Bulgarian sprinter Ivet Lalova described her recovery from an injury that kept her away from the track nearly two years.

On May 30, during her first competition participation after the full recovery, Lalova finished first in the 100m discipline of an international athletics tournament in Belgrade. Her time qualified her for participation in the Beijing Olympics.

“I learned a lot while recovering, most of all how strong I am,” Lalova said. She returned to Bulgaria right after the victory in Serbia.

President of the Bulgarian athletics federation Dobromir Karamarinov said that Lalova’s return to the track after two years of recovery was unprecedented.

After her full recovery and first victory, Lalova would be invited to take part in many tournaments, Karamarinov said.