GymStars: Coaches & Gym

Coaches

To ensure that our gymnasts are being trained and observed well, we have enrolled a team of experienced coaches that includes three foreign coaches together with a group of local professionals. All our coaches are qualified in their fields and have had their fair share of experience in the sport. Besides their personal qualifications, the club ensures their constant progress by allowing them to attended courses and seminars locally and abroad to keep up to date with the latest trends and improvements. All GymStars coaches have obtained their British Gymnastics Certification.

Lulev Stamat, Georgiev (Bulgaria) has participated in several international competitions as an athlete as well as a coach. He has won several silver and bronze medals during national championships. Mr. Stamat has successfully obtained his Masters of Sports in Gymnastics.

Angelov Peynov, Plamen (Bulgaria) has been practicing gymnastics since he was 10 years old. He has participated in several international competitions in Bulgaria, Poland and Russia. He started coaching in his native country Bulgaria since the early 90s. He has since coached in Cyprus and now Malta. Similar to Mr. Stamat, Mr. Angelov Peynov obtained a Masters degree in Sports. Mr. Angelov Peynov believes this sport is particularly important since it helps to lead a healthy and disciplined life. GymStars has enrolled Mr. Angelov Peynov mainly to take care of the Girls' Club.

Bird, Alison is our head teacher for ballet who has over 25 years of experience in the field. She has been a constant presence on our stages for several years, producing very sucessful ballet shows each year.

Busuttil, Felix has been enrolled with GymStars as Head of Jazz and Contemporary dancing. Mr. Busuttil is a reknowned coreographer in Malta and also internationally. Similar to Ms. Bird, he has produced some of the best local talented shows and have showcased a number of local talents who have performed well abroad. He is currently leading GymStars' increasingly popular Team Gym, who have been invited by British Gymnastics for their Championships in Newcastle and also taking part in another competition in Ghent (October 2008).

Dimitrova, Ivelina

(Bulgaria) is another coreographer taken on by GymStars to help lead our local talent.

Uzunova, Antonina

(Bulgaria) is the latest addition to our group of professional coaches. Ms. Uzunova was a part of the Bulgarian National Team and represented her country in several international competitions. Amongst these, she has also been part of the Bulgarian delegation for the Olympic Games. Similar to our other coaches she has succesfully achived her Master of Sports Degree. Other qualifications include the prestigious judge Brevet qualification. She will be taking care of our female National Team gymnasts, specialising in floor and beam.

Borg, Francesca (Malta) is one of the coaches that trained and found success in GymStars Gymnastics Club. She has been a member of the club since the beginning, training and working hard to achieve her goals. She soon became a member of the Club's Team and represented GymStars in varios competitions. She is currently a member of the Malta National Team and has won several competitions locally and abroad representing GymStars. At a very young age she was twice nominated for the Sportiva tas-Sena Award. She has been qualified as a regional judge by British Gymnastics.

Buttigieg, Lorraine (Malta) is a qualified Physical Education teacher. She has been working as a coach for GymStars since 2003.

Said, Adrian (Malta) is our current Physical Education teacher.

Schembri, Audrey (Malta) is another coach that trained and found success in GymStars Gymnastics Club. She started training at the club at a very young age, making the Club's Team soon after. She is currently a member of the Malta National Team and has done very well representing GymStars several local and foreign competitions. She is also a qualified regioanl judge by British Gymnastics.

Grech, Gabriella (Malta) is the main coach for Recreational classes and Basic Intermediate.

Falzon Claire, Farrugia Marika, Genevose Elaine, and Vassallo Juleanne (Malta) are the talented group of Recreational Coaches.

Gym

Apparatus for Artistic Gymnastics has changed greatly over the years. In the early days there were no set measurements for the equipment and any makeshift equipment would have done the trick. However, this is not the case today since new equipment is being developed with new technologies and materials to ensure the safest possible way of training.

Our gym has is equipped with the newest designs of equipment for both men and women. We constantly make changes to our equipment to ensure that our athletes have the best. Click on the gym plan to view the different types of built-in equipment we have.

Hence, we have supplied our gym with a never-ending list of equipment which includes:

A full size spring floor that will allow the gymnasts to practice on their routines,

A 22m long tumbling strip

A foam filled/solid pit that is over 72m² and allows entry from a number of different pieces of equipment,

A vaulting table that can be approached by a 22-metre run-up,

A variety of bars - uneven, high and parallel bars,

A selection of trampolines, amongst which a built-in trampoline,

Balance beams, pommel horses and rings.

All equipment is set at proper heights and is F.I.G Approved.

In addition to the above, our club provides showers, a viewing area, a cafeteria a fitness centre and a dance studio.

(Left) GymStars' 14m² floor that is used for a multitude of purposes, but mainly to allow our gymnasts to practise their routines.
(Right)GymStars' built-in trampoline used to enhance a gymnasts jumping skills. (Trampoline lessons are also available)