Yordanka Donkova

Yordanka Donkova (Bulgarian: Йорданка Донкова) (born 28 September 1961) is a Bulgarian former hurdling athlete, notable for winning an Olympic gold medal and bronze medal as well as 9 medals at European indoor and outdoor championships. Donkova set four 100 m hurdles world records in 1986. Her fifth world record, a time of 12.21 set in 1988, was beaten only in 2016 by Kendra Harrison.

Yordanka Donkova

Medal record
Women’s Athletics
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
1988 Seoul 100 m hurdles
1992 Barcelona 100 m hurdles
World Indoor Championships
1987 Indianapolis 60 m hurdles

In total, Donkova has 16 medals from major athletics tournaments.[1]

Personal life

Donkova suffered a childhood accident, which resulted in her losing two fingers on her right hand. She has three children. In 1991 she gave birth to a son called Zhivko; twin girls Daniela and Desislava followed in 1996.

After the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Donkova received an offer to compete for the United States, but refused to change her national allegiance and continued to represent Bulgaria.[2]

Major achievements

Five-time Bulgarian National Champion at 100 m hurdles, 1980, 82, 84, 86 & 94.

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Bulgaria
1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union semi-final 100 m hurdles 13.39 sec
1982 European Indoor Championships Milan, Italy 3rd 60 m hurdles 8.03
European Championships Athens, Greece 2nd 100m hurdles 12.54 (wind: 0.4 m/s)
4th 4 × 100 m relay 43.10
1984 European Indoor Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 3rd 60 m hurdles 8.09
1986 European Championships Stuttgart, West Germany 1st 100 m hurdles 12.38 (wind: -0.7 m/s) CR
2nd 4 × 100 m 42.68
1987 European Indoor Championships Lievin, France 1st 60 m hurdles 7.79
World Indoor Championships Indianapolis, U.S. 2nd 60 m hurdles 7.85
World Championships Rome, Italy 4th 100 m hurdles 12.49
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 1st 100 m hurdles 12.38
5th 4 × 100 m 43.02
1989 European Indoor Championships The Hague, Netherlands 1st 60 m hurdles 7.87
1992 European Indoor Championships Genoa, Italy 3rd 60 m hurdles 8.03
Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain 3rd 100 m hurdles 12.70
1994 European Indoor Championships Paris, France 1st 60 m hurdles 7.85
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 3rd 100 m hurdles 12.93 (wind: -1.7 m/s)

CR = Championship Record

World records

Donkova set five world records for the 100 metres hurdles:

  • 12.36 sec - August 13, 1986 (equalling the record of Grażyna Rabsztyn)
  • 12.35 sec - August 17, 1986
  • 12.29 sec - August 17, 1986
  • 12.26 sec - September 7, 1986
  • 12.21 sec - August 20, 1988 (the world record stood until July 22, 2016)
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References
  1. "Йорданка Донкова чества двадесетгодишния си световен рекорд, световният рекорд все някой ще ми го отнеме, но олимпийската титла остава, заяви Донкова". topsport.bg. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. Kyoseva 2014, p. 252.
Bibliography
Kyoseva, Tsvetana (2014). 50-те най-влиятелни жени в българската история (1st ed.). Sofia: Репортер. ISBN 978-619-71690-1-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


Sporting positions
Preceded by
Tatyana Anisimova		 Women's 100 m Hurdles Best Year Performance
1982		 Succeeded by
Bettine Jahn
Preceded by
Ginka Zagorcheva		 Women's 100 m Hurdles Best Year Performance
1986		 Succeeded by
Ginka Zagorcheva
Preceded by
Ginka Zagorcheva		 Women's 100 m Hurdles Best Year Performance
1988		 Succeeded by
Cornelia Oschkenat
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