Bozhidar Andreev | Today's AI Wiki

1. Early Life and Background

Bozhidar Dimitrov Andreev was born on January 17, 1997, in Bulgaria. From a young age, he began his journey in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, demonstrating early promise and a strong dedication that would eventually lead him to compete on the international stage.

2. Weightlifting Career

Bozhidar Dimitrov Andreev's weightlifting career began in his youth and has since evolved through various age categories and weight classes, culminating in significant achievements at the senior international level, including Olympic medals and European titles.

2.1. Early and Youth Career

Andreev started his competitive career early, participating in and achieving success in major youth competitions. In 2011, he competed in the European Youth Championships in Dublin, Ireland, in the 123 lb ^{(56 kg)} category, finishing eighth with a total lift of 432 lb ^{(196 kg)}. The following year, at the 2012 European Youth Championships in Bucharest, Romania, he competed in the 137 lb ^{(62 kg)} class, achieving a total of 542 lb ^{(246 kg)}. He also participated in the World Youth Championships in Košice, Slovakia, in 2012, placing sixth with a total of 542 lb ^{(246 kg)}.

In 2013, Andreev continued his youth career at the European Youth Championships in Klaipėda, Lithuania, competing in the 152 lb ^{(69 kg)} division and achieving a total of 639 lb ^{(290 kg)}. He also competed in the World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru, that year, where he finished sixth in the 152 lb ^{(69 kg)} category with a total of 611 lb ^{(277 kg)}. His breakthrough came at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, where he won the gold medal in the boys' 152 lb ^{(69 kg)} event with a total lift of 661 lb ^{(300 kg)}. In 2014, he also participated in the European Youth Championships in Ciechanów, Poland, in the 170 lb ^{(77 kg)} category, achieving a total of 681 lb ^{(309 kg)}.

As he progressed, he competed in the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships. In 2015, at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Klaipėda, Lithuania, he competed in the 170 lb ^{(77 kg)} category, achieving a total of 699 lb ^{(317 kg)}. He returned to this championship in 2018 in Zamość, Poland, in the 170 lb ^{(77 kg)} class, lifting a total of 745 lb ^{(338 kg)}. In 2019, he competed in the 179 lb ^{(81 kg)} category at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Bucharest, Romania, where he achieved a personal best total of 796 lb ^{(361 kg)}.

2.2. Senior Career

Andreev transitioned to the senior level, facing new challenges and achieving significant success. Initially competing in the 170 lb ^{(77 kg)} category, he moved to the newly created 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} division starting in 2018 after the International Weightlifting Federation reorganized the weight classes. He later also competed in the 179 lb ^{(81 kg)} category.

2.2.1. Olympic Games

Bozhidar Andreev has represented Bulgaria at two Olympic Games. In 2021, he competed for Bulgaria at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, participating in the men's 73 kg event. He achieved a total lift of 745 lb ^{(338 kg)}, securing fifth place.

In 2024, he once again represented Bulgaria at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. In the men's 73 kg event, Andreev delivered a strong performance, earning the bronze medal with a total lift of 758 lb ^{(344 kg)}.

2.2.2. World Championships

Andreev has participated in multiple World Weightlifting Championships. In 2018, following the weight class restructuring by the IWF, he competed in the new 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} division at the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, finishing ninth overall with a total of 739 lb ^{(335 kg)}.

At the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, he competed in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} category, achieving a total of 763 lb ^{(346 kg)}. He continued his participation at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Bogotá, Colombia, where he placed fourth in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} event with a total of 745 lb ^{(338 kg)}. In 2023, Andreev moved up to the 179 lb ^{(81 kg)} category for the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he again placed fourth, lifting a total of 769 lb ^{(349 kg)}.

2.2.3. European Championships

Andreev has achieved significant success at the European Weightlifting Championships, becoming a two-time champion. His first notable performance was at the 2016 European Weightlifting Championships in Førde, Norway, where he competed in the 170 lb ^{(77 kg)} category and placed fourth overall with a total of 758 lb ^{(344 kg)}.

In 2019, he competed at the 2019 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Georgia, in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} division. He won a bronze medal in the snatch event, and secured gold medals in both the clean & jerk and the total. His total lift of 761 lb ^{(345 kg)} was 13 lb ^{(6 kg)} higher than the reigning European Champion, Briken Calja.

