Coaching & Professional Journey
This is the detailed record behind KCGA: formative coaching in Sofia, eight years inside a London gymnastics club, school and private practice, advanced academic study and the creation of a consistent academy framework in Kensington and Chelsea.
Five roles that shaped the academy
Open each chapter for the role, setting and contribution. The detailed photographic and video record follows in chronological order below.
2022–presentDirector / Gymnastics CoachKensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy LtdLondon, UK
Stefan founded KCGA in June 2022 after years of coaching through clubs, schools and private practice in London. He leads programme development, progression planning, quality review and coach mentoring while remaining actively involved in coaching and private lessons. The aim is a stable academy in which thoughtful coaching remains consistent as the team, locations and community grow.
The role also extends beyond lessons through educational resources, scientific publications and Kensington Gymnastics Magazine, which translates research and coaching knowledge into useful guidance for London families.
2013–2022Gymnastics Coach / Personal TrainerSTK SPORTLondon, UK
Alongside club and school coaching, Stefan developed STK SPORT as an independent practice centred on private gymnastics coaching for children, with additional work in adult gymnastics and physical fitness according to individual needs.
This chapter strengthened his ability to adapt progressions, communicate clearly with families and deliver a professional service across homes, schools and community settings. The experience later informed the service standards and personal-coaching pathways at KCGA.
2015–2018Gymnastics Coach / Volunteer PE AssistantSt Edmund’s Primary SchoolLondon, UK
Stefan coached weekly gymnastics sessions and volunteered in wider PE delivery for three and a half years. The school teams achieved third place at the Borough Gymnastics Festival, described at the time as one of the school’s strongest finishes.
Children from the school also participated as a control group within his doctoral research, connecting school-based coaching with the study of children’s development, nutrition and physical fitness.
2013–2020Gymnastics CoachElite Gymnastics Academy CICLondon, UK
Across eight years, Stefan coached pre-school, general and artistic gymnastics, with a substantial focus on boys’ squad development. He supported gymnasts through sustained training, club performances and competitions within the British and London gymnastics systems.
This long London club chapter refined his approach to class structure, technical foundations, patient progression and confidence-building across different ages and abilities.
2008–2012Gymnastics CoachLevski–Spartak 08 Gymnastics ClubSofia, Bulgaria
During his university years, Stefan coached men’s artistic gymnastics and boys’ squads while supporting general groups when required. The traditional competitive environment established early standards in technical quality, discipline, safe progression and consistency across training seasons.
He prepared gymnasts for club, regional, national and international events, organised family gymnastics shows and received special recognition for his contribution to the club and local community in 2012.
Learning to coach inside a competitive gymnastics tradition
Stefan spent five formative years coaching part-time at Levski–Spartak 08 Gymnastics Club while completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the National Sports Academy in Sofia. His main responsibility was boys’ artistic gymnastics, from general foundations to squad preparation and competition support.
The club environment placed a strong emphasis on discipline, apparatus-specific technique and patient preparation. Stefan was mentored by university specialists in gymnastics and sport science and by experienced club coaches including Mr Pandezov and Mrs Stanka Pavlova.
- Coached boys’ squads across five training and competition seasons
- Supported gymnasts at club, regional, national and international events
- Organised family gymnastics shows without competition pressure
- Connected coaching practice with early research into development and nutrition
Defining coaching moments from Bulgaria
Each video loads only when selected.
Watch seven more Bulgaria coaching and competition videos
“I have done my best to make you love this sport the way that I do. All of this has been done for you, for your children, for us—to remember and be proud of what we have achieved.”Coach Stefan Kolimechkov · farewell to Levski Gymnastics Club · 2012
At his final club event in December 2012, Mr Prodanov—club president and former president of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation—and Mrs Stanka Pavlova—honorary national coach and the club’s Sports Director—presented Stefan with a special award for outstanding contribution to the club and local community. It closed the first major chapter of his career before his move to London in January 2013.
A decade across clubs, schools and private coaching
London broadened the work: different ages and abilities, club squads and school groups, public demonstrations, individual lessons and the professional responsibilities of an independent practice.
Elite Gymnastics Academy CIC
Stefan coached across pre-school, general and artistic gymnastics for eight years, with a major focus on boys’ squads. He supported gymnasts through repeated training seasons, public performances and London competitions, refining a patient approach built around preparation, technical foundations and confidence.
London vault champion at the NDP Artistic Gymnastics Club Grades.
London floor champion at the NDP Artistic Gymnastics Club Grades.
London floor and vault champion at the London Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
St Edmund’s Primary School
Weekly gymnastics coaching sat alongside voluntary support for wider PE delivery. The role strengthened Stefan’s understanding of how gymnastics fits within primary education, how school teams prepare for community festivals and how children can gain confidence through representing their school.
The gymnastics teams achieved third place at the 2016 Borough Gymnastics Festival. Children from the school also contributed as a control group within Stefan’s PhD research, linking practice with the study of nutrition and health-related physical fitness.
STK SPORT and independent coaching
Private coaching required Stefan to assess each gymnast individually, adapt progressions to different environments and communicate directly with families. It also included adult gymnastics, physical fitness and work with schools and local programmes.
By the end of 2020, Stefan had stepped away from his part-time club role to concentrate on research and develop STK SPORT further. The combination of one-to-one coaching, service delivery and academic work directly informed KCGA’s private coaching and programme-quality systems.
Selected London coaching and performance record
Six original videos preserve the club, school-performance and private-coaching evidence from this chapter.
Education developed alongside the coaching
The academic pathway was not separate from gymnastics. Each stage examined movement, teaching, nutrition, fitness or research questions arising from real practice.
Sport and Physical Education
National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski”, Sofia
Stefan graduated in two majors—Sport and Physical Education—while developing a professional foundation in artistic gymnastics coaching. His undergraduate work included the analysis and teaching of gymnastics movement; a major coursework presentation received the highest mark and praise from Professor Nikola Hadjiev for its clarity and delivery.
Physical Education
National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski”, Sofia
The Master’s research examined the nutritional habits of young gymnasts under the guidance of Dr Lubomir Petrov. Stefan completed the dissertation with the highest grade and graduated with a reported GPA of 5.94 out of 6 across 62 credits.
Physical Education in the Educational System
National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski”, Sofia
Completed part-time while living and coaching in London. The doctoral thesis was titled Assessment of the Nutrition and Physical Fitness in Pre-school and Primary School Children Practising Artistic Gymnastics. Stefan defended it successfully on 30 May 2018 through the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry.
Human Sciences
University of Greenwich, London
Ongoing MPhil/PhD research examines microcurrent with and without resistance exercise and its effects on muscle strength, body composition and functional capacity. The work has produced peer-reviewed publications and presentations at major international sport-science meetings.
What the journey contributes today
KCGA was founded in June 2022 as the practical outcome of these connected experiences: competitive coaching standards from Bulgaria, a decade of London club and school work, individualised private coaching and an academic habit of examining evidence carefully.
Stefan’s responsibility is now to ensure those lessons become a shared academy system rather than remaining dependent on one coach.
- Clear programme design and progression planning
- Coach mentoring and consistent quality standards
- Children’s, adult and private-coaching pathways
- Scientific publications and practical family resources
- Kensington Gymnastics Magazine and wider educational work
Ready to find the right gymnastics programme?
Tell us whether you are enquiring for your child or yourself, your experience and preferred location. The KCGA team will guide you towards the most suitable option.