Georges Naydenov Saev was a Bulgarian translator and athlete. He became the first Bulgarian champion in Modern Pentathlon (1954) and Fencing.
Biography Saev was born on February 21, 1928 in Marseille, France, to the family of a Bulgarian diplomat Nayden Saev, then the third secretary at the Bulgarian consulate in that city, and his wife Milka.Following his family's return to Bulgaria, he competed in fencing. On May 1 1950 , in honor of International Worker's Day (Labour Day), the Republican Fencing Section of the Supreme Committee for Physical Culture and Sports (VKFS) held its inaugural competition at the „ Narodna Voyska “ (People's Army) Stadium in Sofia. The tournament was officially opened by the chairman of the VKFS, General Vladimir Stoychev. Saev won the men's event with 9 victories. He subsequently won the country's inaugural national championship in foil in 1952. and modern pentathlon. At the first Republican championship in modern pentathlon, held from 1 to 5 September 1954 in Sofia, Saev became Bulgaria's first national champion. He became a Republican champion for the second time in 1957.
In the same year, 1954 he was appointed as a coach in fencing and modern pentathlon at CSKA (known then as "the Central Sports Club of the Army") and initiated the organized fencing activity at the club. He was a coach in foil, epee and sаbre – men, foil– women and modern pentathlon. During this time, the admission of fencers to the CSKA sports club began. in which the athletes and champions were developed including Asen Dyakovski, Boris Stavrev (Boreto), Zheko Spiridonov, Nikolay Genov, Hristo Genchev (Plyaki), D. Filipov and others. Saev remained at CSKA until he was fired in 1959, the section was closed, fencing activity was almost liquidated and after two years he dropped out of organized activities .His sports trophies, medals, fencing and modern pentathlon attire are on display at the Museum of Sport in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Saev also worked as a translator. He translated Italian and French into Bulgarian and Bulgarian into Italian and French.
Saev died in Chicago on 15 April 2020 at the age of 92.
Personal life
Saev was married to Anna, with whom he had two sons. Following their retirement the couple spent their time traveling throughout Europe and the United States, and frequently resided at their family villa in Lukovo, Bulgaria. Along with historical photos of his sport career, records of their family life have been preserved in the Saev family archive.
Gallery Saev competing at the inaugural Bulgarian modern pentathlon championship in Sofia (1954):
Notes