# Erika Zafirova

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**Erika Rosenova Zafirova** (Bulgarian: Ерика Росенова Зафирова; born 7 May 1999) is a Bulgarian [rhythmic gymnast](/source/Rhythmic_gymnastics). She is the [2020 Olympic group all-around](/source/Gymnastics_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_-_Women's_rhythmic_group_all-around) champion. She is the [2019 World](/source/2019_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Championships) group all-around bronze medalist and 5 balls silver medalist. She is the [2021 European](/source/2021_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_European_Championships) 5 balls champion and 3 hoops + 4 clubs silver medalist. She won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the [2019 European Games](/source/2019_European_Games).

## Personal life

Zafirova was engaged to [David Huddleston](/source/David_Huddleston_(gymnast)), a Bulgarian artistic gymnast who also competed at the [2020 Summer Olympics](/source/Bulgaria_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics).[1] Couple split up in 2023.[2]

Her current partner is a former Bulgarian wrestler, Tsvetan Draganov. In March 2025, she gave birth to a baby girl, Anna.[3]

## Career

Zafirova began rhythmic gymnastics when she was seven years old.[1]

### Individual

Zafirova competed at the [2014 Junior European Championships](/source/2014_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_European_Championships) with [Boryana Kaleyn](/source/Boryana_Kaleyn) and [Katerina Marinova](/source/Katerina_Marinova), and they finished fourth in the team competition.[4]

In the 2016 season, Zafirova became [age eligible](/source/Age_requirements_in_gymnastics) for senior competition. At the Moscow International Tournament, she finished eighth in the all-around.[5] She then finished sixth in the all-around at the Corbeil Essonnes Cup.[6]

Zafirova competed in her first World Challenge Cup at the [2017 Portimao World Cup](/source/2017_FIG_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Cup_Series) where she finished sixth in the all-around and ball and fifth in the hoop. She won a silver medal in the ribbon behind Israeli gymnast [Victoria Veinberg Filanovsky](/source/Victoria_Veinberg_Filanovsky).[7][8]

### Group

#### 2019

In 2019, Zafirova joined [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgaria) senior group with [Stefani Kiryakova](/source/Stefani_Kiryakova), [Madlen Radukanova](/source/Madlen_Radukanova), [Laura Traets](/source/Laura_Traets), and [Simona Dyankova](/source/Simona_Dyankova), replacing the injured [Elena Bineva](/source/Elena_Bineva). The group won the gold medal in the 3 hoops + 4 clubs final and the silver medal in the group all-around at the [Pesaro World Cup](/source/2019_FIG_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Cup_series).[9] Then at the Sofia World Cup, they won the group all-around gold medal.[10] She represented [Bulgaria at the 2019 European Games](/source/Bulgaria_at_the_2019_European_Games) where the Bulgarian group won silver in the [group all-around](/source/Gymnastics_at_the_2019_European_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_rhythmic_group_all-around) by only 0.050 behind Belarus. They also won the silver medal in the [5 balls final](/source/Gymnastics_at_the_2019_European_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_rhythmic_group_5_balls), this time behind Russia. In the [3 hoops + 4 clubs final](/source/Gymnastics_at_the_2019_European_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_rhythmic_group_3_hoops_and_4_clubs), they won the bronze medal behind Belarus and Ukraine.[11] She then competed at the [World Championships](/source/2019_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Championships) in [Baku](/source/Baku) where the Bulgarian group won the bronze medal in the group all-around behind Russia and Japan.[12] They then won the silver medal behind Japan in the 5 balls final, and they placed fifth in the 3 hoops + 4 clubs final.[13]

#### 2021

The Bulgarian team began their year at the [Sofia World Cup](/source/2021_FIG_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Cup_series), where the team won gold in the group all-around and in both apparatus finals.[14] They once again swept the gold medals at the Baku World Cup.[15] She then competed at the [European Championships](/source/Rhythmic_Gymnastics_European_Championships) in [Varna, Bulgaria](/source/Varna,_Bulgaria). The Bulgarian team of the senior group, [Boryana Kaleyn](/source/Boryana_Kaleyn), and [Katrin Taseva](/source/Katrin_Taseva) finished in fourth place.[16] The Bulgarian group finished fifth in the all-around, but they won gold in the 5 balls final and won silver in the 3 hoops + 4 clubs final behind Israel.[17][18][19]

Zafirova was selected to represent [Bulgaria at the 2020 Summer Olympics](/source/Bulgaria_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics) alongside [Laura Traets](/source/Laura_Traets), [Stefani Kiryakova](/source/Stefani_Kiryakova), [Madlen Radukanova](/source/Madlen_Radukanova), and [Simona Dyankova](/source/Simona_Dyankova). In the qualification round, the group qualified in first place after receiving the highest scores for both of their routines.[20][21] In the group all-around final, they once again received the highest scores for both routines and won the gold medal with a total score of 92.100, 1.400 points ahead of Russia. This marked the first time a non-Russian team won the Olympic gold medal in [the group all-around](/source/List_of_Olympic_medalists_in_gymnastics_(women)#All-around,_group) since Spain won in 1996, and it was the first time Bulgaria won the Olympic group all-around competition.[22][23] The Bulgarian group withdrew from the [World Championships](/source/2021_Rhythmic_Gymnastics_World_Championships) in [Kitakyushu, Japan](/source/Kitakyushu), four days before the start of the competition, after an injury to Traets.[24]

