Thu Oct 18, 2007
SOFIA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - World ice dance champion Maxim Staviski said he was full of shame and ready to take any punishment after being involved in a car accident in August that killed one man and seriously injured a woman.
"I can't think about my career at the moment," said the Bulgarian at an emotional news conference on Thursday. "Many people said we should continue competing but I just can't see this happening.
"I'm ashamed to look people in the eye," he added on the brink of tears. "I'm ready to take any punishment."
Staviski has been charged over the death of 24-year-old Petar Petrov and could face up to 10 years in prison.
He and Albena Denkova claimed Bulgaria's first world title in Calgary in 2005 before successfully defending the crown in Tokyo last March.
"I don't feel like a champion," said Staviski. "I feel helpless."
The 29-year-old was over the legal alcohol limit when driving his Jeep as it crashed into two other vehicles near the Black Sea town of Primorsko.
"There was a negative reaction from many people but I can understand them," said Staviski. "I deserve such a reaction. I set a bad example for the whole of Bulgaria and I recognise I committed a crime."
"We can't recover from the shock," said Denkova. "For the moment we're living day by day, we can't think about our sporting career.
"It was so dramatic during the first days after the accident. We didn't go out of our room for more than two weeks. We even didn't go to the balcony. Life seemed to be over for us."
source:
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldOfSport/idINIndia-30053320071018
