Krasimir Kochev

Krasimir Simeonov Kochev (Bulgarian: Красимир Симеонов Кочев; born May 4, 1974 in Petrich) is an amateur Bulgarian freestyle wrestler, who competed in the men's heavyweight category.[1] Considered as one of Bulgaria's top freestyle wrestlers in his decade, Kochev has claimed two career medals (one silver and one bronze) at the World Championships (2001 and 2003), picked up a bronze at the 2005 European Championships in Varna, and achieved top seventeen finishes in two editions of the Olympic Games (2000 and 2004). Throughout his sporting career, Kochev trained as a member of the freestyle wrestling team for Slavia Sport Club in Sofia, under his head coach Simeon Shcherev.

Krasimir Kochev
Personal information
Full nameKrasimir Simeonov Kochev
Nationality Bulgaria
Born (1974-05-04) 4 May 1974
Petrich, Bulgaria
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
StyleFreestyle
ClubSlavia Sofia
CoachSimeon Shcherev
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Bulgaria
World Championships
2001 Sofia97 kg
2003 New York96 kg
European Championships
2005 Varna96 kg

Kochev made his official debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he competed in the men's super heavyweight division (130 kg). He lost his opening match to Cuba's Alexis Rodríguez without receiving a single point on the morning session, but pulled off a 1–1 draw to tame Mongolia's Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar at the end of the round-robin. Finishing second in the prelim pool and twelfth overall, Kochev's performance fell short to put him further into the quarterfinals.[2]

When his nation Bulgaria hosted the 2001 World Wrestling Championships in Sofia, Kochev lowered his weight to less than a hundred kilograms to compete in the 97-kg division. Despite being brought by the massive roar of the home crowd, Kochev suffered a disappointing defeat from Russia's Giorgi Gogshelidze (who later represented Georgia in two Olympic Games) in the final match 0–3, but luckily picked up a silver medal for the host nation.[3] Two years later, at the 2003 World Wrestling Championships in New York City, New York, United States, Kochev came strong with a bronze medal effort in the 96-kg division, which effectively earned him a ticket to his second Olympics.[4]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kochev qualified for his second Bulgarian squad, as a 30-year-old, in the men's heavyweight class (96 kg) by placing third and receiving a berth from the World Championships.[4][5] Unlike his previous Olympics, Kochev made an embarrassing exit with two straight defeats from Kyrgyzstan's Aleksey Krupnyakov (2–3) and Uzbekistan's Magomed Ibragimov (0–3), leaving him on the bottom of the pool and finishing seventeenth overall in the final standings.[6][7]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Krasimir Kochev". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. "Sydney 2000: Wrestling – Super Heavyweight Freestyle (130kg)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. pp. 134–135. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  3. "Bulgarian with gold at World Freestyle Wrestling Championship". Novinite.com. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  4. Abbott, Gary (18 July 2004). "Olympic Games preview at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in men's freestyle". USA Wrestling. The Mat. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  5. "Bulgaria's Barzakov with Silver at World Wrestling Championship". Novinite.com. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  6. "Wrestling: Men's Freestyle 96kg". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  7. "Българският ансамбъл по художествена гимнастика спечели бронзов медал в Атина" [Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics ensemble won a bronze medal in Athens] (in Bulgarian). bTV. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
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