SOFIA (AFP) - Bulgaria's record-breaking Olympic gymnast Jordan Jovtchev mounted the rings for the last time in Sofia on Saturday on the eve of the silver-haired athlete's 40th birthday.

At London 2012 Jovtchev became the first male gymnast to compete at six Games - and he heads into retirement with three bronze and one silver medal, and a further 22 world and European championship medals.

Jovtchev made his Olympic debut at the age of 19 in Barcelona in 1992 but it took another eight years before he won his first two Olympic bronzes on rings and floor at the age of 27 in Sydney in 2000.

Four years later he took silver on rings and a bronze on floor in Athens.

The curtain came down on his long and decorated career at a grand farewell

in front of 12,500 fans that raised money for developing children's gymnastics.