Mikhail Zhelev

Mikhail Zhelev ( born July 15, 1943) is a former Bulgarian athlete. The 1.75 m wide and its competition time 63 kg heavy Zhelev in 1969, European champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Zhelev went international for the first time at the European Championships in Budapest in 1966 at, but there different from in the flow. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, he reached the final. Behind the Russians Alexander Morozov in 5th place Zhelev was the second best Europeans sixth in 8:58,41 minutes. A year later at the European Championships 1969 in Athens, he succeeded the fastest run of his career. In 8:25,0 minutes he won the title with 0.6 seconds ahead of Morozov. 1971 in Helsinki, he could not defend his title, but resigned in the run- off. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he again reached the final, but there was repulsed twelfth and last.

Zhelev in 1966, 1968-1970 and 1974 Bulgarian champion in steeplechase. In 1968 he won the title in the 10,000 meters in 1969 and 1970, he was the 5000-meter champion. From 1967 to 1971 he won five consecutive games in the Balkans Steeplechase, 1967 he won here in the 10,000 - meter race, in 1969 he managed a victory over 5000 meters.