Barcelona 1992

Barcelona 1992

9,367 athletes (2,708 women) from 169 nations arrived in the capital of Catalonia (July 25-August 9). The countries from Eastern Europe were going through major political, economic and cultural cataclysms. Republics from the former USSR planned to appear on their own, but at the last moment united.
In Barcelona Bulgaria won 3 gold medals with canoeist Nikolay Buhalov (our first double champion from one Olympiad) and weightlifter Ivan Ivanov. Vice-champions became boxer Daniel Petrov, wrestler Valentin Getzov, weightlifters Nikolay Peshalov and Yoto Yotov, athlete Tzvetanka Hristova, Ve-ssela Lecheva and Nonka Matova in shooting. Bronze took wrestler Valentin Yorda-nov, canoeists Bla-govest Stoyanov and Martin Marinov, athlete Yordanka Donkova, Maria Grozdeva (Shooting), Svilen Russinov (Boxing) and Stefan Botev (Weightlifting). First in medals became the USA - 108 (37 gold), but most titles took the team from the former Soviet Union - 45. Super champion with 6 gold medals in gymnastics was Vitaly Shcherbo from Belarus. For the first time since 197Z all major nations attended. The NBA All-star team "The Dream Team" made an excellent performance.