Andrew Torgashev
- Thread starter el henry
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- Mar 3, 2014
I don't think this has been posted before? A short interview with Andrew about his hopes for the season (This station has a few interviews with skaters, I think with sound bites from the summer or early fall)
But the best part is Andrew describing how he became interested in skating. His parents were at the rink 12 hours a day coaching. The babysitter at home was an old Soviet school teacher. So it was either learn math in Russian or learn to skate.
But the best part is Andrew describing how he became interested in skating. His parents were at the rink 12 hours a day coaching. The babysitter at home was an old Soviet school teacher. So it was either learn math in Russian or learn to skate.
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- Aug 11, 2025
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- Nov 3, 2012
After NHK, I didn't know what to say. A lot of things went through my mind, but I didn't want to post any of them. And then I had Christmas projects to work on so I was not really on GS. I have time today, so I thought I'd post here. I do have the links to Andrew's programs at NHK, though I'm not sure whether any of us will want to rewatch. I haven't since I made the clips. 
2025 NHK Trophy - Short Program
2025 NHK Trophy - Free Skate
As disappointing as the NHK FS was, I still think it was better than 2025 Worlds. He landed one quad and all the triples, despite missing both Axels. Without looking it up, I know that his FS score was higher than at 2025 Worlds. He got a new FS costume, all black. It's nice, but I liked the other one too. Given how most of last season went, his jump issues are a little surprising, especially his popping things. However, he only attempted two 4Ts at Nationals and Worlds last season, so two quads in a program is "new-ish" for him. I've noticed several qs and URs on his protocols lately. His hope to give the selection committee no doubts about him when picking teams hasn't really materialized this season, unfortunately. Andrew has been MIA from social media since NHK beyond pictures with other skaters at holiday shows. Most of all, I hope Andrew can regroup mentally from his disappointing GPs. Hearing him talk about how hard it was/is to rebound from 2025 Worlds was so relatable but also hard to hear. After France and NHK, I thought, "Oh, here's more programs he'd rather forget about." Olympics or not, I hope he will be more pleased with his outing at Nationals than with either GP outing. The Nebelhorn FS went well, though. He has yet to do a completely clean SP this season.
His last interview with Polina was enlightening, yet again. Polina asked him what his biggest challenge was and, in summary, he said finances. I remember watching NHK last season and being surprised by his "money" K&C comment. After this interview, it makes so much sense now. I may bring back the thread about the role of fans in skaters' careers to share his comments. His response reminded me that for every skater, there are factors that fans don't see. and there's so much going on for each of them. Even hearing him talk about what happened at 2025 Worlds showed me that for as much as we can opine on forums, only the skaters know what they're going through in any program.
Did you catch when Andrew mentioned to Polina, "If things are going well, why not go another four?" We shall see. Nationals will be emotional no matter which skaters get sent where. It's so soon and I don't know if I'm ready.
2025 NHK Trophy - Short Program
2025 NHK Trophy - Free Skate
As disappointing as the NHK FS was, I still think it was better than 2025 Worlds. He landed one quad and all the triples, despite missing both Axels. Without looking it up, I know that his FS score was higher than at 2025 Worlds. He got a new FS costume, all black. It's nice, but I liked the other one too. Given how most of last season went, his jump issues are a little surprising, especially his popping things. However, he only attempted two 4Ts at Nationals and Worlds last season, so two quads in a program is "new-ish" for him. I've noticed several qs and URs on his protocols lately. His hope to give the selection committee no doubts about him when picking teams hasn't really materialized this season, unfortunately. Andrew has been MIA from social media since NHK beyond pictures with other skaters at holiday shows. Most of all, I hope Andrew can regroup mentally from his disappointing GPs. Hearing him talk about how hard it was/is to rebound from 2025 Worlds was so relatable but also hard to hear. After France and NHK, I thought, "Oh, here's more programs he'd rather forget about." Olympics or not, I hope he will be more pleased with his outing at Nationals than with either GP outing. The Nebelhorn FS went well, though. He has yet to do a completely clean SP this season.
His last interview with Polina was enlightening, yet again. Polina asked him what his biggest challenge was and, in summary, he said finances. I remember watching NHK last season and being surprised by his "money" K&C comment. After this interview, it makes so much sense now. I may bring back the thread about the role of fans in skaters' careers to share his comments. His response reminded me that for every skater, there are factors that fans don't see. and there's so much going on for each of them. Even hearing him talk about what happened at 2025 Worlds showed me that for as much as we can opine on forums, only the skaters know what they're going through in any program.
