site.btaJune 28, 2012: Sprinter Ivet Lalova Wins Gold at 2012 European Championships in Helsinki

Twelve years ago today, Bulgarian track and field athlete Ivet Lalova won gold at the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Lalova ran 100 metres in 11.06 seconds in Round 1, setting the leading European result of the year so far. The following day, June 28, 2012, her time of 11.28 was enough to win her the gold in the final, making her the first Bulgarian sprinter to triumph at the 100-metre event of the European Championships.

Lalova shared the podium with Ukraine's Olesya Povh and Lithuania's Lina Grincikaite, who both finished with an equal time of 11.32 seconds.

After the final, the Bulgarian athlete shared that she found it challenging because of the fast track. She added: "The run was very difficult and the weather is cold and not conducive to great achievements [...] The fight for the medals was tough. When I saw a replay of the run, I said to myself that's not me. My main goal was winning the gold medal in the 100 metres. Winning that medal very hard. I was confident that I will earn a place on the podium in this championship. I worked hard, I was ready for a fight. I had a big comeback thanks to my confidence that I regained after the severe injury."