Firstly, I must proudly mention that I'm the 2022 World Champion in Street Workout Freestyle and a three-time Slovak Champion. I'm also the only certified Calisthenics and Street Workout Master Trainer in Slovakia authorized to conduct coaching certifications for the World Federation. Additionally, I hold a Level 4 Strength and Conditioning Coach qualification. But how did I get here? You'll find out in this article.
My Beginnings
My name is Dominik "dodoworkout" Klimek, and since childhood, I've constantly explored various sports and artistic activities. I wasn't the type of child who knew exactly what they wanted to do from an early age. On the contrary, I experienced a wide range of activities before finally discovering something that genuinely fulfilled me. If someone had told me eight years ago what I'd achieve, I probably would have laughed. Me?! Skinny and short? Haha, sure... but the journey continued.
As a kid, I tried football, probably the most common choice for boys my age, but I never felt truly special playing it. I also played volleyball for a while, which I enjoyed, but it still wasn't quite right. Then came a period when I was fascinated by adrenaline sports, so I got into parkour and freerunning. Jumping over obstacles, climbing rooftops, and exploring new ways of movement was incredibly fun, but I didn't see long-term potential in it.
However, it wasn't just sports—I also engaged in artistic activities. I played the violin and piano, which taught me discipline and precision. For six years, I even played competitive chess, where I learned strategic thinking and patience. Despite all these experiences, something was still missing. I wanted to find an activity that gave me a true sense of fulfillment and constantly pushed me forward.
Everything changed when I saw some guys doing pull-ups at the playground—it immediately fascinated me. After trying my first exercises, within a few months, I managed to master the challenging backlever. At that moment, I realized that if I trained daily with determination, I could learn anything.
My Career and Education 🎓🏋️♂️
🔹 Sports Career: Since 2017, I've been dedicated to street workout and calisthenics, gradually becoming one of the top athletes in Slovakia and internationally. My journey began on improvised playgrounds without professional equipment, but thanks to discipline and continuous progress, I advanced to the World Championships, where I became the World Champion in the middleweight category in 2022.
🔹 Competition Achievements: Throughout my career, I've won the Slovak Championships three times (2020, 2021, 2022) and became the World Champion in 2022. I also earned a silver medal at the World Cup in Latvia and won several international competitions.
🔹 Coaching and Team Leadership: I'm not just a competitor, but also a coach and mentor. I founded Street Workout Kysuce, where I help young athletes develop their skills. I'm also a Level 4 Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, allowing me to work with various athletes and support their growth.
🔹 Education and Professional Expertise: I'm studying at Matej Bel University, specializing in Physical Education and Strength & Conditioning Coaching. My academic education enhances my understanding of physiology, biomechanics, and training principles, which I apply both personally and professionally with clients.
🔹 Lectures and Education of Others: I'm the only Master Trainer of the WSWCF Academy in Slovakia, assisting in the education of street workout trainers worldwide, including places like Hong Kong, Switzerland, and travels to countries like Uzbekistan. I organize workshops, seminars, and lectures, teaching people correct techniques and training methods.
🔹 Development of Sport in Slovakia: I collaborated with the city of Čadca to build a professional workout park, improving conditions for street workout development. My goal is to popularize this sport and empower future generations to progress.
📍 Combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience allows me to continuously improve and push boundaries—not only mine but also those of my trainees and supporters. 💪
My Sports Achievements 🏆
Over the past years, I've risen to become one of the best street workout athletes in the world. Here are my greatest achievements:
✅ Three-time Slovak Champion in Street Workout (2020, 2021, 2022)
✅ 2022 World Champion in the middleweight category (68–80 kg) – winning this title in Riga, Latvia, was the fulfillment of my biggest dream
✅ Slovak Vice-Champion 2019 (2nd place at the national championship)
✅ Silver medal at the Street Workout World Cup in Jurmala, Latvia
✅ Winner of the international competition Street Workout Games Brno 2019
✅ 2nd place at Born to Trick Challenge 2019
✅ 1st place in the Elite category at the competition in Veľké Zálužie 2019
✅ 2nd place at King of Muscle Up 2019 in Liptovská Teplička
and many more...
Winning the World Championship was a life-changing moment for me. Media highlighted that I achieved all these successes despite not having a professional workout park in my hometown. My conditions weren't ideal, but I proved that hard work and persistence can overcome any obstacle.
