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Albena DenkovaBulgarian figure skater
Date of Birth: 03.12.1974
Country:  Bulgaria |
Content:
- Albena Denkova: Bulgarian Ice Dancing Legend
- Transition to Ice Skating and Early Career
- Partnership with Maxim Staviski
- Training in Russia and International Success
- World Championships and Olympic Participation
- Retirement from Competitive Skating
- Post-Retirement Career
- Personal Life and Family
Albena Denkova: Bulgarian Ice Dancing Legend
Early Life and GymnasticsAlbena Denkova, a Bulgarian ice dancer, was born on December 3, 1974, in Sofia, Bulgaria. In her early childhood, Denkova pursued gymnastics, a popular sport in Bulgaria at the time.
Transition to Ice Skating and Early Career
When Denkova was eight years old, a figure skating coach visited her gymnastics practice and invited anyone interested to try skating. Intrigued, Denkova's parents enrolled her in figure skating lessons. As she grew older, her coach recognized her potential as a pairs skater.
Denkova's first skating partnership was with Hristo Nikolov. However, he retired from competitive skating in 1996, leaving Denkova without a partner. Around the same time, Russian skater Maxim Staviski also found himself without a partner. In 1997, at a skating competition, coach Elena Tchaikovskaya paired Denkova and Staviski together.
Partnership with Maxim Staviski
Initially, Denkova faced challenges due to the significant difference in training methods between Bulgaria and the renowned Russian figure skating school. To bridge the gap, she trained three times as much as Staviski.
Despite representing Bulgaria, the pair received all necessary support and training conditions in Sofia. They initially trained under Oleg Epshtein but later caught the attention of Alexander Gorshkov, who took over their coaching from 2000 to 2005.
Training in Russia and International Success
In 2000, Denkova relocated to Moscow to train with Gorshkov. The transition from sunny Bulgaria to a colder and grayer Moscow initially disheartened her.
In 2005, the pair decided to change coaches and moved to the United States, where they trained under Gennady Karponosov and Natalia Linichuk until late 2006.
World Championships and Olympic Participation
Denkova and Staviski became two-time World Champions in 2006 and 2007. They also participated in three Olympic Games (1998, 2002, and 2006) and were crowned Bulgarian National Champions thirteen times.
Retirement from Competitive Skating
In 2007, Denkova and Staviski retired from competitive skating, ending a decade-long partnership. The decision was partly influenced by an accident involving Staviski and subsequent legal proceedings.
Post-Retirement Career
After retiring, Denkova was elected President of the Bulgarian Figure Skating Federation in 2007. She also participated in several seasons of "Lednikoviy Period," a Russian ice dancing show, with different partners.
Personal Life and Family
Denkova and Staviski met and began dating around 1998 while training together. Their partnership extended beyond the rink, and they married in 2007.
In 2011, the couple welcomed their son, Daniel. Denkova and Staviski prioritize spending time with their family, but they also continue to perform in ice shows and coach other skaters.
Despite occasional tabloid speculation, the couple remains devoted to each other and has weathered the challenges of maintaining a personal life in the spotlight.
