Zhaneta Ilieva

Career

2000–2003 Ilieva made her senior official debut in 1999, and later competed as part of the Bulgarian women's rhythmic gymnastics team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she placed seventh in the group all-around tournament with a composite score of 38.432 (19.166 for five clubs and 19.266 for two hoops and three ribbons).

At the 2002 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Ilieva and her Bulgarian team finished fourth in the same program with a score in 47.050, missing out the medal podium by 350-thousandths of a point.

The following year, at the 2003 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Ilieva pulled off the second highest score both in ribbons and in hoops and clubs to hand the Bulgarians a silver medal in the group all-around tournament (a score of 50.175), and a qualifying ticket to her second Olympics.

2004 Summer Olympics

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Ilieva competed for the Bulgarian women's rhythmic gymnastics team in the group all-around tournament, after receiving a qualifying berth from the World Championships.

Life after gymnastics Shortly after the Olympics, Ilieva announced her retirement from rhythmic gymnastics to further pursue her degree in sports journalism at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, and later worked as a recreational and competitive team and individual coach for the Bulgarian team.