Eddie Penev

Eddie Penev
Born (1990-08-16) 16 August 1990
Sofia, Bulgaria
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Country represented
Bulgaria Bulgaria
(2007–2011, 2023–2025)
Former countries represented
United States United States
(2013–2018, 2021)
College team
Stanford Cardinal
(2010–2013)
RetiredJanuary 20, 2026
Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing the  United States
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place2014 MississaugaTeam
Pacific Rim Championships
Gold medal – first place2016 EverettTeam
Gold medal – first place2016 EverettVault
Silver medal – second place2016 EverettFloor exercise
FIG World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Challenge Cup 3 0 0
Representing  Bulgaria
FIG World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Cup 0 0 1
World Challenge Cup 3 1 2
Total 3 1 3

Eddie Penev (born 16 August 1990) is a Bulgarian former artistic gymnast. He was a member of the United States national team where he was part of the gold medal-winning teams at the 2014 Pan American Championships and the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships. He competed in NCAA gymnastics for the Stanford Cardinal, where he was a three-time individual NCAA champion.

Early life

Penev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Youlia Coss (née Hristova) and Marian Penev, both of whom were former members of the Bulgarian national gymnastics team.[1] His family moved to the United States when Penev was three years old.[2] He is the older brother of Kevin Penev.[1]

Gymnastics career

2007–2011: Representing Bulgaria

Penev began representing Bulgaria in international competition in 2007.[3] He competed at the 2007 World Championships but did not qualify for any event finals. At the 2009 European Championships, Penev finished eighth on floor exercise.[4] At the 2010 World Championships, Penev qualified to the floor exercise final, where he finished sixth.[4] At the 2011 World Championships he finished 70th in the all-around and did not qualify for any event finals.[5]

2013–2021: Representing the United States

In 2013, Penev officially switched his nationality to represent the United States in international competitions.[3] He competed at the 2013 Winter Cup where he won the vault title. As a result, he was added to the United States national team for the first time.[6] He made his international debut for the United States at the Anadia World Cup where he finished sixth on floor exercise.[7] He competed at his first U.S. National Championships that year where he placed second on vault and was named to the United States national team.[8]

At the 2014 Winter Cup, Penev co-won the event titles on floor exercise and vault.[9] At the Anadia World Challenge Cup, he won gold medals on floor exercise and vault.[10] Penev was named to the team to compete at the 2014 Pan American Championships where he helped the USA win gold.[11] However, while vaulting Penev tore his ACL.[1]

In 2016, Penev competed at the Pacific Rim Championships where he helped the USA win gold as a team. Individually he won gold on vault and silver on floor exercise behind teammate Jake Dalton.[12] Penev competed at the 2016 Olympic Trials where he placed second on floor exercise; however he was not named to the Olympic team.[13]

Penev was selected to compete at the 2017 World Championships, his first World Championships representing the United States. During the qualification round, he finished sixth on floor exercise but did not qualify for the final due to teammates Yul Moldauer and Donnell Whittenburg scoring higher. He was, however, the second reserve for the vault final.[14] During the summer of 2018, Penev suffered his second ACL tear.[1]

In 2021, Penev qualified to compete at the postponed-2020 Olympic Trials; however, while competing at a mock meet at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Penev tore his ACL for the third time in seven years.[15]

2023–2026: Return to Bulgaria

In early 2023, the International Gymnastics Federation approved Penev's nationality change request, allowing him to once again represent Bulgaria in international competition.[16] He immediately competed at various World Cups, winning gold medals on floor exercise in Varna and Osijek, and winning silver in Szombathely.

In 2024, Penev attempted to qualify for the Olympic Games via the World Cup circuit. He won bronze on floor exercise in Cairo and placed fourth in Baku. However, he had to withdraw from the Doha World Cup due to a shoulder injury.[17]

Penev competed at various World Cups in the 2025 season. At the Varna World Challenge Cup, he won gold on floor exercise and bronze on vault.[18]

On January 20, 2026, Penev announced his retirement from competitive gymnastics.[19][20]

NCAA gymnastics career

Penev began competing for the Stanford Cardinal in 2010.[4] During his freshman season, he won the NCAA vault title.[21] At the 2012 NCAA Championships, he won the titles on both floor exercise and vault.[22]

Penev was awarded the Nissen-Emery Award in 2013, the highest honor for a senior collegiate gymnast.[23][24]

