Andrew Torgashev | Page 41 | Golden Skate

Andrew Torgashev

I saw the pizza bit but didn't know that kid was a skater. Andrew should get a better pizza sponsor than Papa John's!

I hope he will be ready to shine at Olympics and Worlds. Many are assuming that he will struggle, but I feel that a lot of his inconsistency has been due to lack of confidence. He might conquer it, now would be the time!

His Wikipedia page finally has an updated photo and it's a good one:

 
teddycat said:
I saw the pizza bit but didn't know that kid was a skater.
Click to expand...
Kirk Haugeto finished 7th in Junior Men this year (4th in 2025). I first noticed him in 2023 when he ended both programs with a headstand, as well as getting to center ice via a spread eagle. Such a happy, entertaining skater.

It seems like Raf is part of Kirk's coaching team now. His 2026 Nationals Instagram post starts with a waxel from his free skate, and he says, "US Figure Skating Nationals 2026! Although my triple axel on the free skate wasn't amazing, @andrewtorg 's sure was. Congratulations on making the Olympic team Andrew. It's an honor to train with you. Also a big congratulations to the rest of the US Olympic team, and everyone who has competed at nationals. Thank you to @team__raf for your help this season. I guess we better keep working on the 3A. Stay Happy 😃"

Andrew left a comment and said, "Thank you Kirk 🙌 Great axel flops lead to greater axels in the future, keep on going!"
 
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I first noticed Kirk by his Godfather program too. What an entertainer at such a young age!

Very different from Andrew, who even when he was very young has seemed (to me, at least) to have an introverted personality on ice. I find this style of performance quite compelling, and true to who he is.

To compare - I love Nathan Chen, and he knows how to project like an outgoing performer in competition and in shows depending on the program, but his Philip Glass is probably my all-time fave men's freeskate, and feels most like "authentic Nathan" to me.
 
I had forgotten Kirk was at Team Raf, and even living in California now? It explains much. He and Andrew are very different on ice, Kirk is the ultimate chaos agent, and Andrew, while passionate, is not chaotic. :) (and from my five minute conversation with Andrew seven years ago which makes me an all time expert:laugh: Andrew is somewhat introverted off the ice as well)

Nonetheless I think it could be a wonderful mentor mentee relationship. Kirk could channel and control some of his energies and Andrew could channel some chaos. ;)
 
Kiki5375 said:
www.ocregister.com

Andrew Torgashev conquers doubts, injuries on the way to Milan

After years of setbacks the Orange County based skater is finally headed to the Olympic Games.
www.ocregister.com www.ocregister.com

Nice interview
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What a beautiful article. Thanks for sharing. I love how long and detailed it is. Plus, the quotes appear to be written as they were spoken, as opposed to being shortened and tidied up. The answers aren't simple and cookie-cutter. It shows the complicated emotions an athlete can go through. It shows that even when Andrew is not showing his emotions outwardly, he's feeling them and thinking about them. In his explanation about the Olympic spirit, he says, "I’m at the top of my sport, whether it’s top two or top five or top 20 in the world, I’m there." I truly hope he ends up higher than the 20s in Milan, but yes, even the 20s is an achievement. And reading about the war in Ukraine is a reminder that this is "just figure skating." (Although, Andrew has spent a lot of his life at the rink, for sure).

My biggest question now is whether he will have Brandon backstage/in K&C with him in Milan to talk through those big emotions and scary thoughts. I hope so. Brandon has such a calming effect on him.

I hope he will skate in a way that he's proud of at the Olympics.
 
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I agree, a very interesting article. I don't recall Andrew ever being so open about so many topics. Even in the Polina podcasts, he has sounded a little guarded and as if he is choosing his words carefully. We knew he had struggled this season, but it puts his Nationals performance and achieving his Olympic dreams into perspective.

I can't imagine Brandon not being present. Maybe Raf's "tough love" helped as well, but Brandon has been a big brother and maybe even an emotional lifeline for Andrew. Whatever results he achieves can be attributed to their hard work together. We can hope that it's better than 20th, but very few people get to call themselves Olympians so that is an honor in itself.
 
What a wonderful, detailed interview. I agree I have never seen him so open. It explains so many things, past and present. I love how they contacted his Ukrainian grandparents and how proud they are of Andrew, even in difficult circumstances.

If Andrew has only one coach, it should be Brandon, who has been through his side through thick and thin. Part of me wishes Raf would stay out of the KnC; Andrew has had his best results with Brandon alone. :)
 
I can't believe we're sitting here in this thread discussing how Andrew will handle THE ACTUAL OLYMPIC GAMES!!!!! Especially with being reminded that he came so incredibly close to quitting skating during his long injury time. That wasn't very many years ago. He's had a relatively short senior career, even though he is 24 years old. It's only been four seasons, and the outcome of the first one was such a huge surprise. The article reminded me again that, for real, every performance we get from him is a gift.

This type of interview/article is what I have on my mind when I say that if you choose to absorb his entire thought process, it makes sense and can be inspiring and moving. His mom describes him as a good kid, a sensitive kid, a good friend (how endearing of a description that is). There's more to him than a sound bite or a pull quote. More than his social media stuff. More than what we see.
 
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I am so happy he and Max made the team. ( and Ilia but there was never a doubt about him). This interview shows how much hard work and sacrifice and emotions was happening on the way. It's something so very special for them. Let as many as possible get their dream come true. They worked all their life for this moment. Just imagine losing that dream of beeing at the Olymics once in their life because someone gets to go a 3rd time. This is what Olympics is all about. Just beeing there means everything. I am so happy for them
 
Andrew is keeping his usual quietness on social media. I like to think of it as his way to stay focused on his job. I have not seen him on Milan ice yet.

However, I did find this clip from South Florida's NBC affiliate.* He's so happy to be there; he's glowing.
*If you don't know - NBC is one of our national broadcasters, but each TV station that carries NBC content also has local news content, with their own local reporters etc. That's what this is. Andrew's big success has come while training in California, but he's from Florida. This is the NBC affiliate that includes Coral Springs.
 
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USA Team Event assignments are unknown at the moment (although Japan has already revealed Yuma for SP and Shun for LP). My preference is Ilia SP and Andrew LP. But never has my preference made any difference in a skating outcome. :laugh:
 
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