Maya Tabakova

Maya Tabakova (also spelled Maja or Maia Tabakova; ; born 11 May 1978 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian former group rhythmic gymnast. She is the 1996 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time world champion (1995, 1996), and a two-time European all-around silver medalist (1993, 1995). She now works as a coach in the United States.

Career Tabakova was born in Sofia and began gymnastics at age 8.

In 1993, Tabakova became a member of the national group. She competed at the 1993 European Championships, where the group won the silver medal in the all-around. They also tied the Russian group for gold in the 4 hoops + 2 pairs of clubs final and won another silver in the 6 ropes final.

In 1995, groups were reduced to five gymnasts, and Tabakova continued to compete with the group. Later in the year, they won the 1995 World Championships and took another gold in one of the event finals (5 hoops); they won silver in the mixed apparatus final.

The next year, in June, Tabakova and the other group members competed at the 1996 World Championships. They won a second straight world title. In August, at the 1996 Olympic Games, held in Atlanta, she won the silver medal in the group event along with her teammates Ina Delcheva, Valentina Kevlian, Maria Koleva, Ivelina Taleva and Viara Vatashka. She later said that while they were excited to have won an Olympic medal, they were disappointed that they had not managed to win gold. She then moved to Reno, Nevada to join a trapeze artist she had met at the Ringling Bros. circus in performing at the Circus Circus Las Vegas, and she also coached in the area.

Tabakova recovered from her injuries and continued working for Cirque Du Soleil until 2014. She co-founded a gym in Las Vegas in 2011, where she now coaches.