| Maria Gigova | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country represented | Bulgaria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 24, 1947 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Rhythmic gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1974 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Maria Gigova (Bulgarian: Мария Гигова) (born April 24, 1947) is a Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast. She was the first gymnast to become a triple world champion in rhythmic gymnastics with her titles in 1969, 1971, and 1973. Gigova has a total of four gold medals in hoop (1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973), an achievement still unmatched by any other gymnast, as well as one title in ribbon (1971), rope (1969) and free exercise (1969). As a member of the Bulgarian Team, she also earned team titles at the rhythmic gymnastics world championships in 1969 and 1971.
Gigova retired from gymnastics in 1974. After she finished her education at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, She became a member of the FIG Technical Committee, a post she held from 1978 to 1992. In 1978 she was appointed vice-president of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, to become the federation's president in 1982. Gigova served on the Administrative Council of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation from 1989 to 1999 when she was elected president of the federation again.
