Sixteen-year-old snowboarder Malena Zamfirova has been named Europe’s best young athlete by the European Olympic Committees (EOC), Bulgaria’s BTA news agency reported.

“We are very happy that our exceptional and talented girl was recognised by all the committees across Europe. When we submitted the nomination, we never imagined that a Bulgarian athlete would receive the top prize,” said Bulgarian Olympic Committee president Vesela Lecheva.

Zamfirova won gold in the team parallel slalom and silver in both the parallel slalom and the parallel giant slalom at this year's FIS Junior World Championships in Zakopane, Poland.

At the 45th EOC seminar, held shortly before the vote, Zamfirova spoke in favour of keeping the parallel giant slalom in the Olympic programme. Her speech received applause from the delegates, as well as congratulations from EOC president Spyros Capralos and EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef.