Albena Denkova
Albena Denkova | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski at the 2004 Worlds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Country represented | Bulgaria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Sofia, Bulgaria | 3 December 1974||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partner | Maxim Staviski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former partner | Hristo Nikolov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former coach | Natalia Linichuk, Gennadi Karponosov, Alexei Gorshkov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former choreographer | Sergei Petukhov, Natalia Linichuk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Skating club | SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Began skating | 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISU personal best scores | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combined total | 210.44 2003 Trophée Lalique | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comp. dance | 41.05 2004 Skate Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original dance | 62.79 2005 Worlds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Free dance | 108.03 2003 Trophée Lalique | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Albena Petrova Denkova (Bulgarian: Албена Петрова Денкова, born 3 December 1974) is a Bulgarian ice dancer. With partner and fiance Maxim Staviski, she is a two-time (2006–2007) World champion, a two-time (2003–2004) European silver medalist, and the 2006 Grand Prix Final champion. Denkova and Staviski are the first Bulgarians to medal at the World Figure Skating Championships.
Career[]
Denkova began her athletic career as a gymnast at the age of four, and switched to figure skating at about 8 or 9.[1][2] She took up ice dancing when she was 12.[1] Her first ice dance partner was but they split up due to different ambitions.[1] In 1996,[3] Denkova had a successful tryout with Maxim Staviski in Moscow and he moved to Sofia to compete with her for Bulgaria.[1] They soon became a couple off-ice, as well. In September 2000, Denkova / Staviski began dividing their time between Sofia and Odintsovo, near Moscow, Russia where they worked with coach Alexei Gorshkov and choreographer Sergei Petukhov.[3][1][4]
Denkova / Staviski withdrew from the 2000 European Championships after Staviski fell ill with pneumonia.[1] During the last practice session before the free dance at the 2000 World Championships, Peter Tchernyshev's blade slashed Denkova's leg above her boot, severing two tendons and a muscle and leaving her unable to walk for three months.[3][1] She eventually returned to training but suffered swelling in her leg. After she asked the U.S. Figure Skating Association if Tchernyshev had insurance to help cover her medical expenses, the organizers withdrew Denkova / Staviski's invitation to 2000 Skate America.[1] Both Denkova and Staviski fell ill with the flu before the 2001 European Championships and she suffered more swelling but they competed at the event and finished 8th, their best result to that date.[1]
Denkova / Staviski took the silver medal at the 2003 European Championships, becoming the first skaters to medal for Bulgaria at an ISU Championships.[5] They then became the first Bulgarians to medal at Worlds, winning bronze at the 2003 World Championships.[6] The following season, they repeated as silver medalists at Europeans and went on to become World silver medalists.
In 2004–05, Denkova / Staviski withdrew from Europeans and finished 5th at Worlds. At the end of the season, they parted ways with Gorshkov and moved to Newark, Delaware, U.S., to train with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.[7][8] They finished 5th at their third Olympics. At the 2006 World Championships, they became the first Bulgarians to win World gold in figure skating.
In October 2006, it was announced that Denkova had been elected President of the Bulgarian Skating Federation.[8][9]
In 2006–07, Denkova / Staviski won gold at the Grand Prix Final, bronze at Europeans, and gold once again at Worlds. On 10 April 2007, they were awarded the Stara Planina Order, Bulgaria's highest award.[10] On 19 April 2007, they received a star on Bulgaria's Walk of Fame.[11]
On 5 August 2007, Maxim Staviski caused a car accident while driving drunk in Bulgaria that left 24-year-old Petar Petrov dead and Petrov's fiancee, 18-year-old Manuela Gorsova, in a coma.[12] In October 2007, he announced his retirement from competitive skating and Denkova was thus forced to retire, as well.[13] They continued to skate in shows around the world and have also done choreography, working with Brian Joubert a few times.[9][14] Having said in 2004 that Bulgaria did not have many skating facilities and coaches,[4] Denkova opened a skating school with Staviski in Sofia called SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski.[15] They have also participated in the Russian television show Ice Age.[14]
Personal life[]
Denkova and Staviski are engaged to marry.[16] Their son Daniel was born on 30 January 2011.[17] Denkova has a younger half-sister, Ina Demireva, who also competed in ice dancing.[18] Her brother-in-law is solo skater Andrei Lutai.[19] Denkova holds a degree in economics from Sofia University.
