Bulgarian Jovtchev Crowned with Gold

Sports | August 25, 2004, Wednesday // 00:00
Bulgarian Jovtchev Crowned with Gold Bulgaria's Olympic medallist Jordan Jovtchev sports the gold medal he received upon his arrival at Sofia airport. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (novinite.com)

Bulgaria's top gymnastic Jordan Jovtchev, who was robbed of an Olympic title in Athens, was awarded a gold medal upon his arrival in Sofia.

The award was presented by the acting head of the Bulgarian Olympics Committee Professor Svetoslav Ivanov as a compensation for the gold medal in the Olympic rings competition, overshadowed by scoring controversies.

Athens judges gave the rings gold to Greece's Dimosthenis Tampakos, who outscored the Bulgarian by just 0.012 of a point.

The 31-year-old Jovchev was obviously neglected by a host-dominated jury and garnered 9.850.

Bulgaria filed a contestation against the ranking in the Olympic men's rings contest but the International Gymnastics Federation turned down the appeal.

"A high-ranking official from the federation sent me a reply, which read: "There is nothing we can do", Jovtchev said at Sofia airport.

"I did my best in the rings competition. After it ended there was not a single person left in the hall who did not tell me I was the real champion," said Jovtchev.

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