Did you catch when Andrew mentioned to Polina, "If things are going well, why not go another four?" We shall see. Nationals will be emotional no matter which skaters get sent where. It's so soon and I don't know if I'm ready.
I hadn't seen NHK before, both programs were pretty lackluster along with the jump mistakes. Andrew looked so distraught afterwards and has been very quiet since then. He isn't out of the conversation, but his chances of making the Olympic team look much harder now than they did a few months ago (especially with Tomoki and others nipping at his heels).
We'll see what happens at Nationals and afterwards, but if it is disappointing he may or may not stick around for another quad. He isn't the only one getting more qs and URs this season, but we know he has financial struggles and it may not be worth it to keep going.
His short program at Nebelhorn was pretty good and he fell twice in the FS. It is still on YouTube and the 4T was lovely with the other jumps a little shaky. If only he could skate both cleanly at Nationals:
www.youtube.com
We'll see what happens at Nationals and afterwards, but if it is disappointing he may or may not stick around for another quad. He isn't the only one getting more qs and URs this season, but we know he has financial struggles and it may not be worth it to keep going.
His short program at Nebelhorn was pretty good and he fell twice in the FS. It is still on YouTube and the 4T was lovely with the other jumps a little shaky. If only he could skate both cleanly at Nationals:
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- Mar 3, 2014
I have been sitting with myself, trying to reconcile how much I love Andrew with how much I love a certain other skater, and realizing that Andrew must have been so frustrated and out of sorts to make comments I'm sure he didn't mean the way they sounded (and I am being deliberately vague. IYKYK. This is Andrew's FF, and we send him all the good vibes.)
But I hope he taking this time to direct that passion into his skating and to display it at Nats. Mostly so that we can see the skates we know he can provide.
But I hope he taking this time to direct that passion into his skating and to display it at Nats. Mostly so that we can see the skates we know he can provide.
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2025
I can understand what he wanted to say. He and a lot of skaters risked injury to work on quads and they created new programs because it's the Olympic season and they want to have something new and improved. New programs cost money and a lot of work on the ice. And then someone comes along warms up an old program which he even already used at Olympics and no improvement in jumps and gets celebrated for it.
But to be honest. Andrew maybe had to work harder for his chances than this other skater but he got his chances. He got the ticket to worlds and he got 2 GP assignments. He didn't use his chances very well. He could have done better and that's nobody's fault but his own.
But I am still his fan and I hope he can skate clean at Nationals. Everything else is not in his controll anyway. But a clean skate would be good so he can feel like he did everything he could do even if he doesn't get the ticket to Milano.
But to be honest. Andrew maybe had to work harder for his chances than this other skater but he got his chances. He got the ticket to worlds and he got 2 GP assignments. He didn't use his chances very well. He could have done better and that's nobody's fault but his own.
But I am still his fan and I hope he can skate clean at Nationals. Everything else is not in his controll anyway. But a clean skate would be good so he can feel like he did everything he could do even if he doesn't get the ticket to Milano.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
My (insignificant) two cents: Clearly something triggered Andrew to write what he wrote. Something clearly bothered him. He could have not said anything or phrased it differently. I am sorry it happened the way it did. But that doesn't give me license to call him names or cuss at him or cast him off as a terrible person forever, or even call him a terrible skater. I am a stranger on the internet who will never know Andrew personally, and in that sense my opinion doesn't matter. We as fans experience skating as a spectator sport, but the skaters (all of them) devote significant portions of their lives to this activity, that we choose to consume as spectators. It is their opinions that matter, since they are the people who know each other personally.
The more years I am a skating fan, the more I realize I am merely an observer. I have no power to change anything in the sport or influence competition results or change how skaters behave. I stay silent about drama, of all kinds (skating judging, skating politics, interpersonal issues between skaters, accusations, etc). That part of fandom holds no interest for me. I find I am able to separate the person from their skating, though it's wonderful if I enjoy both their skating and their personality. For me, it comes down to, do I enjoy watching Skater X when they are on the ice? The rest, I either am unaware of or choose to put to the side while watching their skating. And if I don't like their personality, I don't watch/read their stuff, simple as that. I recognize that not all skating fans are like me (if they were, GS would be a much less busy place, haha), but this is how I have chosen to be a skating fan. It's the most healthy way for me to do it. I like what I like in skating and choose to forget or ignore the rest.
