Albena Petrova Denkova ( bg, Албена Петрова Денкова, born 3 December 1974) is a
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
n
ice dancer
Ice dance (sometimes referred to as ice dancing) is a discipline of figure skating that historically draws from ballroom dancing. It joined the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, and became a Winter Olympic Games medal sport in 1976. Ac ...
. With partner and
fiance
An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...
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
The World Figure Skating Championships (''"Worlds"'') is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the categories of men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. ...
.
Career
began her athletic career as a
gymnast
Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, sh ...
at the age of four, and switched to figure skating at about 8 or 9.
[ She took up ]ice dancing
Ice dance (sometimes referred to as ice dancing) is a discipline of figure skating that historically draws from ballroom dancing. It joined the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, and became a Winter Olympic Games medal sport in 1976. A ...
when she was 12.[ Her first ice dance partner was Hristo Nikolov but they split up due to different ambitions.][ In 1996,][ Denkova had a successful tryout with Maxim Staviski in Moscow and he moved to ]Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
to compete with her for Bulgaria.[ They soon became a couple off-ice, as well. In September 2000, Denkova / Staviski began dividing their time between Sofia and ]Odintsovo
Odintsovo ( rus, Одинцово, , ɐdʲɪnˈtsovə) is a city and the administrative center of Odintsovsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Western suburb of Moscow. Population:
History
The village of Odintsovo was established in the late ...
, near Moscow, Russia where they worked with coach Alexei Gorshkov and choreographer Sergei Petukhov.[
Denkova / Staviski withdrew from the 2000 European Championships after Staviski fell ill with pneumonia.][ During the last practice session before the free dance at the 2000 World Championships, ]Peter Tchernyshev
Peter Tchernyshev (russian: Пётр Андреевич Чернышёв; also romanized as ''Pyotr Andreyevich Chernyshev''; born February 6, 1971) is a Russian- American ice dancer. With skating partner Naomi Lang, he is a two-time Four Cont ...
's blade slashed Denkova's leg above her boot, severing two tendons and a muscle and leaving her unable to walk for three months.[ 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.][ 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.][
Denkova / Staviski took the silver medal at the 2003 European Championships, becoming the first skaters to medal for Bulgaria at an ISU Championships.][ They then became the first Bulgarians to medal at Worlds, winning bronze at the 2003 World Championships.][ 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
Newark ( )Not as in Newark, New Jersey. is a small city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is located west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is home to the Uni ...
, U.S., to train with Natalia Linichuk
Natalya Vladimirovna Linichuk (; born 6 February 1956) is a Russian ice dancing coach and former competitive ice dancer for the Soviet Union. With partner and husband Gennadi Karponosov, she is the 1980 Olympic champion and a two-time World cham ...
and Gennadi Karponosov
Gennadi Mikhailovich Karponosov (; born 21 November 1950) is an ice dancing coach and a former competitive ice dancer for the Soviet Union. With Natalia Linichuk, he is the 1980 Olympic champion and a two-time World champion.
Competitive career ...
.[ 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.][
In 2006–07, Denkova / Staviski won gold at the ]Grand Prix Final
The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final (formerly Champions Series Final), often shortened to ''Grand Prix Final'' and abbreviated as ''GPF'', is a senior-level international figure skating competition. Medals are awarded in men's singles, ladies ...
, bronze at Europeans, and gold once again at Worlds. On 10 April 2007, they were awarded the Stara Planina Order, Bulgaria's highest award.[ On 19 April 2007, they received a star on Bulgaria's Walk of Fame.][
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.][ In October 2007, he announced his retirement from competitive skating and Denkova was thus forced to retire, as well.][ They continued to skate in shows around the world and have also done choreography, working with ]Brian Joubert
Brian Joubert (; born 20 September 1984) is a French figure skating coach and former competitor. He is the 2007 World champion, a three-time (2004, 2007 & 2009) European champion, and the 2006–07 Grand Prix Final champion. On the domestic le ...
a few times.[ Having said in 2004 that Bulgaria did not have many skating facilities and coaches,][ Denkova opened a skating school with Staviski in ]Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
called SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski.[ They have also participated in the Russian television show ''Ice Age''.][
]
Personal life
Denkova and Staviski are engaged to marry.[ Their son Daniel was born on 30 January 2011.][ Denkova has a younger half-sister, ]Ina Demireva
Ina Dragomirova Demireva, married name Lutai, ( bg, Ина Драгомирова Демирева; born 17 February 1989) is a Bulgarian former competitive ice dancer. With Juri Kurakin, she is the 2006 Bulgarian national silver medalist. Demi ...
, who also competed in ice dancing.[ Her brother-in-law is solo skater Andrei Lutai.][ Denkova holds a degree in ]economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...
from Sofia University
Sofia University, "St. Kliment Ohridski" at the University of Sofia, ( bg, Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“, ''Sofijski universitet „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“'') is the oldest higher education i ...
.
Programs
Competitive highlights
With Staviski
With Nikolov
References
External links
*
Denkova / Staviski official web site
Navigation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denkova, Albena
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
Figure skaters from Sofia