The Olympic spirit once again captivates the world, and Bulgaria is involved in this triumph. But not in the usual way - not with medals won on the ice, but with innovative technology that contributed to a historic success.
Bulgarian Footprint in Olympic Glory
The intrigue begins with "Barin Sports", a Bulgarian company engaged in sports science. They have been working for more than a year with the Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan. The result? Kazakhstan wins a gold medal in figure skating at the Winter Olympic Games. Vladimir Grozdanov, co-founder and CEO of "Barin Sports", shared the joyous news in the "Business Start" show on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.
Mikhail Shaidorov, the Kazakhstani, made an incredible comeback. After the short program, he was fifth, but after a fantastic second performance, he grabbed first place. He thus surpassed the Japanese competitors and even Ilya Malinin from the USA, known as the "God of Quadruple Jumps". And now you imagine what excitement this was for the Bulgarian team!
The Technology Behind the Success
How exactly did this Bulgarian technology help? "Barin Sports" develops software that collects data on over 50 parameters of athletes in real time. This information goes directly to the coaches. They can decide when to change players or change tactics. The system also analyzes past performances, helping athletes manage their workload, recover faster, and reduce the risk of injury. Agree, this is a huge advantage!
Investments and Recognition
Interestingly, English football legend Michael Owen has been an investor in the company since 2023. And in 2024, the World Football Federation (FIFA) gave its highest recognition - FIFA Quality EPTS. This is a certificate of quality.
World Cup with a Bulgarian Accent?
It is interesting to note that the tools of "Barin Sports" are used by the national team of North Macedonia. They still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada. If they succeed, we will see another Bulgarian success on the big stage. Will they achieve it? We'll keep our fingers crossed!
The Beginning and the Future
We cannot forget that "Barin Sports" reached the final of "Drazkite" - the first television startup competition in Bulgaria, broadcast by Bloomberg TV Bulgaria in 2022. What's next for the company? Perhaps new successes, new sports triumphs and ever wider recognition for Bulgarian sports science. Will we see more surprises?