You were showing a lot of your ACL recovery process on social and we were all watching. Surgery, PT, tons of pedaling on the big bike, and finally getting back on the BMX. Seeing that was super motivating, but it doesn’t fully show everything it took to get where you are now. Let’s talk properly about what you experienced, both physically and mentally. I’m sure your journey can help a lot of riders going through something similar.

Part 1: The injury and the first days

Can you take us back to that moment in Serbia. What exactly happened and when did you realise something was really wrong with your knee?

It happened in such a simple way. I tried a barspin out of a long, down ledge balance. On the hop I was too far back and had to jump off the bike so I wouldn’t fall on my back, something every BMX rider does all the time. The difference was the speed, roughly around 20 - 25 km/h. When I jumped off and started running, I stepped first with my left foot and then with my right. That second step just couldn’t handle the speed and load. My lower leg stuck to the ground while my body kept moving forward, so all the force went straight into the ACL. The pain hit like an electric shock and I instinctively jumped up holding onto my bars. There is video of it. While I was still in the air, I already knew exactly what had happened.

What was going through your head in the first 24 hours after the injury?

Only minutes after the crash the first thing on my mind was how to get surgery booked as fast as possible. I told myself, OK, the rules have changed. Now the goal is to get back on track as quickly as possible, without wasting time on unnecessary stuff.

The first person I called was my closest person, my girlfriend Ralitsa. I talked it through with her because, unfortunately, she had gone through the exact same injury and surgery just a few months earlier. Thanks to her I already had a direct line to the doctor, the rehab specialist, and everything else I was going to need.

That call didn’t take more than ten minutes before I had a plan. Meanwhile the guys had already brought a bag of ice and anti‑inflammatories to slow the swelling as much as possible. Then part of the crew went to get a car and the whole Skilldash team headed straight to the nearest MRI center so we could do the scan before the swelling got worse and the image quality dropped. The idea was to have the MRI as early as possible, so the next day when I travelled back to Sofia I already had everything ready for a consultation with the doctor I trusted, to see exactly what the damage was and plan the date for the rebuild.

Before you went to the hospital, you were already sure that you had a torn ACL. How did you know it was ACL?

I knew it while I was still in the air. That feeling of instability cannot be confused with anything else, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

The whole MRI-center experience in Serbia was honestly a parody. In the doctor’s office, me, Boyan, and Magic were laughing with tears because of his reactions and how out of touch he was. He kept insisting there was nothing wrong and didn’t want to let me get an MRI because, according to him, it “wasn’t necessary”. In his mind I was obviously fine because I could still walk and because when he moved my leg it didn’t hurt. What an idiot!

After a long back-and-forth, I finally convinced him. We almost ended up betting on who was right. The scan itself took time, and we were there late into the evening, after a full day of riding. I even have photos of everyone sleeping in the clinic while we waited for the results. When the results came out, the doctor came back and admitted I had been right to self-diagnose.

Part 2: Surgery and early recovery

What were you most nervous about before going in for surgery? And what actually turned out to be the hardest part afterward?

I honestly wasn’t nervous about the surgery itself. I accepted that I was at rock bottom and from there things could only get better. Of course I hoped for the best, but I was ready to accept whatever outcome came my way because the main thing I kept telling myself was “it will only get better”. What weighed on me the most was knowing I wouldn’t be able to ride BMX for at least the next ten months, maybe more.

The first weeks after surgery are usually the most frustrating. What did a typical day look like for you in that period?

Oh man.. let’s skip the first three days because there is nothing to tell there, only pain, no sleep, darkness, and a few basic leg movements.

When I was discharged and got back home, only then did the real mental battle start. I told myself “so far so good, now the road back begins”, but at the same time a lot of unpleasant thoughts started creeping in about whether I would recover fully and whether I would ever get back on a BMX. I had many doubts, but I tried not to let them out. I didn’t share them with anyone because I wanted to control and beat them once and for all, not let them come back to me through other people, even unintentionally.

Once I got control of my emotions, I started doing all the strength and mobility exercises the physio had given me from day one. Each session took about an hour and a half, morning, noon, and evening. That was my whole life at the time.

My day looked like this. I woke up around 8:00 to a fresh coffee made by the most wonderful woman in the world, had a quick injection in the stomach, then the first training session until around 10:30 or 11:00, and ice.

Then lunch, a short rest, and the second session until about 14:30 or 15:00.

