The almanac “100 Years of Canoeing and Kayaking” (1924–2024), written by Nikolay Krastev and Ani Doncheva, was presented today at the Vasil Levski National Sports Museum. “This was perhaps the greatest challenge in my already considerable career in journalism and book publishing. Working on this almanac was the greatest challenge from both an authorial and a journalistic perspective, because canoeing and kayaking is an exceptionally successful Bulgarian sport, ranking in the top five or six in terms of achievements overall. It is very difficult to organise and systematise this vast history. The major challenge regarding the content was precisely the Hall of Fame, which we established so that all 57 great names could be included. “Having heard many opinions about the book, I am convinced that it does justice to the 100th anniversary of Bulgarian canoeing and kayaking,” commented one of the authors, Nikolay Krastev, at the launch.
The book is dedicated to the centenary of canoeing and kayaking in Bulgaria. The official launch was attended by: Vanya Gesheva, the 1988 Seoul Olympic champion in the single kayak, who won a full set of Olympic medals in Seoul ’88 in the kayak doubles, and in the kayak fours, as well as a silver in the single kayak from Moscow 1980.
The 1988 Seoul Olympic champion Vanya Gesheva stated that the almanac chronicles her entire life.
“I am immensely grateful to the authors of the book, because they have compiled a very valuable and deeply moving story. It is an honour for me to be part of this great story, because we are one of the few sports to have won Olympic and world medals and rank amongst the sports that have brought great glory to Bulgaria. Sport has become my destiny. It has taught me to be a genuine person, to be responsible and to be brave,” said Gesheva.
Damyan Damyanov, the long-serving (21 years) head coach of the Bulgarian national team, under whom the greatest successes in this sport were achieved in Bulgaria.
“This book took a year and a half to write. I think it has turned out to be something of interest to everyone. What has been written will endure, and I am delighted that our team has managed to fulfil a mission.
“It wasn’t easy to put together,” commented long-serving former national team coach Damyan Damyanov, who expressed his gratitude for the support received since the idea for the almanac was first conceived.
Milko Kazanov, bronze medallist in the kayak doubles at Atlanta ’96 and current Head Coach of the Bulgarian national team.
Viktor Kirin, the long-serving former Secretary-General of the Bulgarian Canoe-Kayak Federation, congratulated the Bulgarian Canoe-Kayak Federation and stated:
“I would recommend that this story be reprinted and given to all children, to all medallists, so that they may see the path taken by the legends of Bulgarian canoeing and kayaking.”
Stoyan Andonov, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sport.
The doyen of Bulgarian sports journalism, Asen Minchev, as well as many other colleagues covering canoeing and kayaking in Bulgaria.
The lavish 280-page almanac contains everything about the history of canoeing and kayaking in Bulgaria, along with over 450 photographs. The almanac is published by the Bulgarian Canoe-Kayak Federation.
