Penka Stoyanova

Penka Stoyanova was the star of the Bulgarian women’s basketball team in the 1970s and early 1980s. She won a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics and a silver in 1980. She competed eight times at the European Championships, helping Bulgaria win silver in 1972 and bronze in 1976. Stoyanova led Maritza (Plovdiv) to three national titles, in 1971 and 1973-74.

Stoyanova was the first Bulgarian allowed to play professionally outside of Bulgaria, joining Italian Roma from 1981-83. In 1985 she was made an honorary citizen of Karlovo, her birthplace, and Plovdiv accorded her the same honor in 2000. In 2007 she was named by FIBA among the 35 athletes who most influenced basketball in the second half of the 20th century.