Top sprinter Ivet Lalova was named athlete of the month for the third time.

Lalova, who won shortly after her recovery from trauma the gold in the 100m sprint of an international tournament, received 19 votes to become athlete of the month.

Chess master Vesselin Topalov got eight votes to rank second.

A golden badge representing Bulgaria’s map is the symbol that athletes of the month receive. Lalova previously got such badge in July 2004 and March 2005.

On June 23 and 24, the sprinter will take part in a European athletics championship in Milan. There, she will compete in the 100 and 200m disciplines.

Lalova will take part in several other tournaments before starting her preparations for the special world championship in Osaka in September. The athlete’s main target will be the summer Olympics in Beijing during the coming year.