Albena Denkova (Bulgarian: Албена Денкова) (born December 3, 1974 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian ice dancer. Her skating partner and boyfriend is Maxim Staviski. They are the first Bulgarian figure skaters to medal at championship events, including the European and World Championships. Denkova began her athletic career as a gymnast and changed to figure skating at the age of 8 or 9. Her first ice dance partner was Hristo Nikolov. In 1996 she teamed up with Maxim Staviski.

 

In 2000 they moved from Sofia to Odintsovo, to have better training conditions. Until 2005 the pair was coached by Alexei Gorshkov in Sofia and in Odintsovo near Moscow in Russia. After the 2005 World Championships, Denkova and Staviski moved to Delaware, U.S. to train with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponossov. In October 2006, it was announced that Denkova had been elected President of the Bulgarian Skating Federation. Her current term will run for five years.

 

Denkova has a younger sister, Ina Demireva, who is also an ice dancer currently competing on the junior level. Although she holds a degree in economics from Sofia University, Denkova is currently a full-time athlete.