Albert Popov

Albert Popov (Bulgarian: Алберт Попов) (born August 8, 1997) is a Bulgarian alpine skier.[1][2]

Albert Popov
Alpine skier
DisciplinesSlalom
ClubMotensport Sofia
Born (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997
Sofia, Bulgaria
World Cup debut26 October 2014 (age 17)
Sölden, Austria
Olympics
Teams1 – (2018)
Medals0
World Championships
Teams3 – (2015, 2017, 2019)
Medals0
World Cup
Seasons6 – (2015–2020)
Wins0
Podiums0
Overall titles0 – (66th in 2019)
Discipline titles0 – (23rd in GS, 2019)
Medal record
Men’s alpine skiing
Representing  Bulgaria
Junior World Championships
2018 DavosGiant Slalom

Career

Albert Popov was born in Sofia and made his debut in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in 2014, aged just 17. A few months later he participated at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, where he failed to finish in both the slalom and giant slalom events.

Popov was involved in a serious car accident on November 17, 2015, while returning from training near Sölden. He was one of two passengers in a vehicle driven by Drago Grubelnik, then head coach of the Bulgarian ski team, who was also accompanied by his assistant Mitko Hristov. All three occupants of the car were injured in the crash, with Grubelnik later dying of his wounds in a hospital in Murnau, Germany.[3] Popov eventually returned to the FIS circuit for the 2016–17 season, and featured at the 2017 World Championships, where he finished 27th overall in slalom and 30th overall in the giant slalom event.

On 6 February 2018, Popov won a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 2018 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Davos. Twelve days later he made his debut at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018, where he placed 28th in the giant slalom and did not finish the slalom.[4]

His World Cup breakthrough came in the opening race of the 2018–19 season in Levi, where he finished 20th, earning 11 points - Bulgaria's first in the World Cup since Petar Popangelov during the 1986–87 season.[5] Popov followed that up with a 16th place finish at Madonna di Campiglio in December, after starting with the number 72 bib.[6] On 26 January 2019, he finished 9th in the slalom event at Kitzbühel, which was the best result for a Bulgarian skier since Popangelov placed 7th at Heavenly Valley in 1985–86.[7][8] Three days later he reached another milestone, finishing 6th at Schladming, his country's highest placement since Popangelov's 6th place at Park City during the 1984–85 season.[9]

Popov scored his first World Cup points of the 2019–20 season on December 15, 2019, when he finished 12th in the slalom at Val-d'Isère.[10] On January 8, 2020, he took 18th place in the slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, his second consecutive points finish at that event, and four days later he finished 13th in the slalom at Adelboden.[11][12] On January 28, 2020, Popov finished 19th during the slalom event at Schladming, equaling his season's best of four point placements.[13]

World Cup results

Season standings
Season
Age Overall Slalom Giant
Slalom		 Super G Downhill Combined Points
2019216623————95
2020227328————67
Standings as of January 25, 2019

World Championships results
Year
Age Slalom Giant
Slalom		 Super G Downhill Combined
201517DNF1DNF1———
2017192730———
201921DNF129———

Olympic results
Year
Age Slalom Giant
Slalom		 Super G Downhill Combined
201820DNF128———

References
  1. "Albert Popov Personal Profile". Eurosport. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. "Алберт Попов ще е знаменосецът ни олимпийския фестивал, церемонията е насрочена за 20.30 ч. българско време". winter sports at topsport.bg. topsport.bg. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  3. "Треньорът на националите по ски е загинал в катастрофата, Попов е със счупен глезен" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 17 November 2015.
  4. "POPOV Albert – Biographie". data.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  5. "Хиршер започна сезона с победа в Леви, Алберт Попов завърши 20-и" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 18 November 2018.
  6. "Алберт Попов завърши 16-и в слалома в Мадона ди Кампилио" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 22 December 2018.
  7. "Алберт Попов завърши на рекордното девето място в слалома в Кицбюел" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 26 January 2019.
  8. "Феноменален Алберт Попов остана 9-и на слалома в Кицбюел, след страхотен I манш" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 January 2019.
  9. "Алберт Попов продължи вихрено и стана шести в нощния слалом в Шладминг" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 29 January 2019.
  10. "Отличен Алберт Попов остана на косъм от класиране в Топ 10" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 15 December 2019.
  11. "Алберт Попов продължава да трупа точки за Световната купа" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 9 January 2020.
  12. "Страхотен Алберт Попов в Аделбоден!" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 12 January 2020.
  13. "Нов успех за Алберт Попов и кошмар за домакините в нощната класика в Шладминг" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 28 January 2020.
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