Mariya Oryashkova

Mariya Gerginova Oryashkova (Мария Гергинова Оряшкова; born 12 January 1988) is a Bulgarian sambist, judoka, sumo wrestler and freestyle wrestler.

She is a ten-time European and six-time world champion in the sport of sambo. She is also a 15-time Bulgarian champion in various age groups in judo.

Biography
Oryashkova was born in the town of Pirdop. When she was 10 years old, she and her mother moved to the village of Bata, after her parents separated. Her early years were spent in Panagyurishte, where her sports career began, thanks world sambo champion Ivan Netov discovering her. He has been her coach for years, with him she achieved many of her prestigious results.

In 2015, Oryashkova underwent successful surgery for torn knee ligaments.

In 2022, Oryashkova acquired a scientific degree "Doctor" in direction 7.6 - Sport in the scientific specialty "Theory and Methodology of Sports Science" at the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski".

In 2023, Oryashkova participated in season 5 of "Igri na volyata", a Nova reality competition series based on the Colombian series Desafío, where she finished in 10th place.

Sporting career
In 2019, Oryashkova entered the history of the European Games as the only athlete participating in two sports – wrestling and sambo. In 2019 and 2020, she won the "Golden Belt" respectively in the "Bright Victory" and "Best Athlete - Women" categories of the Bulgarian Sambo Federation at the III and IV Annual "Golden Belt" Awards, established by the National Association of Combat Sports in Bulgaria. In 2020, she was No. 4 in the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year ranking. She was also awarded as "Sportsperson of the Year" of Panagyurishte Municipality.

Oryashkova was elected as a member of the executive committee of the International Sambo Federation with the most votes at a congress of the International Headquarters held in Tashkent in 2021. The same year she received an award from the municipality of Panagyurishte for outstanding contribution to the promotion of sports.

In 2023, Oryashkova announced her retirement from professional sports during the recording of "Igri na volyata".