Photo: Mbx—CC BY-SA 3.0
Stefka Kostadinova
BULWomenStefka Kostadinova is a Bulgarian former high jumper, born on 25 March 1965 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Widely regarded as one of the most dominant athletes in the history of the event, she set the standard for women's high jumping across nearly four decades.
Kostadinova set the world record of 2.09 metres in 1987, a mark that stood for 37 years until Yaroslava Mahuchikh surpassed it in 2024. She won Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games and captured two World Championship titles outdoors. Indoors, she was even more prolific, claiming five World Indoor Championship gold medals, showcasing her remarkable consistency at the highest level of competition.
After retiring from competition, Kostadinova transitioned into sports administration and has served as president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee since 2005. The extraordinary longevity of her world record, which endured for nearly four decades, stands as a testament to the exceptional nature of her achievement and secures her legacy as one of the greatest high jumpers in athletics history.
As of Sep 13, 2026: High Jump 2.09 (#2 all-time), 1997 season best 2.02 (Mar 8, 1997, Osaka (JPN)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver · World Championships: 2 gold · National record (High Jump) · 61 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| World Championships | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| Total | 3 | 1 | - | 4 |