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Maxim Staviski
2011 WFSC 051 Maxim Staviski.JPG
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 (Bulgarian: Максим Стависки, born November 16, 1977) is a famous ice dancer. He was born in Russia but later became a citizen of Bulgaria. With his skating partner and fiancée, Albena Denkova, he achieved amazing success.

Together, Maxim and Albena became two-time World champions in 2006 and 2007. They also won silver medals twice at the European Championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, they won the Grand Prix Final. Maxim and Albena were the first skaters from Bulgaria to win a medal at the World Championships.

Maxim Staviski: Ice Skating Champion

Maxim Staviski started skating when he was four years old. His parents wanted him to be healthier. He first trained as a singles skater. But when he was 11 or 12, he broke his leg. This made it harder for him to jump. His coach then suggested he try ice dancing.

Maxim first competed for Russia with a partner named Anastasia Belova. They competed at the 1996 Junior Worlds. After that season, they stopped skating together.

Joining Forces with Albena Denkova

In 1996, Maxim met Albena Denkova in Moscow. They had a successful tryout and decided to skate together. Maxim then moved to Sofia, Bulgaria, to compete for Bulgaria. Soon, they also became a couple in their personal lives. Maxim became a Bulgarian citizen. This allowed him to compete with Albena at the 1998 Olympics.

In September 2000, Maxim and Albena started splitting their time. They trained in Sofia and also in Odintsovo, Russia. There, they worked with coach Alexei Gorshkov and choreographer Sergei Petukhov.

Overcoming Challenges in Skating

Maxim and Albena faced some tough times. They had to pull out of the 2000 European Championships because Maxim got pneumonia.

At the 2000 World Championships, Albena had a serious injury. Another skater's blade cut her leg. This injury meant she couldn't walk for three months. She worked hard to recover, but her leg would often swell.

Before the 2001 European Championships, both Maxim and Albena got the flu. Albena's leg also swelled again. But they still competed and finished 8th. This was their best result at that time.

Reaching the Top in Figure Skating

In 2003, Maxim and Albena won a silver medal at the European Championships. This was a huge moment! They were the first Bulgarian skaters to win a medal at an ISU Championship.

Then, they made history again. They won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships. This made them the first Bulgarians to win a medal at the Worlds. The next season, they won silver again at the Europeans. They also became World silver medalists.

In 2004–2005, they had to withdraw from the Europeans. They finished 5th at the Worlds. After this season, they changed coaches. They moved to Delaware, USA, to train with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.

They finished 5th at their third Olympics. At the 2006 World Championships, they achieved their biggest dream. They became the first Bulgarians to win World gold in figure skating!

In the 2006–2007 season, they continued their winning streak. They won gold at the Grand Prix Final. They also won bronze at the Europeans. And they won gold again at the Worlds!

Their country honored them greatly. On April 10, 2007, they received the Stara Planina Order. This is Bulgaria's highest award. On April 19, 2007, they got a star on Bulgaria's Walk of Fame.

After retiring from competitive skating, Maxim and Albena still performed in shows around the world. They also worked on choreography for other skaters, including Brian Joubert. Maxim also helped Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi. They even have their own skating school in Sofia called SC Ice Dance Denkova/Staviski. Maxim sometimes coaches in Moscow. He and Albena have also been on the Russian TV show Ice Age.

Life Off the Ice

Maxim Staviski is Jewish. His last name is sometimes spelled Staviyski. Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski are engaged to be married. They welcomed their son, Daniel, on January 30, 2011.

Programs

Season Original dance Free dance Exhibition
2006–2007
2005–2006
2004–2005
2003–2004
  • Blues: It's a Man's Man's Man's World
    by James Brown
  • Swing: Big and Bad
    by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
2002–2003
  • Afrah Baladi
    by Mostafa Sax
2001–2002
  • Tango: Fugata
    by Astor Piazzolla
  • Flamenco: Duende
    by Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin, Steve Stevens
  • O (Cirque du Soleil)
    by Benoit Jutras
2000–2001
  • Xotica – Journey to the Heart
    by René Dupéré
1999–2000
  • Speak up Mambo
  • Soledad
  • Give it up
  • Xotica – Journey to the Heart
    (from Cirque du Soleil)
1998–1999
  • Song of the Spirit
    by Karl Jenkins
  • Sarabande
    by Jon Lord
  • Bourée
    by Jon Lord
1997–1998
  • Wolly-Bully
    by Domingo Samudio
1996–1997
  • El Choclo
    by Angel Villoldo

Competitive Highlights

AlbenaDenkowa
Denkova / Staviski at the 2004 Worlds medal ceremony in Dortmund.
DenkovaStavyski 1
Denkova / Staviski at the 2007 European Championships in Warsaw

With Denkova for Bulgaria

Results
International Competitions
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 Competitions
Bulgarian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

With Belova for Russia

Results
Event 1996
World Junior Championships 9th
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