• +44 7 999 578 700
  • dr.stefan.kolimechkov@gmail.com
  • London, United Kingdom

STK SPORT

STK SPORT - DR STEFAN KOLIMECHKOV

Dr Stefan Kolimechkov

Age: 36
Nationality: naturalised British citizen
Education: PhD in Physical Education
Born in: Bulgaria
Lives in: London, United Kingdom
Position: Director of Chelsea Gymnastics Academy Ltd
Occupation: Personal Trainer / Gymnastics Coach
Head Office: Niddry Lodge, 51 Holland Street, Kensington, London W8 7JB, UK

STK SPORT is my personal brand and website. It was also the name of my gymnastics coaching business as a sole trader in the United Kingdom between 2013 and 2022. In 2022, I founded CHELSEA GYMNASTICS ACADEMY, which is now the successor of STK SPORT.

MISSION STATEMENT: To help people recognise and experience the joy of doing gymnastics in order to sustain a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle.

LONG-TERM GOAL: To make CHELSEA GYMNASTICS ACADEMY and my personal brand STK SPORT recognisable symbols of excellence within the health and fitness industry, based on positive individualised practical experience for every client, backed up by solid scientific knowledge, which is constantly acquired by continuing professional development.

Who is Stefan Kolimechkov?

I am a qualified gymnastics coach with more than 20 years of experience in practising gymnastics, and 15 years of coaching gymnastics. I have been teaching gymnastics here in London since 2013 when I moved to the UK. My real passions in life are gymnastics, scientific research, and my genuine curiosity towards slowing the agеing process. I obtained my PhD degree in Pedagogy of Physical Education from the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry at the National Sports Academy, Bulgaria in 2018. My Doctoral thesis was on the benefits of doing gymnastics in primary school age. Overall, my research focuses on assessing health-related physical fitness, as well as areas within the field of sports medicine and exercise sciences. I have spoken at many international academic conferences in sports medicine and exercise science around the world, including the United Kingdom United Kingdom, France France, Luxembourg Luxembourg, Spain Spain, Czech Republic Czech Republic, Finland Finland, Bulgaria Bulgaria, Romania Romania, and Turkey Turkey. I have been the Vice President of FIEPS Europe (International Federation of Physical Education and Sport) for Western Europe since 2021.

In line with my short and long-term goals, interests, and passion for research, I took the decision to pursue a second PhD. I am currently an MPhil/PhD postgraduate research student at the University of Greenwich, London. My project explorers the effectiveness of microcurrent electrical stimulation and resistance exercise on counteracting the loss of muscle mass and strength which accompanies aging.

I provide a range of services in London, mainly specialising in teaching gymnastics, and I am involved in different scientific projects as an independent scientist. I am a 3-time London Gymnastics Champion on Rings (winning the gold medal in 2015, 2016, and 2017), 4-time Sutton Gymnastics Academy Rings Champion (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017), and I competed in a few international championships, many national, regional and adult competitions. In the following video, you can see my latest performance on Rings at the 2023 Milton Keynes Adult Gymnastics Competition.

Short Bio

I was born in 1987 in the south-west part of Bulgaria in a town called Gotse Delchev, which is about 200 km from the capital Sofia. Just a few years later, my father was promoted to a Lieutenant Colonel (and later a Colonel) in the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, and therefore, my family moved to the city of Sofia where I started my primary education. I was lucky enough to have grandparents who devoted their lives to teaching in the Bulgarian school system, thus, I was taught how to read and write prior to starting school. I completed my primary education at Chernorizets Hrabar Primary School No.163 in 2001, followed by my secondary education at the Professional School of Textile and Modern Design in 2006.

In 2011 I obtained my Bachelor's degree in two majors: Sports and Physical Education from the National Sports Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, and in 2012 I completed my Master's degree in Physical Education from the same University.

In 2013 I moved to London, United Kingdom, which was one of my biggest dreams, and I started working as a gymnastics coach. My teaching qualification is considered comparable to British Master's degree standard by the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC). Moreover, I hold a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for the purpose of teaching in schools in England, and this award was made by the National College for Teaching & Leadership in 2014, which is now replaced by Department for Education and Teaching Regulation Agency.

