Vladimir Nikolov (volleyball)

Vladimir Milchev Nikolov (Bulgarian: Владимир Милчев Николов; born 3 October 1977) is a retired Bulgarian volleyball player, a former member and captain of his country's national team.^[1] In 2026, he is elected as a member of parliament in the 52nd National Assembly from the Progressive Bulgaria party.^[2]

FullnameVladimir Milchev Nikolov

Born (1977-10-03) 3 October 1977 (age 48)
Sofia, Bulgaria

Height2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)

Weight95 kg (209 lb)

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Vladimir Nikolov
Personal information
Full name	Vladimir Milchev Nikolov
Born	(1977-10-03) 3 October 1977 (age 48) Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	95 kg (209 lb)
Spike	345 cm (136 in)
Block	325 cm (128 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Opposite spiker
National team
1997–2016 Bulgaria
Honours Men's volleyball Representing  Bulgaria World Championship 2006 Japan Team FIVB World Cup 2007 Japan Team competition European Championships 2009 Turkey Team

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Vladimir Nikolov played as a wing-spiker and has been part of the Bulgarian national team in all recent championships. At a club level, he has played for Levski Siconco (five Bulgarian titles), Erdemirspor Kdz.Ereğli-Zonguldak (Turkey), Tours VB (CEV Champions League 2005–06, one championship and two Cup titles of France), Toray Arrows, Japan and Trentino Volley (One Italian championship title). With Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo he won the bronze medal at the 2008–09 CEV Cup and also was individually awarded "Best Blocker".^[3]

With the professional club Tours Volley-Ball, he won the 2004–05 CEV Champions League and was awarded "Most Valuable Player".^[4]

In 2020, Nikolov was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation after a reanalysis of his London 2012 Olympic sample detected the banned steroid methyltestosterone, though the case became public only in 2023. He was ordered to return his Olympic diploma and pin, with no changes to his team’s results.^[5]