Skier Albert Popov is Athlete No. 1 of Sofia for 2023. At a ceremony at the Museum of Sport at Vasil Levski stadium, he received the award for his first podium at the World Alpine Ski Cup in Palisades Tahoeр where he came third in the slalom and climbed to 15^th position in the event’s finals standings for the season. Popov expressed his gratitude for the award and urged young people to engage in sports.

Yoana Ilieva, bronze sabre medalist at the World Fencing Championships in Milan and European under-23 champion from Budapest is in second position. The third place goes to chess player Antoaneta Stefanova, captain of Bulgaria’s chess team which won the team title for women in Budva, Montenegro. Rhythmic gymnast Boryana Kaleyn is in 4^th position. Kaleyn won two silver medals at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia and an Olympic quota for Paris, 2024. Albert Popov and chess player Beloslava Krasteva were chosen as ambassadors of Sofia – World Capital of Sport for 2024.