Viktoria Angelova Named Rising Star Award Finalist
European Athletics selected the triple jumper for its annual Rising Star honor after a competitive international season.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Track & Field
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European Athletics has named Viktoria Angelova as one of three finalists for the women's Rising Star award. The selection followed a voting process involving 40,000 participants from across the sport.
Why it matters
The award recognizes the most impressive young talent in track and field, highlighting athletes who have demonstrated excellence at international youth championships during the year.
Angelova secured a gold medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships with a 13.91 m jump, adding to her season performance of 13.98 m. The voting process for the finalists was split evenly, with each of the four groups accounting for 25% of the total result.
The players
Viktoria Angelova
She is a 17-year-old triple jumper from Bulgaria who won gold at the 2026 U18 European Championships.
Linda Botkova
She is a track and field athlete from Czechia and a fellow finalist for the women's Rising Star award.
Ziva Remic
She is a Slovenian athlete who won gold medals at both the European U18 and World U20 Championships.
European Athletics
It is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Europe and organizer of the Golden Tracks awards.
The details
Angelova, a 17-year-old triple jumper from Bulgaria, earned her spot after winning gold at the 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti. She joins fellow finalists Linda Botkova and Ziva Remic in contention for the prestigious honor.
Timeline
The Rieti 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships took place in July 2026.
The World Athletics U20 Championships were held in Eugene in August 2026.
The Golden Tracks awards night will occur in Lausanne on October 24, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The nomination follows a year defined by strong performances at the European U18 and World U20 championships, which remain the primary proving grounds for junior athletes. This recognition reinforces the current competitive hierarchy established by the top performers in the U20 circuit.
Finalist selection was determined by a 40,000-vote sample divided equally among four distinct stakeholder groups. These results reflect the current consensus of the track and field community regarding the most impactful young performers of the 2026 season.
The takeaway
The recognition of young athletes like Angelova showcases the depth of emerging talent in European track and field. Fans should track these athletes as they transition from youth circuit dominance into the senior professional level.
What happens next
The winner of the women's Rising Star award will be announced at the Golden Tracks awards night in Lausanne on October 24, 2026.
Further reading
Discover more highlights from the Track & Field season and upcoming youth championship results.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Българска Телеграфна Агенция.
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