{{Short description|Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Ivelina Taleva | image = | caption = | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth-date and age|25 March 1977}} | birth_place = Plovdiv, Bulgaria | discipline = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's rhythmic gymnastics}} {{MedalCountry | {{BUL}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games}} {{MedalSilver|1996 Atlanta| All-around}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|1994 Paris|4 Hoops + 2 Clubs}} {{MedalGold|1995 Vienna|All-around}} {{MedalGold|1995 Vienna|5 Hoops}} {{MedalGold|1996 Budapest|All-around}} {{MedalSilver|1991 Athens|6 Ribbons}} {{MedalSilver|1994 Paris|6 Ropes}} {{MedalSilver|1995 Vienna|3 Balls + 2 Ribbons}} {{MedalBronze|1994 Paris|All-around}} {{MedalCompetition|European Championships}} {{MedalGold|1993 Bucharest|4 Hoops + 2 Clubs}} {{MedalGold|1995 Prague|3 Balls + 2 Ribbons}} {{MedalSilver|1992 Stuttgart|6 Ribbons}} {{MedalSilver|1993 Bucharest|All-around}} {{MedalSilver|1993 Bucharest|6 Ropes}} {{MedalSilver|1995 Prague|All-around}} {{MedalSilver|1995 Prague|5 Hoops}} {{MedalBronze|1991 Lisbon|All-around}} | native_name = Ивелина Талева | native_name_lang = bg | height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} }}
'''Ivelina Taleva''' ({{langx|bg|Ивелина Талева}}, born 25 March 1977) is a Bulgarian former group rhythmic gymnast. She is the 1996 Summer Olympics silver medalist, a two-time World champion (1995, 1996), and a two-time European silver medalist. She now works as a coach.
== Biography == Taleva was born in Plovdiv. She began rhythmic gymnastics in 1984 and competed for the Trakiya club in her hometown until 1990, when she moved to the Levski club in Sofia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rhythmic gymnastics team 1996 |url=https://youthcentre.plovdiv.bg/en/olympic-medalists/rhythmic-gymnastics-team-1996 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Plovdiv Youth Center}}</ref>
In 1991, she became a member of the national group. She would remain a member through 1996.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-28 |title=Bulgarian group composition |url=http://www.fbgr.org/doc/BFHG%20Istoria/SVETOVNI_PURVENSTVA_ANSAMBLI.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128064326/http://www.fbgr.org/doc/BFHG%20Istoria/SVETOVNI_PURVENSTVA_ANSAMBLI.htm |archive-date=2011-11-28 |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Foundation |language=Bulgarian}}</ref> She won her first medals with the group that year when she competed at the 1991 European Championships, where they won the all-around bronze medal,<ref>{{Cite web |title=3. European Junior Championships in Lisbon, Portugal (4.-7. July 1991) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1991/ejm_lissabon_91_g.html#final |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref> and the World Championships, where they were fourth in the all-around and did not reach the mixed apparatus final but won silver in the 6 ribbons final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=15. World Championships in Athens, Greece (9.-13. October 1991) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1991/wm_athen_91_g.html#Gall_around |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref>
The next year, Taleva and the group competed at the 1992 European Championships. They had a poor mixed apparatus routine that left them in seventh place in the all-around, but they again won the silver medal in the 6 ribbons final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=8. European Championships in Stuttgart, Germany (4.-7. June 1992) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1992/em_stuttgart_92_g.html#Gall_around |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref> At the World Championships, they instead had a poor 6 ribbons routine and finished 15th in the all-around, but they reached the 3 ropes + 2 balls final, where they were fourth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=16. World Championships in Brussels, Belgium (13.-15. November 1992) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1992/wm_brussel_92_g.html#Gall_around |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref>
In 1993, Taleva won her first European gold medal when the group finished first in the 4 hoops + 2 pairs of clubs final, tied with the Russian group. They also won silver in the all-around and 6 ropes final.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=9. European Junior Championships in Bucharest, Romeania (20.-23. May 1993) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1993/ejm_bukarest_93_g.html#Group1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref> The next year, at the 1994 World Championships, they won bronze in the all-around and a gold and silver in the event finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=18. World Championships in Paris, France (6.-9. October 1994) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1994/wm_paris_94_g.html#Group1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-09-16 |title=Втората част от световните шампионки ансамбъл в историята на българската |trans-title=The second part of the world champion ensemble in the history of Bulgaria |url=https://novini247.com/novini/vtorata-chast-ot-svetovnite-shampionki-ansambal-v-istoriyata-na-balgarskata_1220098.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Новини 24/7 |language=bulgarian}}</ref>
Groups were reduced to five members in 1995, and Taleva remained with the national group.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-09-16 |title=Втората част от световните шампионки ансамбъл в историята на българската |trans-title=The second part of the world champion ensemble in the history of Bulgaria |url=https://novini247.com/novini/vtorata-chast-ot-svetovnite-shampionki-ansambal-v-istoriyata-na-balgarskata_1220098.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Новини 24/7 |language=bulgarian}}</ref> She won a second European all-around silver medal that year, along with gold and another silver in the finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=11. European Junior Championships in Prague, Czech Republic (6.-9. July 1995) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1995/ejm_prag_95_g.html#Group1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref> At the World Championships, she became a world champion with her fellow group members. They won a second gold as well as a silver in the finals.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=19. World Championships in Vienna, Austria (19.-24. September 1995) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1995/wm_wien_95_g.html#Group1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref>
The group won a second world title at the 1996 World Championships in June 1996.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=20. World Championships in Budapest, Hungary (21.-23. June 1996) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1996/wm_budapest_96_g.html#Group1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=rsg.net}}</ref> That August, they competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. They qualified for the group final in first place, and they won the silver medal in the final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ivelina Taleva |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/ivelina-taleva-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024001133/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/ivelina-taleva-1.html |archive-date=2012-10-24 |website=sports-reference.com}}</ref>
Taleva graduated from the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski".<ref name=":0" /> She coached at the Levski club until 2010, when she moved to coach in Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-20 |title=Arriva alla FENICE una delle tecniche più valide a livello mondiale: Ivelina Taleva |trans-title=One of the most valid techniques in the world arrives at the FENICE: Ivelina Taleva |url=https://www.spoletonline.com/132902/Arriva-alla-FENICE-una-delle-tecniche-pi%C5%82-valide-a-livello-mondiale:-Ivelina-Taleva |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=spoletonline |language=it}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taleva, Ivelina}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts Category:Gymnasts at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gymnasts for Bulgaria Category:Olympic silver medalists for Bulgaria Category:Olympic medalists in gymnastics Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships