Photo: Alba Rincón—CC BY-SA 2.0
Vanya Stambolova
BULWomenVania Stambolova (Bulgarian: Ваня Стамболова) (born 28 November 1983) is a Bulgarian athlete. She competes in the 400 m hurdles and the 400 m event. At the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships she won a silver medal over 400 m.
She also won a gold medal at the 2006 European Championships, and she was subsequently named the 2006 BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year. At present, Stambolova is the highest paid female athlete in Bulgaria. During the London 2012 Olympics, Stambolova tripped while competing in the 400 m hurdles event and failed to finish.
At the 2014 European Championships, she finished in 6th place in the 800 m, setting a personal best in the final. Stambolova tested positive for testosterone in January 2007, and was subsequently suspended for two years by the IAAF. According to World Athletics, Stambolova has not competed since 2019.
As of Sep 19, 2026: 400 Metres Short Track 50.21, 400 m hurdles 53.68 (#57 all-time), 2019 season best 1:02.77 (Oct 24, 2019, Five Rings Sports Center, Wuhan (CHN)) · Last competition: CISM Military World Games, Five Rings Sports Center, Wuhan, Oct 26, 2019, 1:02.77 · National record (400 m) · 42 years old