Nikolaj Pešalov

Nikolaj Pešalov
Personal information
Birth nameNikolay Slaveev Peshalov
Nationality Bulgaria
Born (1970-05-30) 30 May 1970
Vetren, Bulgaria
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Sport
Country Bulgaria (1989–1998)
 Croatia (1998–2004)
SportOlympic weightlifting
Medal record
Men's Weightlifting
Representing  Bulgaria
Olympic Games
1992 Barcelona 60 kg
1996 Atlanta 59 kg
World Championships
1990 Budapest 60 kg
1993 Melbourne 59 kg
1994 Istanbul 59 kg
1989 Athens 60 kg
1995 Guangzhou 59 kg
European Championships
1991 Władysławowo 60 kg
1992 Szekszárd 60 kg
1993 Sofia 59 kg
1994 Sokolov 59 kg
1995 Warsaw 59 kg
1997 Rijeka 59 kg
1989 Athens 60 kg
1990 Ålborg 60 kg
Representing  Croatia
World Championships
Olympic Games
2000 Sydney 62 kg
2004 Athens 69 kg
World Championships
1998 Lahti 62 kg
European Championships
2000 Sofia 62 kg
2001 Trencin 62 kg
2004 Kyiv 69 kg
1999 La Coruña 62 kg

Nikolay Peshalov (Bulgarian: Николай Славеев Пешалов, romanized: Nikolay Slaveev Peshalov; born on May 30, 1970) is a Bulgarian-born Croatian Olympic and World former champion in weightlifting.

During his long and successful career, Pešalov was World champion eight times in various categories and disciplines, and broke several world records. His Olympic medals are split between Bulgaria (1992 and 1996) and Croatia (2000 and 2004). In 2000 he was granted Croatian citizenship, and he now holds besides Bulgarian, a Croatian passport. He resides in both Sofia and Split.