Nikolay Bukhalov
# Nikolay Bukhalov

Nikolay Petkov Bukhalov (Bulgarian: Николай Петков Бухалов, born 20 March 1967 in Karlovo) is Bulgaria's most successful ever sprint canoeist. He competed mostly in the Canadian canoe C-1 event though he did win world championship medals in the C-4 events.

Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won three medals, including double gold at Barcelona in 1992. In addition, he won thirteen medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with five golds (C-1 200 m: 1994, 1995; C-1 500 m: 1993, 1994, 1995), three silvers (C-1 500 m: 1991, C-1 1000 m: 1991, 1994), and five bronzes (C-1 500 m: 1986, C-4 500 m: 1990, C-4 1000 m: 1989, 1990, 1991).

The final gold medal of his career came at the 1997 European Championships, held on his home course in Plovdiv, where he won the C-1 500 m title.

Bukhalov was a member of the Trakia club in Plovdiv and was coached by Georgi Uchkunov. He is 187 cm (6'2") tall and raced at 83 kg (183 lbs).

