Petar Stoychev, one of the legends of open water swimming, has been named Bulgarian Sport Minister. In his capacity as Sports Minister, Stoychev will oversee the interest of Bulgarian athletes and sports. His extensive background in sport will undoubtedly help him support Bugarian sport interest at all levels. Petar is also a member of the FINA athletes commission and the technical open water swim committee.
Stoychev has one of the most impressive resumes in the sport of swimming – he has won world championships, represented Bulgaria in 4 Olympics (as both a pool and open water swimmer) and owned the fastest time for crossing the English Channel prior to Trent Grimsey’s 2012 crossing. In the 2008 Olympics he was the flag bearer for the Bulgarian Olympic team and swam both the 1500 and the 10K. He swam the 400 and 1500 at both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. In 2011 he captured gold in the 25K swim in Shanghai China. Stoychev won the FINA World Cup Series from 2001 to 2006 and was the FINA Grand Prix series champion from 2007 to 2011.
His numerous accolades include induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.