Coaching & Professional Journey
Coaching & Professional Background
This page documents the coaching pathway behind Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy — from early coaching years in Bulgaria, through a decade of work across clubs, schools, and private training in London, to the founding of KCGA in 2022.
It is presented for transparency and verification, and to show the depth of practical experience that supports KCGA’s structured, science-informed programme today.
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Professional Experience (Timeline)
Over more than two decades, I have coached hundreds of children across Bulgaria and the United Kingdom — in clubs, schools, and private training — supporting many gymnasts through performances and competitions, and building the foundations that later became KCGA.
DIRECTOR / GYMNASTICS COACH (2022 - PRESENT)
Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy Ltd, London, United Kingdom
In June 2022, I founded Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy (KCGA) after years of coaching across clubs, schools, and private training in London, combined with a strong academic foundation through research. KCGA was created for families who want a boutique standard: structured progressions, high coaching attention, and a positive environment where children build skill, confidence, and physical literacy. In this role, I lead programme development and quality assurance, ensuring that every class reflects the same standards and coaching philosophy across locations. KCGA represents the outcome of everything I learned through coaching in Bulgaria and the UK — refined into one consistent system for London families. While I remain actively involved in coaching, my wider responsibility is to ensure the academy delivers a stable, high-quality experience regardless of coach or venue.
GYMNASTICS COACH / PERSONAL TRAINER (2013 - 2022)
STK SPORT, London, United Kingdom
Alongside club and school coaching, I developed STK SPORT as my independent coaching practice in London. The core of this work was gymnastics coaching for children, supported by additional work with adults and physical fitness, depending on individual needs. This chapter deepened my ability to coach the person in front of me — adapting progressions, building confidence, and teaching movement with care and precision. It also taught me how to deliver a high standard independently, with clear communication and a professional service mindset that parents value. Over time, STK SPORT became a practical testing ground for the boutique principles that later shaped KCGA: structure, individual attention, and long-term development. It also strengthened my experience working across different settings in London, including private clients and schools.
GYMNASTICS COACH (2015 - 2018)
St Edmund’s Primary School, London, United Kingdom
From January 2015 to July 2018, I coached gymnastics once per week at St Edmund’s Primary School in London, bringing structured gymnastics teaching into a school environment. During the same 3.5-year period, I also volunteered as a Physical Education Assistant, supporting wider PE delivery and contributing to the school’s sporting culture. Some of the children from the school participated as a control group within my PhD research, creating a rare link between real-world coaching and academic investigation. I was featured twice in the school newsletter, and the Year 1 and Year 2 gymnastics teams achieved 3rd place at the Borough Gymnastics Festival, which was described as their best finish to date. This chapter reflects not only coaching experience, but also the ability to work within schools, support children holistically, and build confidence in a community setting.
GYMNASTICS COACH (2013 - 2020)
Elite Gymnastics Academy CIC, London, United Kingdom
After moving to London in 2013, I coached at Elite Gymnastics Academy CIC for eight years, working across a broad range of programmes: pre-school, general gymnastics, and artistic pathways. While I supported all areas, a major focus of my work was developing boys’ squads, where structure, discipline, and long-term progressions are particularly important. Over those years, I coached many children consistently through seasons of training and development, supporting participation in performances and competitions within the British Gymnastics and London Gymnastics club system. Many gymnasts I coached achieved certificates, medals, and strong results at club and regional levels — outcomes built on patient progress, technical foundations, and confidence-building. This period shaped a large part of my “London coaching chapter” and strongly informed the standards, class structure, and quality expectations I later implemented at KCGA.
GYMNASTICS COACH (2008 – 2012)
Levski–Spartak 08 Gymnastics Club, Sofia, Bulgaria
Between 2008 and 2012, during my university years in Bulgaria, I coached at Levski–Spartak 08 Gymnastics Club in Sofia. My primary focus was men’s artistic gymnastics (MAG) and boys’ squad development, while also supporting general groups when needed — an experience that built strong coaching foundations early in my career. Coaching in Bulgaria gave me a disciplined training environment and a deep respect for technical quality, safe progressions, and consistency across seasons. During those years, I helped gymnasts prepare for competitions, and many achieved certificates and medals at club, regional, and national levels. This chapter became the first major pillar of my coaching journey — later expanded through a decade of work in London clubs, schools, and private coaching. The standards I learned and lived in Bulgaria remain part of how I think about gymnastics today.
Coaching in Bulgaria (2008–2012)
During my university education in Bulgaria, I spent five years coaching part-time at Levski–Spartak 08 Gymnastics Club in Sofia (2008–2012). This was a formative chapter — coaching within a traditional competitive environment, working closely with experienced mentors, and learning the standards and discipline that shape strong gymnasts.
I also organised gymnastics shows that allowed families to experience gymnastics without competition pressure, while introducing accessible education on training, development, and wellbeing.
