Dan Kolov
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Dan Kolov (1892 - 1940), born Doncho Kolеv (Bulgarian: Дончо Колев), was a famous Bulgarian wrestler.
Born in the village of Sennik to modest peasant family, Kolov went to the USA at the age of 16 to work as a railroad construction worker. He quickly impressed with his extraordinary physical power and was therefore engaged as a wrestler in the Victoria Circus.
His glory days were between 1918 and 1927 when he won all 1,500 matches that he fought, becoming the first wrestler to capture twice the heavyweight 'Diamond Belt'.
On his return to Bulgaria as a Heavyweight World Champion he was celebrated by thousands as a national hero.
Upon retiring Dan Kolov consecrated himself to charity. The first Bulgarian passenger airplanes were bought with Kolov's financing.
Kolov died in 1940 of tuberculosis.
Nowadays, there is a major wrestling tournament in Bulgaria named after him.
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