Eddie Penev
| Eddie Penev | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | August 16, 1990 Sofia, Bulgaria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gymnastics career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented |  Bulgaria (2007–2011 (BUL) 2013–2018, 2021 (USA) 2023–present (BUL)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former countries represented |  United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Stanford Cardinal (2010–2013) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Eddie Penev (born 16 August 1990) is a Bulgarian artistic gymnast. He is a former member of the United States national team where he was part of the gold medal-winning teams at the 2014 Pan American Championships and the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships. He competed in NCAA gymnastics for the Stanford Cardinal where he was a three-time individual NCAA champion.
Early life
[edit]Penev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria to Youlia Coss (née Hristova) and Marian Penev, both of whom were former members of the Bulgarian national gymnastics team.[1] His family moved to the United States when Penev was three years old.[2] He is the older brother of Kevin Penev.[1]
Elite gymnastics career
[edit]2007–2011: Representing Bulgaria
[edit]Penev began representing Bulgaria in international competition in 2007.[3] He competed at the 2007 World Championships but did not qualify for any event finals. At the 2009 European Championships Penev finished eighth on floor exercise.[4] At the 2010 World Championships Penev qualified to the floor exercise final where he finished sixth.[4] At the 2011 World Championships he finished 70th in the all-around and did not qualify for any event finals.[5]
2013–2021: Representing the United States
[edit]In 2013 Penev officially switched his nationality to represent the United States in international competitions.[3] He competed at the 2013 Winter Cup where he won the vault title. As a result, he was added to the United States national team for the first time.[6] He made his international debut for the United States at the Anadia World Cup where he finished sixth on floor exercise.[7] He competed at his first U.S. National Championships that year where he placed second on vault and was named to the United States national team.[8]
At the 2014 Winter Cup Penev co-won the event titles on floor exercise and vault.[9] At the Anadia World Challenge Cup he won gold medals on floor exercise and vault.[10] Penev was named to the team to compete at the 2014 Pan American Championships where he helped the USA win gold.[11] However, while vaulting Penev tore his ACL.[1]
In 2016 Penev competed at the Pacific Rim Championships where he helped the USA win gold as a team. Individually he won gold on vault and silver on floor exercise behind teammate Jake Dalton.[12] Penev competed at the 2016 Olympic Trials where he placed second on floor exercise; however he was not named to the Olympic team.[13]
Penev was selected to compete at the 2017 World Championships, his first World Championships representing the United States. During the qualification round he finished sixth on floor exercise but did not qualify to the final due to teammates Yul Moldauer and Donnell Whittenburg scoring higher. He was, however, the second reserve for the vault final.[14] During the summer of 2018 Penev suffered his second ACL tear.[1]
In 2021 Penev qualified to compete at the postponed-2020 Olympic Trials; however, while competing at a mock meet at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Penev tore his ACL for the third time in seven years.[15]
2023–present: Return to Bulgaria
[edit]In early 2023, the International Gymnastics Federation approved Penev's nationality change request, allowing him to once again represent Bulgaria in international competition.[16] He immediately competed at various World Cups, winning gold medals on floor exercise in Varna and Osijek, and winning silver in Szombathely.
In 2024 Penev attempted to qualify for the Olympic Games via the World Cup circuit. He won bronze on floor exercise in Cairo and placed fourth in Baku. However he had to withdraw from the Doha World Cup due to a shoulder injury.[17]
Penev competed at various World Cups in the 2025 season. At the Varna World Challenge Cup he won gold on floor exercise and bronze on vault.[18]
NCAA gymnastics career
[edit]Penev began competing for the Stanford Cardinal in 2010.[4] During his freshman season he won the NCAA vault title.[19] At the 2012 NCAA Championships he won the titles on both floor exercise and vault.[20]
Penev was awarded the Nissen-Emery Award in 2013, the highest honor for a senior collegiate gymnast.[21][22]
Competitive history
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Eddie and Kevin Penev renew careers, revel in success representing Bulgaria". International Gymnast Media. December 30, 2023.
- ^ "FIG Profile: Eddie Penev". International Gymnastics Federation.
- ^ a b "On the rise, Penev not taking 'easy way' to Rio". USA Gymnastics. April 10, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Stanford Profile: Eddie Penev". Stanford Cardinal.
- ^ "43rd ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualification results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. October 9, 2011.
- ^ "Dalton wins 2013 Winter Cup Challenge title". USA Gymnastics. February 10, 2013.
- ^ "Mikulak, Penev, Wynn advanced to finals at World Challenge Cup". USA Gymnastics. June 21, 2013.
- ^ "Mikulak wins men's all-around at P&G Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 18, 2013.
- ^ "Brooks wins all-around title at the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge". February 23, 2014.
- ^ "Penev, Mikulak win gold medals at Anadia World Challenge Cup". USA Gymnastics. June 1, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. men claim gold at 2014 Pan Am Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 30, 2014.
- ^ "USA claims 9 gold medals as Pac Rim Championships come to a close". USA Gymnastics. April 11, 2016.
- ^ "USA Gymnastics announces 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Gymnastics Team". USA Gymnastics. June 26, 2016.
- ^ "Moldauer, Naddour, Whittenburg advance to men's finals at 2017 World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Felled By An Untimely Knee Injury, Gymnast Eddie Penev's Will Is Unbending". Team USA. June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Official News from the Executive Committee – March 2023". International Gymnastics Federation. March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Eddie Penev End Olympic Run Due To Injury". Neutral Deductions. April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Nineteen nations in the medals at Varna World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. May 12, 2025.
- ^ "Ryan Lieberman and Eddie Penev Capture Individual NCAA Titles For Stanford". Stanford Cardinal. April 17, 2010.
- ^ "Penev Takes Pair of Individual Titles". Stanford Cardinal. April 21, 2012.
- ^ "Penev wins 2013 Nissen-Emery Award". USA Gymnastics. April 19, 2013.
- ^ "Penev Completes Distinguished Collegiate Journey". Stanford Cardinal. April 25, 2013.