I also consider it a huge success that my two brothers, Matej and Daniel, are also competing and achieving great results. At the 2022 Slovak Championship, all three of us won medals – Matej won the lightweight category, Daniel finished second, and I became the champion in the middleweight category.
My First Competition and the Start of My Journey
When I heard about the first competition in Žilina, I knew I had to sign up. It was a huge challenge because I had no prior experience, but at the same time, I felt it was an opportunity to show what I could do. I participated in four disciplines, but narrowly missed advancing to the second round in the main freestyle category. However, this didn't discourage me—on the contrary, it motivated me even more to continue.
I started building the Street Workout community in Čadca, trying to inspire young people to engage in sports and avoid alcohol and drugs. My goal was to create an environment where they could grow not just physically, but mentally as well.
You can watch the video from this competition here:
Road to the World Championships
In 2019, I competed in my first Slovak Championships in Trenčín, finishing in 2nd place. This opened the door for me to participate in the World Championships in Moscow.
The biggest challenge was financing the trip. As a student, I didn't have money for flights and accommodation, so I decided to ask the public for support. Amazingly, within two days, I raised 500 euros from complete strangers.
Participating in Moscow was a significant milestone for me. It was my first global event, and although I knew I wasn't among the favorites, the experience was invaluable. I returned motivated to train harder and dream even bigger.
The biggest challenge was financing the trip. As a student, I didn't have money for flights and accommodation, so I decided to ask the public for support. Amazingly, within two days, I managed to raise €500 from strangers who believed in me. This moment showed me the power of community and the support we can receive when we have a clear goal.
In this video, you can watch my reaction to my younger self from today's perspective:
Second World Championships in Moscow (2021)
In 2021, following my earlier experiences, I attended my second World Championships in Moscow. I dedicated everything to my preparation and made this my clear priority. After the qualification round, when I saw the results, I found my name among the top ten—I finished in 8th place, which meant I advanced to the finals.
In the finals, I gave everything I had. Ultimately, I finished 8th overall, securing a spot in the finals, and ended up placing 8th overall. Given the competition level, this was an incredible achievement for me. This experience provided even greater motivation to keep improving and confirmed that I could compete among the best athletes in the world.
You can watch the video from this competition here:
Victory at the World Championships (2022)
After years of hard training, the breakthrough moment finally arrived—the 2022 World Championships in Riga. Four Slovak athletes qualified for this competition, including my two younger brothers. After the qualification round, I saw my name in first place, which meant I had a real chance to become the world champion.
When the finals arrived, I gave it my all. The results were announced one by one—third place went to Egypt, second place to Portugal... and first place to Slovakia! That moment was the fulfillment of my biggest dream. I dropped to my knees, overwhelmed by emotions, realizing that all the hard work, sacrifices, and countless hours of training had finally paid off.
You can watch the video from this competition here:
New Opportunities and Community Work
Winning the championship opened new doors for me. I began working as a trainer for the World Street Workout Federation, where I trained coaches worldwide. I traveled to Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, and other countries, leading workshops and helping develop the sport globally.
In addition, I founded the Street Workout Kysuce civic association, which supports talented athletes by helping them finance their trips to international competitions. I also organized the Slovak Championships, where I invited athletes from Spain, Finland, Bulgaria, and other countries.
You can watch my video series from my visit to Hong Kong on my YouTube channel:
Street Workout Kysuce
V roku 2020 sme založili občianske združenie Street Workout Kysuce s cieľom podporiť cvičenie s vlastnou hmotnosťou na Kysuciach. Odvtedy sa nám podarilo zorganizovať množstvo spoločných tréningov a dokonca aj Majstrovstvá Slovenska.
Inspiring Young People
My goal is not just to compete but to inspire the next generation. Together with my friends Dominik and Marek, we give lectures at schools, showing students that they can achieve their dreams if they stay persistent and follow their passion. I believe that anyone can accomplish great things if they work hard and surround themselves with the right people.
Future Plans
Although I took a break from competing in 2024, I am actively working on new projects and workshops. My mission is to help develop Street Workout both in Slovakia and globally while encouraging others to pursue their dreams without fear. I believe that each year is an opportunity for growth—not only as an athlete but also as a person.
Additionally, I am focusing on content creation for social media, particularly Instagram (where I post mainly in English) and YouTube.
