Moments of a Lifetime

The journey began · 1 October 2002

I started gymnastics in Bulgaria when I was 15. Step by step, dedication and motivation helped me pursue goals that had once appeared out of reach. The skills I acquired and the physical transformation I experienced remain priceless to me.

My path into sport was not straightforward. I was diagnosed with Perthes disease at a young age and was advised not to participate in physical activity; for a period, I was also prevented from joining PE lessons at school. Those experiences became part of the determination with which I approached gymnastics.

Some people questioned why I wanted to begin so late, but gymnastics became a major part of my life. My first official competition was in 2007 for Levski Gymnastics Club. In 2012, I placed fourth in the National Men’s Rings Final at the Bulgarian Gymnastics Championships.

The journey continued in Britain. I became a three-time London Rings Champion, a British Universities Rings Champion in Grade 2 and, later, a British Champion in Masters gymnastics. I also had the opportunity to compete alongside elite gymnasts I had long admired, including Jordan Jovchev, Yuri van Gelder and Courtney Tulloch.

Not everyone will win the same medal, but everyone can find a victory worth pursuing. My message remains: do not give up on your dream.

Gymnastics did more than give me results. It opened the way to coaching, higher education, scientific research, teaching and the founding of Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy. It remains a living part of my identity because I continue to train and compete.

This is a personal account of an individual sporting journey. It is not medical advice and should not be interpreted as guidance to disregard individual clinical recommendations.