Who is Kevin Penev? The Penfield native is an Olympic gymnast for Bulgaria and

Like Lanae-Tava Thomas , Kevin Penev will be representing another country at the 2024 Olympics this weekend.

The 24-year-old Penfield native has been practicing gymnastics his whole life and will represent Bulgaria at the Paris Olympics.

"This has been a dream of mine since I was 4 or 5," Penev told WHAM 13 in late June.

That dream was there early because gymnastics is in Penev’s blood. His parents, Yulia Coss and Marian Penev, represented Bulgaria at international gymnastics competitions. And his older brother, Eddie, has represented both Bulgaria and the U.S. in gymnastics.

But Kevin Penev is the only member of his family to make it to the Olympics.

“Although I live and train here in America at my parents’ club facility, my roots and my heart have always been connected with Bulgaria,” Penev told News 10.

Here’s everything to know about Kevin Penev:

When does Kevin Penev begin competing at the Olympics?

Penev is scheduled to compete in Mixed Group 3 during artistic gymnastics qualifications at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 27.  Because he is the lone Bulgarian male athlete competing in that sport at the Olympics, he’s part of a team of athletes from a hodgepodge of countries (Bulgaria, Ireland, Korea and Taiwan).

How good is Kevin Penev?

Penev qualified for the Olympics when he finished 8th in the vault at the 2023 World Championships.

“I’m going to go out there and give it my best performance and to inspire others. But if I were to get a medal. I can’t even explain what that would mean to me,” Penev said to News 10.

Penev also tied for second place in the floor exercise at the 2019 Big Ten Championships for the Michigan Wolverines.

Where did Kevin Penev go to school?

Penev graduated from Penfield High School in 2018. He’s also the only member of his family who was born in the United States.

Penev’s parents own the Rochester Gymnastics Academy in East Rochester.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who is Kevin Penev? The Penfield native is an Olympic gymnast for Bulgaria and