Bulgaria's Yovchev Happy, Relieved, but May Be It's Not Over Yet

Bulgaria's legendary Yordan Yovchev, 39, the first male gymnast to compete in his sixth Olympic Games, received loud and wholehearted acclaim as he ranked seventh in the rings final on Monday. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's legendary Yordan Yovchev, 39, who became the first ever male gymnast to compete in six Olympic Games, said he is happy with his performance in the rings final on Monday, but hinted that may not be his swan song.

"It is not an easy thing to enter the Olympics final when you are forty. If I drop the curtain on my career tomorrow, I will do that as a happy man. If I see I am able to join one or two more contests, I will go for that," he told reporters on Monday after the Olympics men's rings final.

"I'm glad it's over because we've been practicing really hard. Now I'm going to take care of myself a little bit, see my family.

It's difficult. Every day it's a different thing that's hurting, now it's my knee! But if the Bulgarian federation fails to gather together a team for the upcoming European championship, I am ready to join," he said unexpectedly.

"I can assure everyone that I tried to give my best. I'm happy that I was among the finalists, that was my goal. I wanted to rank higher, but I am not disappointed."

"If I had done it perfectly I would maybe have had a slight chance at a medal," he said. "But it was going to be tough."

"I came to London to play in my sixth Olympics. I played well, I should be happy with the result. Thanks to everyone who supported me," said Yovchev.

The silver-haired Bulgarian with chiseled physique staged an impressive performance in the Olympics rings final on Monday, but there were a few slight flaws, including his final landing.

The result came up on the giant electronic screen hanging high above the arena floor – a score of 15.108 and he was seventh overall, ardently applauded both by the audience and his rivals.

Arthur Zanetti of Brazil upstaged defending Olympic champion Chen Yibing to win the still rings title Monday, handing Chen only his second loss since 2006.

Yovchev has been battling serious shoulder injuries and recently admitted he has been trying different types of treatment to ease the pain.

The greying gymnastics veteran won in January a quota for the London Summer Olympics despite a shoulder painful injury. This was his sixth participation in Olympic Games for the 39-year-old, a world record in itself.

Yovchev, who is the President of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation, has repeatedly said his qualification for London is crucial for both the Federation and the "survival of gymnastics" as a sport in Bulgaria.

After the world championship in November, the gymnasts announced he would focus on the Rings exercise if he qualifies for the Olympics.

He received a score of 15.308 points and ranked eighth in the qualifier, which is the last spot allowing competitors to advance. He beat Ukraine's Igor Radivilov, who is ninth, by just 0.08 points.

Despite his four world titles, he never managed to win Olympic gold.

Yovchev's greatest moment of fame still angers Bulgarians and the story is one of the very few things that can make him look sad.

In the rings competition of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Dimosthenis Tampakos of Greece received a generous score of 9.862. Then Yovchev, with a perfect performance, superior in every way, received a 9.850.

Yovchev said he has been robbed, while Bulgarian media slammed the decision of the judges as the "theft of the century".

The phenomenal gymnast was chosen to bear the national flag during the Parade of the Athletes, part of the Games' opening ceremony on July 27 2012.

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