{{Short description|American-born Bulgarian artistic gymnast (born 2000)}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Kevin Penev | image = FIG AGWC 2025 - Kevin Penev.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Penev at 2025 World Championships | full_name = <!-- if different --> | native_name = | native_name_lang = | altname = | nickname = | country = {{GYM National Team|BUL|MAG}} | formercountry = {{GYM National Team|USA|MAG}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|03|30|df=yes}} | birth_place = | spouse = | training = | height = <!-- "X cm" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (automatic conversion) --> | discipline = MAG | level = | natlteam = | club = | gym = | collegeteam = Michigan Wolverines (2019) | headcoach = Milko Tankouchev | assistcoach = | formercoach = | choreographer = | music = | eponymousskills = | retired = | worldranking = | show-medals = true | medaltemplates = <!-- see Template:MedalRelatedTemplates --> {{MedalCountry|{{BUL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIG World Cup}} {{MedalCount | World Challenge Cup|1|2|2 | total=yes }} }} '''Kevin Penev''' (born 30 March 2000)<ref>{{cite web |title=52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Antwerp (BEL), 30 September – 8 October 2023 Men Entry List by NOC |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2023/mw_23worlds.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=29 September 2023}}</ref> is an American-born Bulgarian artistic gymnast. He represented Bulgaria at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
== Early life == Penev was born in 2000 in New York. His parents, Yulia Hristova and Marian Penev, both represented Bulgaria at international gymnastics competitions. His older brother Eddie Penev also competed for the United States and Bulgaria in gymnastics.<ref name="figprofile">{{cite web |title=Penev Kevin |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/athletes/bio_detail.php?id=68004 |website=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
== Career == Penev competed for the University of Michigan gymnastics team in 2019. He tied for second place on the floor exercise at the Big Ten Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kevin Penev |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster/kevin-penev/18677 |website=Michigan Wolverines |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
Penev and his brother Eddie announced they would begin competing for Bulgaria in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abraham |first1=Gincy |title=Former US Gymnast, Who Suffered Saddening Fate Before Olympic Trials in 2021, Set to Compete for Bulgaria |website=Essentially Sports |date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-gymnastics-news-former-us-gymnast-who-suffered-saddening-fate-before-olympic-trials-in-set-to-compete-for-bulgaria/}}</ref> His nationality change was approved by the International Gymnastics Federation in May 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official News from the Executive Committee Meeting on 12–13 May 2023 |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3840408 |website=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=13 May 2023}}</ref> He was selected to compete for Bulgaria at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Solakova |first1=Dimitrina |title=Five Bulgarians to Compete in Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup Series in Hungary, Four in Turkiye |url=https://www.bta.bg/en/news/sport/506057-five-bulgarians-to-compete-in-artistic-gymnastics-world-challenge-cup-series-in- |website=BTA |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=14 August 2023}}</ref> He qualified for the vault final and finished in eighth place. As the highest-placing gymnast on vault who did not already qualify through the team or all-around, Penev qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Кевин Пенев спечели квота за Париж 2024 |trans-title=Kevin Penev won a quota for Paris 2024 |url=https://offnews.bg/gimnastika/kevin-penev-specheli-kvota-za-parizh-2024-810045.html |website=OFFNews |access-date=18 December 2023 |language=Bulgarian |date=8 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Calm amidst a storm of attention, Biles sails smoothly to two more World golds |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=399669 |website=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=8 October 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Sports links}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Penev, Kevin}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:People from Penfield, New York Category:Michigan Wolverines men's gymnasts Category:Bulgarian male artistic gymnasts Category:American people of Bulgarian descent Category:Gymnasts at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gymnasts for Bulgaria Category:21st-century Bulgarian sportsmen