Peycheva began
artistic gymnastics in kindergarten after being selected by a coach. She later switched to rhythmic gymnastics and began training with Marieta Dukova. In 2000, she won the Bulgarian senior all-around title. In 2001, she won bronze at the
2001 Goodwill Games behind
Irina Tchachina and
Alina Kabaeva. Peycheva won a total of six medals there: three gold (hoop, ball, and clubs), two silver (all-around and rope), and one bronze (team). She received a good reaction from the crowd, which Peycheva attributed to Bulgarian gymnastics emphasizing musicality and emotions when creating routines. Although Peycheva broke her foot in June, she continued to compete. Later in the month, she won two gold medals in ball and clubs and a silver in rope at the
World Cup Final in
Stuttgart. She did not feel comfortable receiving the new gold medals, and she gave one to Tchachina, returned one to Kabaeva, and kept one for herself. In November, she had surgery on her foot, which required a
bone graft. At the
2004 Olympics in Athens, she placed 6th in the final Peycheva stopped training for three months in 2005 and planned to retire. However, her coach, Dukova, persuaded her to return. She briefly returned to competing in 2013 and won an internal control training, although she had conflicts with the Bulgarian federation. In early 2014, she announced her second retirement. Peycheva also founded her own gymnastics club in 2009, where she coaches, and began to run the "Simona Cup" in 2010. == Olympic results ==