In 2015, I started a PhD degree in Physical Education at the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria while living and working in London. In fact, most of the participants in my PhD research were primary school children from the United Kingdom. My PhD thesis focused on the nutrition and the health-related physical fitness of children engaged in artistic gymnastics, and built upon the studies which I had already carried out. In addition, I was also volunteering as a Physical Education assistant at St Edmund's Primary School in London from 2015 to 2018. As a PhD student, I had the opportunity to presented some of our studies at international scientific conferences in physical education, and sport and exercise sciences, including: the top one in the United Kingdom (the BASES Conference in Nottingham 2017, and in Harrogate 2018); the biggest and oldest one in Physical Education (the FIEP Congress in Luxembourg 2017, and in Istanbul 2018); and the biggest in Bulgaria (International Congress of Applied Sports Sciences in Sofia 2017).

In 2018, at the age of 30, I was officially admitted to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which I believe to be my greatest achievement in my life. Later that year, I was awarded my PhD certificate in a special graduation ceremony at the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria.

In 2020, I accomplished one of my lifetime goals, which was the obtaining of my British citizenship, after passing the Graded Examination in Spoken English with distinction, as well as the Life in the UK test. During my British Citizenship ceremony, I took the Oath of allegience to the Crown, and the Pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom in the Town Hall of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and then I was given my certificate of naturalization. Later that year, I also received my British Passport.

In 2021, I embarked on a new journey. In line with my goals, passions, curiosity, and vision for continuing professional development, I started a PhD in Human Sciences at the University of Greenwich, exploring the effects of microcurrent and resistance exercise on muscle strength, body composition, and physical function in older adults.

In 2022, I founded Chelsea Gymnastics Academy Ltd as the successor of my sole trade gymnastics coaching business STK SPORT. Chelsea Gymnastics Academy is the end product of my vast practical and academic experience of more than 20 years in the sport of gymnastics.

In 2023, I was recognised as a World Physical Education Ambassador by the FIEPS (International Federation of Physical and Sports Education) Scientific Board due to my involvement with the federation for the last few years. In August 2023, I was accepted and successfully completed the International Summer School ‘Research Methods in Sports Science for Interdisciplinary Approaches’ at the German Sport University Cologne in Germany.

I am a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ID # 862559), the European College of Sport Science (ECSS-ID: 26528), British Gymnastics (the UK Governing Body for the sport of Gymnastics), and I hold the Level 3 British Gymnastics Coaching Qualification, and the Chartered Activity and Health Practitioner MCIMSPA (ch) status in the UK. I also met the criteria and standards of EuropeActive, and, therefore, I was admitted to the European Register (EREPS), and I am currently holding the status of Personal Trainer, EQF L6 - Graduate Exercise Professional.

 

Journey of a Lifetime

Dr Stefan Kolimechkov presented scientific research in Paris, France

I presented scientific research at the ECSS Congress 2023 in Paris, France.

 

Stefan Kolimechkov (Chelsea Gymnastics Academy) became the 2023 Milton Keynes Rings Champion

I competed in the 2023 Milton Keynes Adult Gymnastics Competition in England, and became the Milton Keynes Rings Champion in the Pro 30+ category.

 

Dr Stefan Kolimechkov has gained his British Citizenship

In 2020, at the age of 33, I accomplished one of my lifetime goals, I obtained my British citizenship.

 

Stefan Kolimechkov at his PhD Defence

This has been the biggest and most important event in my life to date, my official public PhD defence. On 30 May 2018, at the age of 30, I was officially admitted to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). I completed a 3-year PhD programme at the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry at the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria, which led to a PhD Degree in Pedagogy of Physical Education.

 

Stefan Kolimechkov at his first oral scientific presentation

This was another moment of a lifetime at the end of 2017, my first presentation at a Parallel Session in an international conference. And all of this happening in a very special place for me, my University (National Sports Academy) in Sofia, Bulgaria.

 

Stefan Kolimechkov at his first scientific conference

In 2017, I presented scientific research at an international conference for the very first time. This was at the 12th FIEP European Congress, organised by the International Federation of Physical Education. This conference was very special to me, as I was nominated for the FIEP New Leaders Programme by my PhD supervisor Professor Alexandrova, and the FIEP Executive Board accepted this nomination, and covered most of my expenses to go to Luxembourg and take part in this conference.

 

Bulgarian Gymnastics Championships 2016

This was my sixth time competing at the National Gymnastics Championships in Bulgaria in my sports career. Once again, I competed on the Rings, representing my University team (A-Gym NSA), and I qualified for the 2016 National Men's Rings Final. In the final, I was ranked 5th.

 

Bulgarian Gymnastics Championships 2012

In 2012, I was ranked 4th in Bulgaria at the 2012 National Gymnastics Championships. This was my best achievement at national level in my sports career.