Highlights (Bulgaria)
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Coached boys’ squads across multiple seasons and competition cycles
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Supported gymnasts at national and international events (club level)
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Organised end-of-year gymnastics shows for parents and families
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Received recognition for contribution to the club and local community (2012)
In the videos below you can watch some of my best coaching moments, starting with David on Parallel bars at the 2012 Bulgarian Gymnastics Championships. David won the silver medal in this National competition with score of 19.600, just 0.1 after the gold medallist, and became the Parallel Bars Vice-Champion of Bulgaria at the age of 7. This was a huge success as he competed with more than 100 other gymnasts from the best gymnastics clubs in Bulgaria at the age category between 7 and 10 years. This remains a proud example of what structured progression, consistency, and confidence-building can produce in young athletes.
I spent 5 years working part-time as a gymnastics coach at the Levski Gymnastics Club between 2008 and 2012. Levski Gymnastics Club is one of the biggest clubs for the sport of gymnastics in Bulgaria. Levski GC is also a member and part of Levski Sports Club, which is the oldest sports organisation in the country. The club has had many great gymnasts, one of whom was the Olympic champion on Pommel horse in Seul 1988, Lyubomir Geraskov. The gallery below outlines some of the best moments in my coaching career in Bulgaria.
And here it is… my last event at Levski GC, the club I grew up, and the club I coached for 5 years. This event was very special for me, and for many of the gymnasts and parents too (watch the video below). For a second year, I organised the Gymnastics Show in which parents have the chance to see their children performing gymnastics for fun, without the stress from competitions, as well as a chance to learn about the findings of my study (as part of my Master’s degree) on physical development and nutrition of young gymnasts. It was also the last sports event for myself, before moving to the UK.
‘Dear parents, gymnasts and colleagues, as you may already know, I am moving to London, therefore I would like to say thank you so much for being not just clients, but friends, good friends and I feel many of you as a family. I know I will miss you very much, that’s why 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.’
Yours in Sport , coach Stefan Kolimechkov
In December 2012, in my last year at the Levski GC, Mr Prodanov (president of Levski GC & ex-president of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation) and Mrs Stanka Pavlova (honorary national coach & Sports Director of Levski GC) gave me a special award for outstanding contribution to the club and the local community. I had a fantastic time in the club, coaching gymnastics while studying for my Bachelor’s and Masters degrees at the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria. During these 5 years (2008-2012) I was mentored by university experts in gymnastics and sports science, as well as one of the best gymnastics coaches in the country, Mr Pandezov and Mrs Pavlova.
Coaching in the United Kingdom (2013–2022)
I moved to London in January 2013 and began coaching at Elite Gymnastics Academy CIC (2013–2020), supporting pre-school, general, and artistic gymnastics programmes. From 2015 to 2018, I also coached weekly at St Edmund’s Primary School in North London, and contributed to physical education support as a volunteer assistant during that period.
Alongside this, I developed STK SPORT (2013–2022), providing private coaching and fitness training for individuals, as well as supporting schools and local programmes across London.
Highlights (United Kingdom)
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Coached children across early years, general gymnastics and artistic pathways
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Supported school gymnastics participation and festival preparation
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Developed private coaching work across gymnastics and physical fitness
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Contributed to gymnasts achieving strong results in regional competitions
Selected videos and images from this chapter are included below.
School Gymnastics (St Edmund’s Primary School, 2015–2018)
During my time at St Edmund’s Primary School, children from the gymnastics group participated in local events, including achieving a third-place finish at the Borough Gymnastics Festival, one of the school’s strongest results to date. Alongside coaching, I also supported PE delivery as a volunteer assistant across that period, contributing to a positive sporting culture within the school.
Club Gymnastics (Elite Gymnastics Academy, 2013–2020)
At Elite Gymnastics Academy CIC, gymnasts I coached achieved notable results in London competitions across specific apparatus and events. The top achievements of my coaching were made by gymnasts: Blake (Vault Champion in London at the NDP Artistic Gymnastics Club Grades in 2014) and Fergus (Floor Champion in London at the NDP Artistic Gymnastics Club Grades in 2014, and Floor and Vault Champion in London at the 2017 London Artistic Gymnastics Championships). This period also included public performances and school demonstrations designed to promote gymnastics participation and confidence in young athletes.
The gallery below features some of the best moments in this chapter of my coaching.
At the end of 2020, I stepped away from a part-time club role in order to concentrate on research in the UK and to develop STK SPORT further, expanding private coaching and consultancy work that later informed the structure and service quality standards of Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy.
From Experience to KCGA (2022–Present)
In June 2022, after years of coaching across clubs, schools, and private practice — and alongside ongoing academic work — I incorporated Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy in London.
KCGA was built to deliver a boutique standard: small groups, individual attention, structured progressions, and an environment where children develop strength and skill with confidence. This page documents the pathway that led to that foundation.
⭐ Credentials & Recognition
My work has been recognised internationally across both coaching and academic fields:
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Author of peer-reviewed research outputs in exercise science and physical education
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Presented research at international conferences across Europe and North America
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Professional memberships and affiliations (ACSM, ECSS, CIMSPA, FIEPS)
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Formal registrations and compliance (UK)
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Recognition for contributions to coaching and community work