site.btaBulgaria's Milka Maneva Receives Silver Medal for Lifting 233 Kg at 2012 London Olympics

Sofia, June 23 (BTA) - On behalf of the International Olympic Committee and the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC), BOC President Stefka Kostadinova Saturday presented the silver medal for the women's 63 kg weightlifting event in the 2012 London Olympics to Bulgarian competitor Milka Maneva at an Olympic Day celebration hosted by the National Sports Academy in Sofia.

Originally, Maneva placed fifth on a total lift of 233 kg, but after the three athletes who made the podium were stripped of their medals when retesting detected banned substances in their urine samples, she was awarded the silver.

Here is the final ranking in the category:
1. Christine Gerard (Canada) 236 kg
2. Milka Maneva (Bulgaria) 233 kg
3. Luz Mercedes Acosta Valdez (Mexico) 224 kg

This is Bulgaria's third medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics, after another silver won by wrestler Stanka Zlateva and a bronze by boxer Tervel Pulev.

Maneva is the first Bulgarian woman weightlifter to win an Olympic medal.

"Justice and fair play in sports triumphed today," Kostadinova said in her congratulatory remarks.