The winner
Plovdiv Stadium, Plovdiv city, next to the Rowing Channel
In the early 1960s, several Plovdiv sculptors were assigned projects for sculptural figures of athletes from various sports. Viktor Todorov, then a very young artist, had the honor of making a sculpture on the theme of “The Winner”. The designated place for placing the figures is the adjacent park space to the newly built stadium, then under the name “9-ti Septemvri”.
Viktor created the figure, which was cast in bronze and installed in the park environment of the stadium. Years passed and vandals managed to damage the pedestal and legs of the statue, which remained dismantled for years. At the beginning of the new century, an initiative committee raised funds and, under the leadership of the author, restored the dignity of “The Winner”. The statue has been reinstalled near the main entrance of the stadium.
The composition is a figure of an athlete with a raised hand waving a piece of cloth. The figure advances in triumph and could be likened to the triumph of a Roman emperor. The view is directed to the heights. The outlook is solemn. The figure and the pedestal, for even greater solemnity, are surrounded by pylons with unfurled flags.
Plovdiv Stadium is the largest stadium in Bulgaria. However, due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, including the lack of Act 16, no events have been held on it for decades.
See zoomable photos here:
