The government offered the president to decree Svilen and Rumiana Neikovi eligible for the order “Stara planina” first class because of their exceptional contribution to the physical education and sport.

The Bulgarian Olympic champion Rumiana Neikova began her rowing career in 1987 in CSKA. In 1990, she became a vice-champion in doubles, and in 1991 – the world title for her age. She won the World cup in 1993 for the women up to 23 years.

On the World cup in Canada in 1999, she won a bronze medal. Her husband and trainer Svilen Neikov graduated the sports academy “Vasil Levski” in 1990 with excellence and has been a honorary lector there up to 1995. After that, he has been a regular teacher in the discipline “Theory of the sports training”.