Programs[]
Season | Original dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
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2006–2007 [15] |
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2005–2006 [7] |
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2004–2005 [20] |
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2003–2004 [6] |
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2002–2003 [5] |
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2001–2002 [21] |
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2000–2001 [3] |
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1999–2000 |
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1998–1999 |
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1997–1998 |
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1996–1997 |
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Competitive highlights[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/AlbenaDenkowa.jpg/180px-AlbenaDenkowa.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/DenkovaStavyski_1.jpg/200px-DenkovaStavyski_1.jpg)
With Staviski[]
Results[3][21][5][6][20][7][15] | |||||||||||
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International | |||||||||||
Event | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 |
Olympics | 18th | 7th | 5th | ||||||||
Worlds | 19th | 17th | 11th | WD | 10th | 5th | 3rd | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 1st |
Europeans | 17th | 16th | 9th | WD | 8th | 6th | 2nd | 2nd | WD | 3rd | |
Grand Prix Final | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | |||||||
GP Cup of Russia | 5th | 3rd | |||||||||
GP Lalique/Bompard | 4th | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |||||||
GP NHK Trophy | 6th | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||||||
GP Skate America | 1st | ||||||||||
GP Skate Canada | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | |||||||
GP Spark./Bofrost | 6th | 3rd | 1st | ||||||||
Bofrost | 1st | ||||||||||
Finlandia Trophy | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||||||
Golden Spin | 2nd | ||||||||||
Karl Schäfer | 1st | ||||||||||
Nebelhorn Trophy | 3rd | ||||||||||
Skate Israel | 2nd | ||||||||||
Polish FSA Trophy | 3rd | ||||||||||
National | |||||||||||
Bulgarian Champ. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew |
With Nikolov[]
Results[3] | |||||
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International | |||||
Event | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | |
Worlds | 21st | 26th | 27th | 24th | |
Europeans | 18th | 22nd | 25th | 22nd | |
National | |||||
Bulgarian Champ. | 1st | 1st |
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mittan, Barry (3 December 2001). "Bulgarian Dancers Triumph Over Injuries to Reach Top Ten". GoldenSkate.com. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ Oreiller, Céline; Zibung, Jacqueline (2005). "Interview with Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski: Part I". Absolute Skating. "Interview with Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski: Part II".
- ^ a b c d e f "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVIYSKI: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2001.
- ^ a b Slater, Paula (18 March 2004). "Interview: Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski". GoldenSkate.com. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ a b c "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVIYSKI: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 August 2003.
- ^ a b c "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVISKI: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
- ^ a b c "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVISKI: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 April 2006.
- ^ a b Motchane, Asli (2006). "Albena Denkova: "Now we enjoy every single practice!"". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ a b Gazave, Romain (2009). "Albena Denkova & Maxim Staviski: Behind the Boards". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ "Purvanov: Bulgaria's Denkova and Staviski have the potential to get Olympic gold". The Sofia Echo. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ "Albena and Maxim Star Shining on Bulgaria's Walk of Fame". Novinite. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
- ^ "World skating champion from Bulgaria involved in car accident near Ropotamo River". The Sofia Echo. 6 August 2007. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Bulgaria's Maxim Staviiski ends his career". The Sofia Echo. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010.
- ^ a b Korsakova, Emilie (4 March 2014). "Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski: "We devoted everything to figure skating"". Absolute Skating.
- ^ a b c "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVISKI: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007.
- ^ "World Skating Champions to Finally Tie the Knot". Novinite. 23 March 2007. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
- ^ Petrova, Ruslana (30 January 2011). "Даниел изплака за Албена и Максим" [Daniel born to Albena and Maxim] (in Bulgarian). Standart News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ Ina Demireva at the International Skating Union
- ^ "Сборная тропа хоро на сватба в София". Standart News (in Bulgarian). 18 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVISKI: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 5 April 2005.
- ^ a b "Albena DENKOVA / Maxim STAVIYSKI: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albena Denkova. |
- Albena Denkova / Maxim Staviski at the International Skating Union
- Denkova / Staviski official web site
[]
- 1974 births
- Living people
- Bulgarian female ice dancers
- Olympic figure skaters of Bulgaria
- Figure skaters at the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Figure skaters at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Figure skaters at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- World Figure Skating Championships medalists
- European Figure Skating Championships medalists
- Season-end world number one figure skaters
- Sportspeople from Sofia