He continued to compete in the European Championships, participating in the 2021 European Weightlifting Championships in Moscow, Russia, in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} class, where he lifted a total of 736 lb ^{(334 kg)}. At the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships in Tirana, Albania, he competed in the 179 lb ^{(81 kg)} category, achieving a total of 756 lb ^{(343 kg)}. In 2023, he competed at the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} category, where he finished fourth with a total of 732 lb ^{(332 kg)}.

Most recently, at the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, Andreev competed in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} category. He set new European Records (ER) in both the clean & jerk with 425 lb ^{(193 kg)} and the total with 767 lb ^{(348 kg)}, securing another European title.

2.2.4. Other International Competitions

Beyond major championships, Andreev has also competed in other international weightlifting tournaments. In 2019, he won the gold medal at the International Naim Suleymanoglu Tournament in Gaziantep, Turkey, competing in the 179 lb ^{(81 kg)} category with a total of 776 lb ^{(352 kg)}. The following year, in 2020, he secured another gold medal at the Malta International Open in Valletta, Malta, in the 161 lb ^{(73 kg)} category, achieving a total lift of 765 lb ^{(347 kg)}.

3. Major Results


Year	Venue	Weight	Snatch (kg)				Clean & Jerk (kg)				Total	Rank
Year	Venue	Weight	1	2	3	Rank	1	2	3	Rank	Total	Rank
Olympic Games
2021	Tokyo, Japan	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	-	406 lb ^{(184 kg)}	417 lb ^{(189 kg)}	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	-	745 lb ^{(338 kg)}	5
2024	Paris, France	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	326 lb ^{(148 kg)}	335 lb ^{(152 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	-	403 lb ^{(183 kg)}	412 lb ^{(187 kg)}	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	-	758 lb ^{(344 kg)}	3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
World Championships
2018	Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	320 lb ^{(145 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	337 lb ^{(153 kg)}	8	401 lb ^{(182 kg)}	421 lb ^{(191 kg)}	421 lb ^{(191 kg)}	11	739 lb ^{(335 kg)}	9
2019	Pattaya, Thailand	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	328 lb ^{(149 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	346 lb ^{(157 kg)}	-	408 lb ^{(185 kg)}	417 lb ^{(189 kg)}	423 lb ^{(192 kg)}	-	763 lb ^{(346 kg)}	-
2022	Bogotá, Colombia	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	-	397 lb ^{(180 kg)}	406 lb ^{(184 kg)}	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	7	745 lb ^{(338 kg)}	4
2023	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	179 lb ^{(81 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	348 lb ^{(158 kg)}	348 lb ^{(158 kg)}	6	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	430 lb ^{(195 kg)}	430 lb ^{(195 kg)}	-	769 lb ^{(349 kg)}	4
European Championships
2016	Førde, Norway	170 lb ^{(77 kg)}	320 lb ^{(145 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	337 lb ^{(153 kg)}	5	399 lb ^{(181 kg)}	412 lb ^{(187 kg)}	421 lb ^{(191 kg)}	4	758 lb ^{(344 kg)}	4
2019	Batumi, Georgia	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	326 lb ^{(148 kg)}	337 lb ^{(153 kg)}	346 lb ^{(157 kg)}	3rd place, bronze medalist(s)	399 lb ^{(181 kg)}	412 lb ^{(187 kg)}	423 lb ^{(192 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)	761 lb ^{(345 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)
2021	Moscow, Russia	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	335 lb ^{(152 kg)}	344 lb ^{(156 kg)}	346 lb ^{(157 kg)}	-	401 lb ^{(182 kg)}	414 lb ^{(188 kg)}	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	4	736 lb ^{(334 kg)}	-
