Bulgarian Wrestling Star Nikolay Ilyev Claims Euro Championship

• May 19, 2026 | 08:59

Bulgarian wrestler Nikolay Ilyev is still in disbelief after winning the European Cadet Wrestling Championship in Samokov. Ilyev triumphed in the freestyle category up to 71 kg, defeating Russian Artiom Ananyan with a score of 7:6. The climactic moment came just seconds before the end of the match, where Ilyev was leading 6:2 but allowed Ananyan to score 4 points, resulting in a tie at 6:6.

"The feeling is indescribable," Ilyev said. "I couldn’t believe I was winning – I was looking at the coaches and the scoreboard... I admit there was a moment of anxiety when the score was tied 6:6. There was a lapse in concentration from my side, just before the end. I learned that you have to be maximally focused until the very last referee's signal."

Nikolay Ilyev is the second Bulgarian European champion at the Cadet and Girls Wrestling Championship in Samokov.

This is the biggest achievement of the young talent’s career. In 2024, he placed fifth at the European boys' wrestling championship. Ilyev was born in Gotse Delchev and began wrestling as a student in Sandanski, when he was in 5th grade. He trained at the "Bi Real" club under Kiril and Yancho Handjiyski for four years. In the past two years, he has been competing for Levski, where he trains under Radoslav Velikov and Simeon Shcherev.

"I love wrestling, a dynamic and emotional sport," said 17-year-old Ilyev, a student at Levski's sports school. "In the last year, my training has changed significantly – more work on the mat, technique refinement, and physical endurance drills... Through all that I've gone through, I now feel more confident."