Bulgaria's first and only Olympic champion Rumiyana Neykova arrives at Sofia airport. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency
Over 100 people gathered at Sofia airport Monday evening to welcome back home the only Bulgarian Olympic champion so far - rower Rumiyana Neykova.
Rumiyana landed in Sofia at 10:00 pm accompanied by her husband Svilen Neykov and her two young sons - Mario and Emil.
Ten other Bulgarian Olympic competitors arrived on the same flight and watched with pride and some sadness the euphoria surrounding the gold medallist.
The crowd included scores of reporters, two Chinese cameramen, friends and relatives of the family.
Neykova received a mountain of flowers as well as a crown of laurels.
The brass orchestra of the Bulgarian Army greeted Neykova's first steps on Bulgarian soil with parade marches ordered by the Bulgarian Fefense Ministry.