Marinova started gymnastics at age 8 and became a national champion in 7th grade.
She was named as an alternate for the 1979 World Championships and ended up competing, including qualifying for the all-around final, after another gymnast was injured.
She also competed in the all-around finals at the 1980 Olympics, where she finished 19th, and at the 1981 World Championships.
[1] After retiring, she opened a gym, All Olympia Gymnastics Center, in Calabasas, California.
This biographical article related to Bulgarian artistic gymnastics is a stub.