Maxim Staviski facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maxim Staviski
Maxim Staviski at the 2011 Worlds.
Personal information
Country represented	Bulgaria
Former country(ies) represented	Russia (until 1996)
Born	(1977-11-16) 16 November 1977 (age 47) Rostov-on-Don, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Partner	Albena Denkova
Former partner	Anastasia Belova (RUS)
Former coach	Natalia Linichuk, Gennadi Karponosov, Alexei Gorshkov
Former choreographer	Sergei Petukhov, Natalia Linichuk
Skating club	SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski
Began skating	1981
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 Figure skating Ice dancing Representing  Bulgaria World Championships Gold 2007 Tokyo Ice dancing Gold 2006 Calgary Ice dancing Silver 2004 Dortmund Ice dancing Bronze 2003 Washington, D.C. Ice dancing European Championships Bronze 2007 Warsaw Ice dancing Silver 2004 Budapest Ice dancing Silver 2003 Malmö Ice dancing Grand Prix Final Gold 2006–07 St. Petersburg Ice dancing Bronze 2004–05 Beijing Ice dancing Silver 2003–04 Colorado Springs Ice dancing Bronze 2002–03 St. Petersburg Ice dancing

Maxim Staviski, born on November 16, 1977, is a famous ice dancer. He was born in Russia but later became a citizen of Bulgaria. He is best known for his amazing performances with his skating partner, Albena Denkova.

Together, Maxim and Albena achieved many great things in figure skating. They won the World Figure Skating Championships twice, in 2006 and 2007. They also earned silver medals at the European Figure Skating Championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, they won the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. They were the first skaters from Bulgaria to win a medal at the World Championships, which was a huge accomplishment for their country.

Maxim Staviski's Skating Journey

Maxim started skating when he was four years old. His parents wanted him to be healthier, so they encouraged him to try the sport. At first, he was a singles skater, meaning he skated alone.

When he was about 11 or 12, he had a leg injury. This made it harder for him to do jumps. His coach suggested he try ice dancing, which is a type of figure skating where two partners perform together.

Early Partnerships

Maxim first competed for Russia with a partner named Anastasia Belova. They skated together at the 1996 Junior Worlds. After that season, they decided to go their separate ways.

In 1996, Maxim met Albena Denkova in Moscow. They had a successful tryout and decided to become partners. Maxim then moved to Sofia, Bulgaria, to train and compete for Bulgaria with Albena. They also became a couple in their personal lives. Maxim received Bulgarian citizenship, which allowed them to compete together at the 1998 Olympics.

Training and Challenges

From September 2000, Maxim and Albena split their training time between Sofia and Odintsovo, Russia. They worked with coaches like Alexei Gorshkov and choreographer Sergei Petukhov.

They faced some challenges during their career. In 2000, Maxim got sick with pneumonia, which made them withdraw from a competition. Later that year, Albena had a serious leg injury during practice. She worked hard to recover and return to skating. Despite these difficulties, they continued to improve their skills.

Reaching the Top

In 2003, Maxim and Albena won a silver medal at the European Championships. This was a historic moment, as they were the first Bulgarian skaters to win a medal at an ISU Championship. They then won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships, making them the first Bulgarians to medal at Worlds.

The next season, they continued their success. They won another silver medal at the European Championships in 2004. They also earned a silver medal at the World Championships that same year.

After the 2004-2005 season, they changed coaches and moved to Newark, Delaware, in the United States. They trained with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov. At the 2006 World Championships, they made history again by winning the gold medal. They were the first Bulgarians to become World champions in figure skating.

In the 2006-2007 season, they continued their winning streak. They won gold at the Grand Prix Final, a bronze at the European Championships, and another gold at the World Championships. Their achievements were recognized in Bulgaria. In April 2007, they received the Stara Planina Order, which is Bulgaria's highest award. They also received a star on Bulgaria's Walk of Fame.

Maxim Staviski retired from competitive skating on October 18, 2007. After retiring, Maxim and Albena continued to perform in skating shows around the world. They also worked as choreographers for other skaters, including Brian Joubert. Maxim has also coached skaters in Moscow. They have their own skating school in Sofia called SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski. Both Maxim and Albena have appeared on the Russian TV show Ice Age.

Personal Life

Maxim Staviski is Jewish. His last name is sometimes spelled Staviyski. He and Albena Denkova are engaged to be married. They have a son named Daniel, who was born on January 30, 2011.

Competitive Highlights

Denkova / Staviski at the 2004 Worlds medal ceremony in Dortmund.

Denkova / Staviski at the 2007 European Championships in Warsaw

With Denkova for Bulgaria

With Belova for Russia