Top Bulgarian swimmer Petar Stoichev won a bronze medal in the 25km event at the world swimming championship in Naples.

Stoichev completed the 25km in 5:04:50. Australia’s Santa Katarina took gold with a time that was 1:24 minutes less than that of Stoichev. In second place, 1:23 minutes slower than the champion, was Russia’s Kudinov.

The medal represents redemption for Stoichev, who did badly in the 10km event, finishing in 20th place.

“The weather was very bad and there was a strong wind,” Stoichev said. “And I felt tired from the previous swim. The whole time, I was fighting for second place with the Russian but unfortunately I couldn’t manage. But I am happy with the bronze medal too. It’s a great success for me,” Stoichev said.

Said Stoichev’s coach, Krasimir Tumanov: “We did very well. Petar was tired before he started the 10km. But he swam very well subsequently during the 25 km. It was a very difficult competition but we achieved our goal, to be in the first three places”.

Stoichev has a real chance of victory in the world swimming cup, after six previous triumphs.