Finally, after a longer break and an afternoon coffee which I eventually managed to prepare myself, I did the third round of exercises and again ice. I spent the first twenty days like this without a single exception.

Part 3: Physical work and routine

You went hard on PT, gym, road biking and mountain biking. What were the most important exercises or types of training that actually made a difference?

If someone is in a similar situation, the most important thing is to trust your physio one hundred percent and accept that for a period of time another person might be making better decisions for you than you are yourself, as hard as that is for the ego. Your physio is the one in constant contact with both you and the doctor and is the person who truly knows best.

Every doubt shakes you and pulls your focus away, and that is the last thing you need during this time.

The key is not heavy training or going all‑in every session. The key is consistency, sequence, and the hardest part of all, PATIENCE.

Part 4: Mindset, emotions and identity

What were your lowest moments in this whole process? And what helped you get out of them?

Of course the doubts about whether you will recover fully. After surgery you are in such bad shape that even something basic like turning in bed feels like a huge achievement, not to mention getting out of it. In those moments BMX, or any sport at all, feels impossible. And because you stay in this helpless state for about a month, you slowly get used to it, which makes it very easy to start believing that this is how things will be from now on and to fall into despair.

Did this injury change how you see your body and your riding? Do you feel like a different rider now in terms of mindset?

If there was a change, it was a positive one. It really underlined how important BMX is to me and how much it gives me every day, which only strengthened my attachment to it and made me want to ride even more. I also now have proof that almost everything can be fixed, which in a way makes me calmer when it comes to taking risks. I am not saying I became reckless or fearless, but it showed me that big injuries can come from small mistakes, not only from scary high‑risk situations. Worry does not really help with anything. Even before the injury I tried to keep my body healthy and prepared, just like I take care of my bike.

I had never seen such a consistency first hand from anyone else before. What’s the secret that helped you stay disciplined on the days when you did not feel like doing PT or training?

During the period when it was impossible to ride BMX, I looked at every single training session, exercise, and movement as a new BMX trick I was learning. I managed to enjoy every bit of progress, and that helped me a lot. I wanted to achieve a full recovery so that it could become motivation and an example for everyone close to me who might be going through a hard time.

Was there something that people around you said that actually did not help at all? And what kind of support was truly helpful?

Oh yes, there are always people who say things like: It’s over now, that’s how it is with injuries, we’re not 15 anymore. Or, it’s obvious it will never be the same, but at least you will still be able to cruise. Or, after an injury like that you have no chance to get back in shape. For some reason people insist on sharing this kind of nonsense.

But I can also say that too much hype and forced positivity can become exhausting at some point.

If you have a friend in a tough situation, what they probably need to hear is something like: I don’t really know how you feel, but if there is anything I can do to help, I’m here. And actually taking the time to visit them and spend a bit of time together matters a lot, because the days feel endless.

Part 5: Practical tactics others can use

If someone has just had a bad injury, what would you tell them to focus on in the first month?

What helped me was accepting the challenge and the new rules that come with it. It is not impossible to find satisfaction in the process.

What mistakes do you think people often make during recovery, that you either avoided or learned the hard way?

The main mistake is underestimating how hard the situation actually is and lacking patience. The battle with the ego is huge. It is very difficult for us to admit when we are beaten and weak, but the surest way to become strong again is to accept the loss and then stand up stronger than before, ready for the next one.

Now that you are back riding and doing tricks again, how do you approach risk? Do you think about saving your body more, or did the injury give you more confidence in what your body can handle?

This injury showed me that our bodies are not as strong or prepared for what we put them through in BMX as we like to think. Preparation and training can lower the risk, but they are never a guarantee of protection. That realisation freed me from the constant need to control the situation and to fight worrying thoughts all the time. Now I simply train to reduce the risk and rely on a bit of luck.

Part 6: Looking forward

Did this experience change your goals in BMX and in life outside the bike?

My goals have always been to ride for as many years as possible and to learn more tricks because that makes it even more fun. The more, the better. So in that sense nothing has really changed.

What’s next for you? Trips, video projects, or anything else?

This year I found a lot of new spots and wrote down many ideas for specific tricks on specific spots, so I plan to start slowly with filming a video.

Quick fire

Exercises: BOSU ball balance, Bulgarian split squats, planks

Music: IMP, Jluch, Kendrick Lamar

Quote: It will only get better

Favourite memory: Still waiting for it