Personal life

He is openly gay.[25]

Competitive history

Competitive history of Eddie Penev representing Bulgaria Bulgaria
Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
2007
World Championships90
2009
European Championships8
2010 NCAA Championships2nd place, silver medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Championships6
2011 NCAA Championships1st place, gold medalist(s)5
World Championships70
2012 NCAA Championships51st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
2023 Varna World Challenge Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)6
Osijek World Challenge Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)5
Mersin World Challenge Cup7
Szombathely World Challenge Cup2nd place, silver medalist(s)8
2024 Cairo World Cup3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Cottbus World Cup17
Baku World Cup4
2025 Baku World Cup55
Osijek World Cup6
Varna World Challenge Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
European ChampionshipsR2
Szombathely World Challenge Cup3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
World Championships3248
Competitive history of Eddie Penev representing the United States United States
Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
2013 Winter Cup471581st place, gold medalist(s)1313
NCAA Championships3rd place, bronze medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)7
Anadia Challenge Cup6
U.S. National Championships12821211st place, gold medalist(s)2210
2014 Winter Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)1214
Anadia Challenge Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. National Championships182nd place, silver medalist(s)25303rd place, bronze medalist(s)2930
Pan American Championships1st place, gold medalist(s)
2015 U.S. National Championships144133451216
Toyota International3rd place, bronze medalist(s)53rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2016 Winter Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)151st place, gold medalist(s)
University of Calgary International Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
Pacific Rim Championships1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. National Championships133rd place, bronze medalist(s)1628192016
Olympic Trials2nd place, silver medalist(s)1171511
2017 Winter Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)13101425
Koper World Challenge Cup1st place, gold medalist(s)4
U.S. National Championships1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
World ChampionshipsR2
2019 Winter Cup7942016
U.S. National Championships214
2020 Winter Cup52nd place, silver medalist(s)
2021 Winter Cup2nd place, silver medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. National Championships1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Olympic TrialsWD

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Eddie and Kevin Penev renew careers, revel in success representing Bulgaria". International Gymnast Media. December 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ "FIG Profile: Eddie Penev". International Gymnastics Federation.
  3. 1 2 "On the rise, Penev not taking 'easy way' to Rio". USA Gymnastics. April 10, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Stanford Profile: Eddie Penev". Stanford Cardinal.
  5. ↑ "43rd ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualification results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. October 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Dalton wins 2013 Winter Cup Challenge title". USA Gymnastics. February 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Mikulak, Penev, Wynn advanced to finals at World Challenge Cup". USA Gymnastics. June 21, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Mikulak wins men's all-around at P&G Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Brooks wins all-around title at the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge". February 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Penev, Mikulak win gold medals at Anadia World Challenge Cup". USA Gymnastics. June 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ "U.S. men claim gold at 2014 Pan Am Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ "USA claims 9 gold medals as Pac Rim Championships come to a close". USA Gymnastics. April 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ "USA Gymnastics announces 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Gymnastics Team". USA Gymnastics. June 26, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Moldauer, Naddour, Whittenburg advance to men's finals at 2017 World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 3, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Felled By An Untimely Knee Injury, Gymnast Eddie Penev's Will Is Unbending". Team USA. June 24, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Official News from the Executive Committee – March 2023". International Gymnastics Federation. March 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Eddie Penev End Olympic Run Due To Injury". Neutral Deductions. April 14, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Nineteen nations in the medals at Varna World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. May 12, 2025.
  19. ↑ @eddie_penev; (January 20, 2026). ""One approaches the journey's end. But the end is a goal, not a catastrophe"" – via Instagram.
  20. ↑ Hopkins, Lauren (January 22, 2026). "Around the Gymternet: Eddie Penev Retires, Buckeye Needs Crisis Comms, More Elite Qualifiers This Weekend". thegymter.net. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Ryan Lieberman and Eddie Penev Capture Individual NCAA Titles For Stanford". Stanford Cardinal. April 17, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Penev Takes Pair of Individual Titles". Stanford Cardinal. April 21, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Penev wins 2013 Nissen-Emery Award". USA Gymnastics. April 19, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Penev Completes Distinguished Collegiate Journey". Stanford Cardinal. April 25, 2013.
  25. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd. "USA gymnast Eddie Penev out as gay after representing 2 nations". OutSports.
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