She is a living proof that when you have the courage to challenge yourself, you open up new horizons for your potential. Antoniya Hristova is 23 years old, a fifth–year student in the programme of Military Doctor – a joint initiative of Medical University–Varna, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and MMA, a squad commander and world champion in kettlebell sport.
Her first greatest love is ballet, because for her it is a dance that makes you forget about gravity. In her pursuit to achieve the perfect weight, Antoniya accidentally stumbled into a kettlebell sport gym – a fledgling discipline that has been gaining momentum around the world. This sport involves throwing a kettlebell (dumbbell) for a set period of time.
“At first I was not quite fascinated because the heaviest weights I had ever lifted were my pink 2kg dumbbells. The workouts seemed exhausting and the athletes' hands were all in calluses. However, I did give it a try one day, and I haven't stopped ever since," says Antoniya. Thus, she became a part of Lokomotiv Be Strong Kettlebell Team Bulgaria, coached by Krasimir Ivanov and Zlatina Milanova. Thanks to them, this sport began its development in Bulgaria in 2019, and today the team members are winning European and world awards.
“Both ballet and kettlebell sport require strong will, discipline and perfect technique. In ballet, you get sores on your feet, and from kettlebells – on your hands," says Antoniya and shows both her palms – beautifully manicured, but also with huge calluses. For her, every workout is encountering your own self and discovering new capabilities. She often lifts 2 x 20 kg, that is, more than half of her weight.
She laughs when asked if she “lifts kettlebells" when she gets angry. “It happens, but rarely. I am a lucky person, I get great support - from the coaches, the lecturers, from my friend Lieutenant Nikola Lipchev, who, together with some colleagues, is renovating the training room at the Naval School. Thanks to all of them!" she says.
Antoniya is absolutely “passionate" about kettllebell sport and other sports. Nonetheless, due to her busy schedule in the educational process, she does not have enough time to practise them. Sports are important, but academic preparation comes first, so for the fifth year now she has been maintaining a perfect balance between medicine, military affairs and training. Sports can teach you that as well!
In 2023 Antoniya Hristova won the world title at the competition in Latvia. The future medical doctor under the epaulette won the gold in the snatch discipline, 12 min, with a dumbbell of 24 kg.
The new challenge she has set herself is an excellent performance at the European Championship, which is to be held in Sofia in April this year. Then she will once again try to discover the better version of herself – by improving her personal record.
Rozalina Dimitrova
