Anelia Ralenkova

Anelia Ralenkova
— Gymnast —
Country represented	Bulgaria
Born	(1964-01-25) January 25, 1964 Sofia
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Medal record Competitor for  Bulgaria World Championships Gold 1981 Munich All-around Gold 1981 Munich Clubs Gold 1983 Strasbourg Hoop Silver 1981 Munich Rope Silver 1981 Munich Hoop Silver 1983 Strasbourg All-around Bronze 1981 Munich Ribbon Bronze 1983 Strasbourg Ball Bronze 1983 Strasbourg Clubs Bronze 1983 Strasbourg Ribbon European Championships Gold 1982 Stavanger All-around Gold 1982 Stavanger Rope Gold 1982 Stavanger Hoop Gold 1984 Vienna All-around Gold 1984 Vienna Hoop Gold 1984 Vienna Ball Gold 1984 Vienna Clubs Silver 1982 Stavanger Clubs Bronze 1984 Vienna Ribbon World Cup Final Gold 1983 Belgrade Ball Gold 1983 Belgrade Clubs Bronze 1983 Belgrade All-around

Anelia Ralenkova (Bulgarian: Анелия Раленкова; born January 25, 1964 in Sofia, Bulgaria) became one of Bulgaria's most distinctive rhythmic gymnasts. She is one of the so-called "Golden Girls" of Bulgaria that dominated RG in the 1980s.

Biography

She won gold medals at both world^[1] and European championships, but missed competing at the Summer Olympics in 1984 due to the Soviet-led boycott.^[2] Her coaches were Zlatka Boneva and Neshka Robeva.

During the 1982 European Championships were also successful for Ralenkova, who placed first in the all-around and with rope and hoop, and second with clubs. But at the 1983 World Championships, Ralenkova fumbled with ribbon and was defeated by teammate Diliana Gueorguieva. Ralenkova shared the silver medal with other teammate Lilia Ignatova and Soviet Galina Beloglazova. Ralenkova won a collection of medals in event finals but was just edged out of every title except hoop (she also earned bronze for ball, clubs, and ribbon).

Ralenkova tied Soviet Galina Beloglazova for the all-around title at the 1984 European Championships, a result she strongly contested but finished the Individual competition finals with golds for hoop, ball, and clubs and a bronze for ribbon.

In 1990, the U.S. Gymnastics Federation invited Ralenkova to do clinics, workshops, and sports promotions in a 35-city tour across the U.S. in 1991 she started her own Rhythmic Academy in Redmond, Washington, United States.

References

External links

• Iliana Raeva at Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
• Bulgarian sport profile