Nonka Matova

Who is Nonka Matova?

Nonka Decheva Matova, is a Bulgarian police officer and rifle shooter who won silver at the 1992 Olympics and fourteen medals at World Championships. She remains the only Bulgarian to compete at six Olympic Games.

At the 50m Rifle Three Positions World Championships, she won individual silver in 1974 and bronze in 1998. She was part of the Bulgarian team that won silver in 1974, gold in 1986 and 1990, and bronze in 1998.

At the 50m Rifle Prone World Championships, she won individual bronze in 1974 and silver in 1986. She was also part of the Bulgarian team that won silver in 1986 and 1990, and was thus involved in all Bulgarian medals in the event in its first forty years and counting.

At the 10m Air Rifle World Championships, she won individual bronze in 1989 and was part of the Bulgarian team that won gold in 1985, 1987, and 1989.

She has worked as a police officer for Bulgaria's Interior Ministry since 1979, and in 2003 was promoted to Major-General. She became a Member of the 39th National Assembly of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005 for the constituency 17-PLOVDIV OKRAG.