| Mariya Petkova | |
| Fullname: | Mariya Dimitrova Petkova |
| Native Name: | Мария Димитрова Леткова |
| Birth Name: | Mariya Dimitrova Vergova |
| Birth Place: | Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| Height: | 1.85m (06.07feet) |
| Weight: | 105kg (231lb) |
| Headercolor: | lightsteelblue |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Event: | Discus throw |
| Pb: | 71.80 m (1980) |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Mariya Dimitrova Petkova (Bulgarian: Мария Димитрова Петкова, née Vergova (Bulgarian: Вергова); born 3 November 1950 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian discus thrower. In 1976 she won an Olympic silver medal behind Evelin Schlaak, a standing that would repeat itself in 1980. This year she also achieved a personal best throw of 71.80 metres. In 1982 she won a European Championship silver medal behind countrywoman Tsvetanka Khristova, who is twelve years younger. One year later Petkova won the bronze medal at the first World Championships in Athletics.
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | World Student Games | Rome, Italy | 1st | 65.28 m | |
| 1976 | Summer Olympics | Montreal, Canada | 2nd | 67.30 m | |
| 1977 | World Student Games | Sofia, Bulgaria | 1st | 66.34 m | |
| 1980 | Summer Olympics | Moscow, USSR | 2nd | 67.90 m | |
| 1982 | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 67.94 m | ||
| 1983 | Helsinki, Finland | 3rd | 66.44 m | ||
In 1974 Mariya Petkova bench pressed 210 kg without the use of supportive gear of any kind. This is more than any other woman in history.