Over 350 prospective students got to know NSA on the Open Day

Prospective students and pupils from across the country filled the largest lecture hall of the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" on the Open Day, which was held on April 10.

The event was organized to support prospective students and high school pupils, with a focus on the admission to bachelor's programs and the unique educational and sports facilities of NSA, which match the quality of education offered by leading international universities in the fields of sport, physical education, public health, and healthcare. 

"Thank you all for being here. Thank you to all future students of the National Sports Academy. Thank you to our great champions, who represent just a small part of the many outstanding Bulgarian athletes who graduated from NSA," said Rector Prof. Krasimir Petkov, emphasizing that education at NSA is strongly practice-oriented and focused on career development. "Here you can learn everything you need for real life and how to succeed. The Sports Academy is the university whose graduates become successful people. It’s no coincidence our slogan is ‘A successful career starts here,’” Prof. Petkov stressed in his welcome address. 

The numerous questions from the audience regarding application requirements and the specifics of studying were answered by the moderator of the event, Assoc. Prof. Ivan Slavchev – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sport, Assoc. Prof. Hristo Andonov – Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, and many professors from various disciplines at the Academy.

A special surprise was the meeting with elite athletes – graduates of NSA. Olympic champions Tereza Marinova and Stoyka Krasteva, Paris 2024 silver medalist Boryana Kaleyn, world-ranked fencer Yoana Ilieva, and footballer Svetoslav Vutsov shared interesting facts about their careers and experiences balancing professional sports with education at NSA.

Tereza Marinova encouraged participants to set and pursue high goals. The Olympic triple jump champion from the Sydney 2000 Games shared that after reaching the highest peak every athlete dreams of, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Thanks to her determination to grow, today she is a successful lecturer at NSA and a coach in athletics for young athletes.

Stoyka Krasteva, also a lecturer at NSA, shared that the most difficult period in her athletic career was not winning the Olympic boxing title in Tokyo 2020, but her second comeback to the sport, which actually preceded her triumph in Japan. “Time passes, and no matter how big the difficulties are, they fade, leaving only good memories and positive emotions. The feeling of coming back as an Olympic champion and being a role model for kids who want to meet you is truly extraordinary and indescribable,” said Stoyka Krasteva, who attended the event with her young daughter in her arms.

Boryana Kaleyn shared her motivation for choosing the Sports Academy to continue her education: “For me, rhythmic gymnastics is my life. That’s why I chose the coaching profession and NSA. This is the place where I received my foundation to be as useful as possible to the sport I love and to grow in the field I've focused on. I started rhythmic gymnastics because I was an overly energetic child who needed sport to learn discipline and organization. For me, it all happened quite accidentally – my coach Mariyana Pamukova, who stood by me throughout my competitive journey, discovered me – we met on the street while I was looking for a gym to train in. And here I am now, a graduate with a master’s degree from NSA, and my coach is a lecturer at the Academy. It’s fate – to meet the right people who help shape you as a person and a professional.”

Yoana Ilieva shared that she chose to study at NSA after consulting with the current Rector, Prof. Krasimir Petkov, relying on his expertise in fencing. “When I was in 12th grade, I was really uncertain about where to study. During our conversation, he told me that now is the time to develop as an athlete. And as a student at NSA, I would be able to improve in many areas, because the education here offers truly diverse professional opportunities. When I started studying at NSA, I realized that a successful career really does start here, whether you’re an active and successful athlete, or someone who wants to become a coach, physiotherapist, nurse, sports manager, sports journalist, teacher, or find a career in many other exciting fields. I’ve seen how all my friends I met here have started working in different areas related to sport. I’m really happy I chose NSA. That’s why I believe that whatever major you choose, you won’t make a mistake. This place is amazing!” concluded Yoana Ilieva emotionally.

Goalkeeper of PFC “Levski” Svetoslav Vutsov shared how he balances his commitments as a professional football player and a student at NSA. “The study program for active athletes is tailored to their competition schedules, and there is always a workable solution. I easily balance my studies with training and matches. I believe NSA offers everyone the opportunity to learn many interesting and useful things – first about life, then about your sport, and also about all other sports,” explained the footballer.

David Dimitrov, European bronze medalist in wrestling and holder of the “Nikola Petrov” golden belt, also took part in the discussion: “Here I learned how to train properly, how to eat right, and the principles that should guide athletic preparation, because I want to be a coach and pass this knowledge on to younger athletes. That’s why I can confidently say that NSA is the best place for such development.” 

The star-studded participation of the champions turned the subsequent tour of NSA’s numerous sports halls into an exciting and unforgettable experience, where event participants had the opportunity to try out various sports: gymnastics, athletics, badminton, volleyball, handball, football, fencing, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, basketball, and more. The prospective students also explored the rich history of the National Sports Academy through valuable memorabilia displayed in the Educational and Olympic Center, accredited by the International Olympic Committee. A visit was also organized to the anatomy classroom, where Assoc. Prof. Ivan Ivanov presented interesting exhibits and equipment used in student education.

More than 350 students from across the country took part in the Open Day. Thanks to the excellent cooperation between the NSA academic leadership, municipalities, regional education departments, and school administrations, the event was widely promoted, allowing more young people to learn about education at NSA.