She participated in the 48 kg competition in 2016 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.

[3] As an adolescent, Yankova had ambitions for short-distance running in track and field, but later switched to freestyle wrestling.

Her father, Atanas Yankov, is a former Greco-Roman wrestler.

[1] In 2009, Yankova, though she failed to secure a spot at the European Championships, was noticed by coach Petar Kasabov, who convinced her to start training under him with the Levski sports club.

[1] In 2015, Yankova damaged her spine, but recovered and returned to wrestling.