Maya Tabakova

{{short description|Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Maya Tabakova | gender = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | fullname = | altname = | nickname = | country = {{BUL}} | regionsrepresented = | formercountry = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|05|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria | death_date = | death_place = | hometown = | residence = | spouse = | training = | height = 169 cm<br /><small>(at the 1996 Olympic Games)</small> | discipline = RG | natlteam = | club = Levski Sofia, Sofia | gym = | collegeteam = | headcoach = | assistcoach = | formercoach = | choreographer = | music = | eponymousskills = | retired = | worldranking = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition| Olympic Games }} {{MedalSilver | 1996 Atlanta | Group all-around}} | module = | voice = | voice_header = | voice_caption = | updated = }}

'''Maya Tabakova''' (also spelled '''Maja''' or '''Maia Tabakova'''; {{langx|bg|Мая Табакова}}; born 11 May 1978 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian former group rhythmic gymnast. She is the 1996 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time world champion (1995, 1996), and a two-time European all-around silver medalist (1993, 1995). She now works as a coach in the United States.

== Career == Tabakova was born in Sofia and began gymnastics at age 8.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shields |first=Mel |date=2007-04-22 |title=Between a ring and a high place |url=http://www.sacbee.com/643/story/158124.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126035420/http://www.sacbee.com/643/story/158124.html |archive-date=2008-01-26 |website=Sacramento Bee}}</ref>

In 1993, Tabakova became a member of the national group. She competed at the 1993 European Championships, where the group won the silver medal in the all-around.<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><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> They also tied the Russian group for gold in the 4 hoops + 2 pairs of clubs final and won another silver in the 6 ropes final.<ref name=":1" />

At the 1994 World Championships, the group won the bronze medal in the all-around. In the event finals, they again won gold in the 4 hoops + 2 pairs of clubs final and silver in the 6 ropes final.<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>

In 1995, groups were reduced to five gymnasts, and Tabakova continued to compete with the group.<ref name=":2" /> At the 1995 European Championships, they won another silver medal in the all-around. They also won gold in the 3 balls + 2 ribbons final and a second silver in the 5 hoops final.<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> Later in the year, they won the 1995 World Championships and took another gold in one of the event finals (5 hoops); they won silver in the mixed apparatus final.<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 next year, in June, Tabakova and the other group members competed at the 1996 World Championships. They won a second straight world title.<ref name=":2" /> However, they struggled in the event finals, placing 7th in one and 8th in the other.<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> In August, at the 1996 Olympic Games, held in Atlanta, she won the silver medal in the group event along with her teammates Ina Delcheva, Valentina Kevlian, Maria Koleva, Ivelina Taleva and Viara Vatashka.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/maya-tabakova-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418021324/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/maya-tabakova-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18|title=Maya Tabakova Bio, Stats, and Results — Olympics|publisher=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=2017-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/BUL/summer/1996/RGY/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417164351/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/BUL/summer/1996/RGY/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-17|title=Bulgaria Rhythmic Gymnastics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games|publisher=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=2017-01-18}}</ref> She later said that while they were excited to have won an Olympic medal, they were disappointed that they had not managed to win gold.<ref name=":0" />

After the Olympics, she was invited to work with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the United States. She took the offer and toured with them, performing an aerial hoop act, from 1997 to 2005.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Maia Tabakova |url=https://lasvegasrhythmicgymnastics.com/maia-tabakova/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Las Vegas Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy |language=en-US}}</ref> She then moved to Reno, Nevada to join a trapeze artist she had met at the Ringling Bros. circus in performing at the Circus Circus Las Vegas, and she also coached in the area.<ref name=":3" />

In 2007, she began performing with Cirque du Soleil. That November, she had a serious accident during a show where she fell {{Convert|35|ft|m}} to the stage. She was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada and was reported to still be in critical condition eight days after the accident.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Amanda |date=2007-11-21 |title=Cirque Aerialist Still in Critical Condition |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/news/2007/nov/112107_tabakova.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226185641/http://www.intlgymnast.com/news/2007/nov/112107_tabakova.html |archive-date=2007-12-26 |website=International Gymnast}}</ref>

Tabakova recovered from her injuries and continued working for Cirque Du Soleil until 2014. She co-founded a gym in Las Vegas in 2011, where she now coaches.<ref name=":3" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Sports-Reference|ta/maya-tabakova-1}} * {{Olympics.com profile|maja-tabakova}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabakova, Maya}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts Category:Gymnasts at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gymnasts for Bulgaria Category:Gymnasts from Sofia