“Aurubis Bulgaria” supports talent in the Srednogorie region: the story of Anika Atanasova—from walks in borova forest to the european tracks

“Aurubis Bulgaria” continues to invest in the future of young talent from the Srednogorie region by supporting the development of sports clubs and their athletes. One of the most striking examples of a successful project carried out with the company’s support is the story of Anika Atanasova—a track and field athlete from the “Srednogorski Atlet” Track and Field Club.

In August 2018, Anika arrived in Pirdop to join the club’s training sessions. Her coach, Vanyo Maslarski, recalls: “I hadn’t been warned, and Anika had to come watch the training session at Borova Gora dressed for a walk. The ‘walk’ we took to Borova Gora and back - which involved watching a pretty tough training session - led me to think that Anika’s visit to Pirdop for training would be her last. But I was wrong.”

That was the beginning of Anika’s journey in track and field. Despite her daily train trips from her hometown to Pirdop, she showed exceptional ambition and dedication. Her coach notes: “I saw that she was ambitious, and the fact that she traveled by train every day motivated me to work with her. Not many young people travel by train every day to Pirdop, to Sofia, and back just to train.”

Thanks to her hard work and the support of Aurubis Bulgaria, Anika has achieved impressive results. From 2022 to June 2026, she won 8 gold medals, 9 third - place finishes, and 7 fourth -place finishes across all age groups, including the women’s division. Since 2023, she has been a member of the national track and field team, representing Bulgaria at prestigious international competitions.

“Anika was also fortunate enough to train with Elitsa Todorova, Diliana Minkina, and Lyubomir Dishlyanov. They all helped Anika to develop into a very good track and field athlete,” adds coach Vanyo Maslarski.

Anika’s competitions include:

• 2023 – Balkan Mountain Running Championships (Montenegro) – 4th place; Steeplechase (Turkey) – 5th place; Cross Country (Bulgaria) – 9th place.
• 2024 – Balkan Championships: 3,000 m (Serbia) – 6th place; Cross-Country (Romania) – 9th place; European Mountain Running Championships (France).
• 2025 – Balkan Championships (Sofia, Bulgaria) – 5th place; Balkan Championships (Romania) – 5th place; Balkan Cross-Country Championships (Romania) – 7th place; European Competition (Portugal).
• 2026 – European Mountain Running Championships (Slovenia).

Unfortunately, in 2025, Anika injured herself during a training session in Pirdop, which prevented her from competing in the World Mountain Running Championships in Spain. However, with the support of the medical team and thanks to her perseverance, she gradually recovered and continued to compete.

The partnership between Aurubis Bulgaria and SKLA “Srednogorski Atlet,” chaired by Lalo Kirilov, has been long-standing and successful. The company provides financial support for Anika’s training, including the purchase of high-quality equipment and the organization of training sessions in Sofia and other cities where suitable conditions are available.

“Anika’s achievements were not to be underestimated. Aurubis Bulgaria believed in her and began sponsoring her. This has allowed us to improve the quality of our training, because we train more often in Sofia and other places where the facilities are suitable. With the company’s support, we feel very secure,” says coach Vanyo Maslarski.

"Aurubis Bulgaria" believes that investing in young talent is an investment in the future of the region and the country. The company will continue to support the development of sports and encourage young people to pursue their dreams.