2022	Tirana, Albania	179 lb ^{(81 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	337 lb ^{(153 kg)}	337 lb ^{(153 kg)}	-	408 lb ^{(185 kg)}	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	430 lb ^{(195 kg)}	-	756 lb ^{(343 kg)}	-
2023	Yerevan, Armenia	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	324 lb ^{(147 kg)}	333 lb ^{(151 kg)}	340 lb ^{(154 kg)}	-	397 lb ^{(180 kg)}	397 lb ^{(180 kg)}	399 lb ^{(181 kg)}	7	732 lb ^{(332 kg)}	4
2024	Sofia, Bulgaria	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	342 lb ^{(155 kg)}	-	399 lb ^{(181 kg)}	408 lb ^{(185 kg)}	425 lb ^{(193 kg)} ER	-	767 lb ^{(348 kg)} ER	1st place, gold medalist(s)
Youth Olympic Games
2014	Nanjing, China	152 lb ^{(69 kg)}	276 lb ^{(125 kg)}	287 lb ^{(130 kg)}	293 lb ^{(133 kg)}	-	346 lb ^{(157 kg)}	357 lb ^{(162 kg)}	368 lb ^{(167 kg)}	-	661 lb ^{(300 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Youth Championships
2012	Košice, Slovakia	137 lb ^{(62 kg)}	243 lb ^{(110 kg)}	249 lb ^{(113 kg)}	256 lb ^{(116 kg)}	5	282 lb ^{(128 kg)}	293 lb ^{(133 kg)}	293 lb ^{(133 kg)}	6	542 lb ^{(246 kg)}	6
2013	Lima, Peru	152 lb ^{(69 kg)}	265 lb ^{(120 kg)}	276 lb ^{(125 kg)}	280 lb ^{(127 kg)}	-	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	342 lb ^{(155 kg)}	342 lb ^{(155 kg)}	7	611 lb ^{(277 kg)}	6
European Youth Championships
2011	Dublin, Ireland	123 lb ^{(56 kg)}	183 lb ^{(83 kg)}	192 lb ^{(87 kg)}	198 lb ^{(90 kg)}	10	225 lb ^{(102 kg)}	234 lb ^{(106 kg)}	240 lb ^{(109 kg)}	7	432 lb ^{(196 kg)}	8
2012	Bucharest, Romania	137 lb ^{(62 kg)}	238 lb ^{(108 kg)}	245 lb ^{(111 kg)}	249 lb ^{(113 kg)}	-	282 lb ^{(128 kg)}	289 lb ^{(131 kg)}	293 lb ^{(133 kg)}	-	542 lb ^{(246 kg)}	-
2013	Klaipėda, Lithuania	152 lb ^{(69 kg)}	265 lb ^{(120 kg)}	276 lb ^{(125 kg)}	287 lb ^{(130 kg)}	-	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	346 lb ^{(157 kg)}	353 lb ^{(160 kg)}	-	639 lb ^{(290 kg)}	-
2014	Ciechanów, Poland	170 lb ^{(77 kg)}	287 lb ^{(130 kg)}	300 lb ^{(136 kg)}	304 lb ^{(138 kg)}	-	348 lb ^{(158 kg)}	364 lb ^{(165 kg)}	377 lb ^{(171 kg)}	-	681 lb ^{(309 kg)}	-
European Junior & U23 Championships
2015	Klaipėda, Lithuania	170 lb ^{(77 kg)}	300 lb ^{(136 kg)}	311 lb ^{(141 kg)}	317 lb ^{(144 kg)}	4	384 lb ^{(174 kg)}	388 lb ^{(176 kg)}	401 lb ^{(182 kg)}	-	699 lb ^{(317 kg)}	-
2018	Zamość, Poland	170 lb ^{(77 kg)}	317 lb ^{(144 kg)}	326 lb ^{(148 kg)}	331 lb ^{(150 kg)}	-	397 lb ^{(180 kg)}	403 lb ^{(183 kg)}	414 lb ^{(188 kg)}	-	745 lb ^{(338 kg)}	-
2019	Bucharest, Romania	179 lb ^{(81 kg)}	342 lb ^{(155 kg)}	353 lb ^{(160 kg)}	359 lb ^{(163 kg)}	-	419 lb ^{(190 kg)}	432 lb ^{(196 kg)}	437 lb ^{(198 kg)}	-	796 lb ^{(361 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)
International Naim Suleymanoglu Tournament
2019	Gaziantep, Turkey	179 lb ^{(81 kg)}	335 lb ^{(152 kg)}	335 lb ^{(152 kg)}	342 lb ^{(155 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)	410 lb ^{(186 kg)}	423 lb ^{(192 kg)}	434 lb ^{(197 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)	776 lb ^{(352 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)
Malta International Open
2020	Valletta, Malta	161 lb ^{(73 kg)}	324 lb ^{(147 kg)}	333 lb ^{(151 kg)}	344 lb ^{(156 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)	397 lb ^{(180 kg)}	412 lb ^{(187 kg)}	421 lb ^{(191 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)	765 lb ^{(347 kg)}	1st place, gold medalist(s)

4. External links

[https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/athletes-bios/?athlete=&id=10050 Bozhidar Andreev] at the International Weightlifting Federation
[https://iwrp.net/?view=contestant&id_zawodnik=20156 Bozhidar Andreev] at IWRP - Weightlifting Database
[https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/2103106 Bozhidar Andreev] at Olympedia