The setter is the son of the legendary Vladimir Nikolov, captain and icon of the Bulgarian National Team that earned bronze medals in the 2006 World Championship, the 2007 World Cup and the 2009 European Championship. But the legacy also continues with his older brother Aleksandar, one of the most promising players in the world at just 20 years old.
"I’m very blessed that my father and my brother are two volleyball legends. Maybe not yet my brother, but he’s definitely on the right path. I’m very happy to have people that can help me whenever I need them. The advice I remember the most from them is to give my all on the court so that when the game is finished, I don’t have any regrets", he said about this solid family heritage.
Bulgaria's first step in the World Championship came after an impeccable performance by Simeon, leading them to the victory in a tie-breaker with 16 points -5 aces, 4 blocks, and 7 attacks-. However, the team's second presentation ended with a defeat against France, the European runner-up. This did not discourage the young Nikolov, who trusts in his team's abilities to bounce back in the upcoming matches: "We just need to clear some difficulties. We’re making a lot of mistakes, but apart from that, we’re playing well. Mentally, we are kind of stuck in a spot and we need to start evolving, but I’m sure we’re gonna break it out with the team."