Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

40th anniversary of the first Bulgarians to climb Everest

Hristo Prodanov
Photo: Archive

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first Bulgarian expedition to climb Everest, the world's highest peak. 

On 20 April 1984, 41-year-old Hristo Prodanov climbed the most difficult western slope without an oxygen mask. He reached the summit at 6.10pm and reported his climb by radio. He remained there for 32 minutes. 

On his way down, he reported that it was getting dark and the weather was bad, so he was going to abort his descent and look for a place to spend the night. The next day, he reported that he was in a serious condition. Attempts by other members of the expedition to locate him were unsuccessful. Hristo Prodanov died.

On 8 May, Ivan Valchev and Metodi Savov set foot on Everest, followed on 9 May by Nikolai Petkov and Kiril Doskov, the other members of the expedition.

In a poll of BNT viewers, the dramatic 1984 Everest ascent was voted the "Bulgarian sporting event of the twentieth century".



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Two-time Olympic vice-champion Stanka Zlateva heads the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation

Stanka Zlateva has been elected chairperson of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation . This was decided today by the representatives of 120 Bulgarian clubs at the regular reporting and election meeting of the headquarters, which was held in Varna...

published on 3/11/25 1:56 PM
Grigor Dimitrov

Tennis: Grigor Dimitrov advances to Round of 16, will play vs. Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells

Grigor Dimitrov has advanced to the Round of 16 in the prestigious tennis tournament in Indian Wells after defeating Gael Monfils, France by 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in over three hours of play. The game was riddled with mistakes and was a war of..

published on 3/11/25 9:29 AM

Bulgaria wins silver and bronze at the European Shooting Championship 10 m in Osijek

Bulgaria won a silver and a bronze medal on the first day of the European Shooting Championship 10 m in Osijek, Croatia. In the team competition, Antoaneta Kostadinova, Miroslava Mincheva and Adiel Ilieva finished second in the 10 metre air..

published on 3/9/25 5:29 PM