## Detailed Olympic results

Year Competition Description Location Music Apparatus Rank Score-Final Rank Score-Qualifying 2020 Olympics Tokyo All-around 1st 92.100 1st 91.800 Water, Cosmos, Earth by Elica Todorova, Stoyan Yankoulov, Miroslav Ivanov 5 Balls 1st 47.550 1st 47.500 Spartacus,ballet in 3 acts, op.8 by Aram Khachaturian, Bolshoi Theatre 3 Hoops + 4 Clubs 1st 44.550 1st 44.300

## References

1. ["Zafirova Erika"](https://gymnastics.sport/site/athletes/bio_detail.php?id=40064). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["“Златните” момичета орисани да имат дъщери"](https://www.168chasa.bg/article/20284596) (in Bulgarian). 12 April 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

1. ["Борец е таткото, от който роди гимнастичката Ерика ..."](https://www.bgdnes.bg/shou/article/20241151) (in Bulgarian). 3 April 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.

1. ["30th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships Results Book"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/Book_Media.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["International R. G. Tournament Individual Seniors & Juniors 19-20 February 2016 "Alina Cup" Seniors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181221091130/https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_16alina_sraa.pdf). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_16alina_sraa.pdf) on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["Tournoi International de Gymnastique Rythmique Souvenir Veronique de Kristoffy Corbeil-Essonnes 6-7-8 Mai 2016"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210813011950/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_16corbeilessones.pdf) [International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament Remembering Veronique de Kristoffy Corbeil-Essonnes May 6-7-8, 2016] (in French). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. [International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation). Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_16corbeilessones.pdf) on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["FIG RG World Challenge Cup Portimão All-Around Results"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181221091148/https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_17portimao_aa.pdf). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. [International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation). Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_17portimao_aa.pdf) on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["World Challenge Cup May 13-14, 2017 Portimao, Spain Event Finals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181221091732/https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_17portimao_events.pdf). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. [International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation). Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_17portimao_events.pdf) on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

1. ["Averinas complete second Pesaro clean sweep"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=2433300). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["Ashram and Soldatova shine in Sofia"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=2442197). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["Minsk 2019 Results Book Rhythmic Gymnastics"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/RG%20Media_0.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. [Minsk 2019](/source/Minsk_2019). Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["37th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Baku (AZE), 16-22 September 2019 Group All-Around Final"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210922170324/https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2019/r_19worlds_gpaa.pdf). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. [International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation). 21 September 2019. Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2019/r_19worlds_gpaa.pdf) on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["37th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Baku (AZE), 16-22 September 2019 Group Event Finals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210922181858/https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2019/r_19worlds_gpevents.pdf). *[USA Gymnastics](/source/USA_Gymnastics)*. [International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation). 22 September 2019. Archived from [the original](https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2019/r_19worlds_gpevents.pdf) on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["Boryana Kaleyn, Bulgarian Group bloom for six golds at Sofia Rhythmic World Cup"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3092336). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["Ashram, Bulgarian Rhythmic Group prevail in Baku"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3121642). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["37th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics Team Results"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/SENIORS%20-%20Group%20-%20Qualification%20TeamRankingRg.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["37th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-Around Results"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/SENIORS%20-%20Group%20-%20Qualification%20AllAroundResultsRg_1.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["37th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics 5 Balls Results"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/SENIORS%20-%20Group%20-%20Apparatus%20Final%205%20Balls%20ApparatusResultsRg_0.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["37th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics 3 Hoops + 4 Clubs Results"](https://backend.europeangymnastics.com/sites/default/files/paragraph/age-group-competition-info/competition-results/SENIORS%20-%20Group%20-%20Apparatus%20Final%203%20Hoops%2C%202x%20Clubs%20ApparatusResultsRg_0.pdf). *[European Gymnastics](/source/European_Gymnastics)*. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

1. ["Rhythmic Gymnastics — Group All-Around — Qualification — Results"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210808053149/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/GRY/OG2020-_GRY_C73B_GRYW5AA---------------QUAL--------.pdf). *[2020 Summer Olympics](/source/2020_Summer_Olympics)*. Archived from [the original](https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/GRY/OG2020-_GRY_C73B_GRYW5AA---------------QUAL--------.pdf) on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.

1. ["Bulgaria tops ROC in Rhythmic Group qualification"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3273191). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["Russian rhythmic dynasty topples, Bulgaria wins gold"](https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2021/08/09/2003762282). *[Taipei Times](/source/Taipei_Times)*. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. ["Bulgaria upsets ROC for first Olympic Rhythmic Group gold"](https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3274659). *[International Gymnastics Federation](/source/International_Gymnastics_Federation)*. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

1. Berkeley, Geoff (26 October 2021). ["Olympic champions Bulgaria withdraw on eve of Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships due to Traets injury"](https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1114646/bulgaria-withdraw-rhythmic-gymnastics). *[Inside the Games](/source/Inside_the_Games)*. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Erika Zafirova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Zafirova) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Zafirova?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.