Радев: Подариха ми една картина и станах колекционер". 24chasa. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Боян Радев - дарител № 1 на НИМ". blitz.bg.
  10. ^ "Боян Радев - дарител № 1 на НИМ". blitz.bg.