Olympic gold weightlifter dies at 35
Milen Dobrev of Bulgaria lifts during the men's 94kg category at the World Weightlifting Championship in Doha, 15 November 2005. Dobrev won the third place in snatch plus clean and jerk by a total 398kg. Photo: AFP
Milen Dobrev, a weightlifting gold medallist at the 2004 Olympic Games, has been found dead at his home, aged 35.
Dobrev triumphed in the 94kg category in Athens.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. He also claimed gold at the 2003 world championships and won two European titles before retiring in 2008.
"I can't stop crying," Bulgaria's former weightlifting coach Plamen Asparuhov said. "He was the best person I ever knew."
A Bulgarian interior ministry spokesperson said: "Dobrev's body was found at his home. There are no signs of violence and the cause of death is still not clear."
Bulgarian weightlifters have won 11 Olympic titles since 1972, making it one the most successful sports in the Balkan country.
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