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 (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

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