Silver Medals, Golden Mentality

The Bulgarian national volleyball team claimed silver medals at the World Championship, held from September 12 to 28, 2025, in the Philippines. More than a week has passed, yet emotions have not faded. Even though the final ended in a 3-1 victory for Italy, the players gave Bulgaria something that was far more valuable than gold – they managed to unite a nation.

 

These boys made me feel proud to be Bulgarian. In a time of constant political disputes and uncertainty, they gave the entire country something to believe in - a brief and beautiful miracle. 

 

It all began in Pasay City with a commanding 3-0 victory over Germany, highlighted by the longest set in World Championship history, a dramatic 40-38. 

 

Riding that momentum, the team secured two more group-stage victories - against Slovenia (3-2) and Chile (3-0), topping their group and advancing to the round of 16. There, the Bulgarian Lions continued their dominance with a decisive 3-0 win over Portugal.

 

The most inspiring moment for Bulgaria came during the quarterfinals, where they faced the reigning champions of North America - the U.S. The Bulgarian Lions fell behind 0-2, and it looked like all hope was lost. In that moment, the Bulgarians displayed remarkable resilience and fighting spirit. Led by an outstanding performance from the team star Aleksandar Nikolov, Bulgaria stormed back to claim the next two sets and sealed the victory with a 15-13 win in the fifth set.

 

For the first time since 2006, Bulgaria had reached the semifinals of the World Championship. The entire nation began to dream about the gold medals. With a strong team effort, Bulgaria overcame the Czech Republic 3-1, earning a spot in the final.

 

This was only the second time in Bulgaria’s volleyball history that the national team had reached the final stage of the tournament. Awaiting them was the ultimate challenge - the reigning world champions and top-ranked team in the world - Italy.

 

The Bulgarian team lost the final 3-1, but they once again demonstrated remarkable determination, proving they could stand toe-to-toe with the world’s best teams. Their performance marked not just a silver medal but the beginning of a new era for Bulgarian volleyball, led by an extremely talented young core.

 

Thousands of Bulgarians gathered on the streets of various cities in the country to show their support for the team in the final. When the vice-champions returned from the Philippines, crowds once again gathered to welcome the boys at the airport and celebrate with them during the championship parade

  

Many compared this moment to the summer of 1994, when Bulgaria’s football team reached the World Cup semifinals, again losing to Italy but winning the hearts of entire generations.

 

This is what true patriotism looks like. Real patriotism means uniting around the same cause and sharing the emotion of being part of something larger than yourself. It is standing together in wins and losses, while supporting those who carry the country’s name with dignity and passion.  

 

I am certain that, sooner or later, gold medals will come. As national team captain Aleks Grozdanov vowed to bring Olympic gold home in 2028, he joked that the municipality will need more than just the main square in Sofia to fit everyone coming to celebrate.

 

Whether or not that promise becomes reality, one thing is clear - this team has immense potential, and it is up to us, the fans, to stand behind them and support them from that same square, no matter the result.

 

 

Edited by: Spasiela Gizdova and David Mitov