Sofia will host the World Championships for athletes with Down syndrome, gathering over 400 competitors from 40 countries from June 13 to 19. The championship will feature five sports: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, table tennis, and athletics. Bulgaria aims to showcase strong representation and excellent hosting. At the core of the gymnastics preparation is Irina Karcheva, a coach from NSA "Vasil Levski," who is working individually with Radina Angelova, the main hope for Bulgaria in this field. Radina has international experience and medals from previous championships and will once again represent Bulgaria on the world stage.

Karcheva stated that working with the athlete is exceptionally natural and proceeds smoothly.

“Working with Radina Angelova is very easy. She came into artistic gymnastics well-prepared... physically, she is very strong, well-theorized, and understands terminology well,” the coach said.

According to her, a strong bond formed between them from the first moment, facilitating the entire training process. Radina Angelova has experience in other sports like athletics and skiing, but she is currently focusing on artistic gymnastics. Karcheva noted that this diverse sports background sometimes creates challenges in refining technical details but also contributes to her adaptability and resilience as an athlete.

The coach also revealed the influence of big names in Bulgarian gymnastics on the athletes. Radina Angelova has a role model in Olympic silver medalist Jordan Yovchev, and meetings with him and Krasimir Dunev have a strong motivating impact.

“When Jordan Yovchev enters the gym, the tension disappears, smiles appear immediately, and everything changes,” Karcheva explained, emphasizing how important these meetings are for the athletes' psychological confidence. The public's influence on her performance is particularly strong.

“They don’t just perform for results, but to make people happy. When they see the crowd, they completely transform, and this gives them additional strength,” Karcheva added.

As the World Championships in Sofia approach, expectations are high, but the main focus remains on public support, which can be decisive in the athletes' performance. Organizers hope the arenas will be full, creating an atmosphere that turns the championship into a true celebration of sports and human spirit.

“They love this support very much. They value it and it shows in their performance,” Karcheva said, inviting the public to fill the arenas and be part of an event that combines sport, emotion, and human strength.