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Bulgaria's best alpine skier Albert Popov won his first World Cup victory on January 8th, 2025. He achieved this in the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio exactly 45 years after Bulgarian skier Petar Popangelov took first place in the same discipline in Lengris, Germany on the same date in 1980.

In the first run on January 8th, 2025, Popov ranked 8th. In the second run, however, the 27-year-old Bulgarian literally danced between the gates and surpassed in the overall standings by 44 hundredths the Swiss Loic Meillard and Samuel Kolega (Croatia), who was 46 hundredths behind the winner.

"Kaya for you!" shouted Albert Popov seconds after the finish in the second run of the slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, dedicating the excellent ride to his little daughter.

The Bulgarian skied in his usual way, on the edge of risk, descending at full speed and bouncing between the difficultly arranged gates thanks to his low center of gravity and exceptional leg strength. "Albert Popov's style reminds a bit of Marcel Hirscher and very often this approach has cost him a fatal mistake, but this time in Campiglio brought him his first victory," notes Gazzetta dello sport.

In 2023, Albert Popov was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Bansko". He is advertising for Bansko as a leading winter sports and tourist center in Southeast Europe.