BFSA Open Cup — Dolni Okol

Dolni Okol, Bulgaria 🇧🇬 | A Competition to Remember

The competition in Dolni Okol, Bulgaria, was one of those experiences that meant much more than the final result. It was a combination of strength, endurance, focus, and an atmosphere that made every moment worthwhile.

The competition day started with the Truck Pull, where we had to pull an 8-ton truck for 20 meters. Next came the Sandbag Medley, with 120 kg, 100 kg, and 120 kg sandbags, a demanding event where every second and every movement had to be executed without hesitation.

Then came the Super Yoke, carrying 360 kg for 20 meters, an event where leg strength has to meet perfect balance and control. In the Farmers Walk, I carried 130 kg in each hand for 20 meters, twice. It was one of those events where you have to ignore the weight in your hands and focus only on the next step.

For the Log Press, the challenge was simple only in appearance: 100 kg for as many repetitions as possible in 60 seconds. The final event, the Car Deadlift, brought the day to a brutal and spectacular conclusion: 300 kg for maximum repetitions in 60 seconds.

After all six events, I managed to finish on the podium in 3rd place. 🥉

But Dolni Okol was about much more than the competition itself.

The accommodation was impeccable, with every detail contributing to the comfort of the athletes. The food was among the best I have ever experienced at a competition, and the people were exceptional: welcoming, respectful, and always willing to help.

There are competitions you forget after a few weeks, and there are competitions that remain connected to a feeling, to the people, and to the place where they happened. Dolni Okol is one of the latter for me.

I left Bulgaria with a podium finish, but also with the feeling that I had discovered a community that truly knows how to welcome athletes and turn a competition into an experience.

3rd place, six events, one hard-fought day, and a memory I will carry with me for a long time. 🇧🇬💪🥉