Zaprian PetrovZaprian Petrov, national champion wrestler for Bulgaria who later coached the sport in Mexico, passed away July 23.
Born in Stransko, Bulgaria in 1958, Petrov was a four-time Bulgarian national wrestling champion before earning a postgraduate degree in physical culture in Sophia.
In 1992, Petrov followed his wife to Mexico -- who had been hired as a gymnastics coach in Mexico City -- where he became head wrestling coach at the National Preparatory School Campus 3 of National University. It was there that Petrov became known as "Tatko" -- Bulgarian for "dad" -- because of his "charismatic, affable way of always being interested in the integral development of every athlete he met, not only his own team wrestlers," to quote United World Wrestling's tribute to Petrov.
In his first stint as coach, Petrov guided his team to national team titles, as well as coached dozens of National Team members as well as Pan American and Central American champions. Petrov also was a tireless champion for promoting women's wrestling in Mexico.
Petrov suffered a setback in 2010 when he was struck by a car, causing numerous fractures, and putting him a coma for nearly two weeks. However, he overcame those challenges to return to coaching four years later.
In 2012, National University authorities named the wrestling hall where he coached for nearly twenty years in his honor, for his contributions to the wrestling program at the school, as well as the sport throughout Mexico.
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