I also have no control over whether other fans will choose to think or behave differently toward Andrew because of his actions. For myself, I still appreciate his skating and hope he has a Nationals that he can be at peace with. I also hope he chooses to keep competing a bit longer, but again, I have no control over that. In my skating fandom, I've learned to let go of what I can't control and not waste my energy.
The more years I am a skating fan, the more I realize I am merely an observer. I have no power to change anything in the sport or influence competition results or change how skaters behave. I stay silent about drama, of all kinds (skating judging, skating politics, interpersonal issues between skaters, accusations, etc). That part of fandom holds no interest for me. I find I am able to separate the person from their skating, though it's wonderful if I enjoy both their skating and their personality. For me, it comes down to, do I enjoy watching Skater X when they are on the ice? The rest, I either am unaware of or choose to put to the side while watching their skating. And if I don't like their personality, I don't watch/read their stuff, simple as that. I recognize that not all skating fans are like me (if they were, GS would be a much less busy place, haha), but this is how I have chosen to be a skating fan. It's the most healthy way for me to do it. I like what I like in skating and choose to forget or ignore the rest.
I also have no control over whether other fans will choose to think or behave differently toward Andrew because of his actions. For myself, I still appreciate his skating and hope he has a Nationals that he can be at peace with. I also hope he chooses to keep competing a bit longer, but again, I have no control over that. In my skating fandom, I've learned to let go of what I can't control and not waste my energy.
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- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Now that I've gotten going, here's some more short musings:
I think Andrew comes across better in long-form interviews like podcasts, because he has time to clarify his meaning and explain himself more. He comes across well if you take the time to listen to his responses all the way through. I can almost hear him thinking through what to say whenever he's being interviewed. As comfortable as he seems with Polina by now, I'm still sometimes surprised by the first sentence of his answers to her questions, but by the end of his explanation I'll go, "That makes sense." If we're all talking about the same one tweet, tweets by nature are short and pithy and you don't have space for nuance, nor can you "rephrase as you keep talking." Some people seem naturally comfortable in interviews with quick, ready answers. Andrew seems more reserved and needs time to gather his thoughts. That's the way I am, and I recognize it in others. I wonder what was actually on his mind right then. I wonder what he would have said if Polina had been there to ask him some version of, "Tell me what you mean by that." But alas, here we are. The funny thing is, I found out about this whole thing by accident when I googled Andrew's name and a another site thread about it was near the top of the results. I don't even use Twitter anymore, and I certainly don't go looking for controversy, about anyone. Frankly, I was surprised Andrew still read Twitter, let alone took the time to reply to anyone on there.
I think Andrew comes across better in long-form interviews like podcasts, because he has time to clarify his meaning and explain himself more. He comes across well if you take the time to listen to his responses all the way through. I can almost hear him thinking through what to say whenever he's being interviewed. As comfortable as he seems with Polina by now, I'm still sometimes surprised by the first sentence of his answers to her questions, but by the end of his explanation I'll go, "That makes sense." If we're all talking about the same one tweet, tweets by nature are short and pithy and you don't have space for nuance, nor can you "rephrase as you keep talking." Some people seem naturally comfortable in interviews with quick, ready answers. Andrew seems more reserved and needs time to gather his thoughts. That's the way I am, and I recognize it in others. I wonder what was actually on his mind right then. I wonder what he would have said if Polina had been there to ask him some version of, "Tell me what you mean by that." But alas, here we are. The funny thing is, I found out about this whole thing by accident when I googled Andrew's name and a another site thread about it was near the top of the results. I don't even use Twitter anymore, and I certainly don't go looking for controversy, about anyone. Frankly, I was surprised Andrew still read Twitter, let alone took the time to reply to anyone on there.
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It is hard to know someone's intention when you only see it in a short post. Andrew does tend to have long and detailed responses in the podcasts. He has had a rough time since Worlds, so it's good if he takes a break from searching for himself or reacting to negative posts.
I also hope that he skates well at Nationals and doesn't beat himself up too much no matter the outcome. The FS is on Saturday and then the team announcements are on Sunday afternoon so it will be very stressful for everyone!
I also hope that he skates well at Nationals and doesn't beat himself up too much no matter the outcome. The FS is on Saturday and then the team announcements are on Sunday afternoon so it will be very stressful for everyone!
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
I want to give you all fair warning - I may or may not be able to download and extract Nationals programs this year. I have a deadline for work and responsibilities for church. Furthermore, I don't know if Peacock is just T&J. The tile labeling does not inspire confidence.
If anyone finds videos of Andrew's programs elsewhere (Twitter, YouTube, etc), please bring them here and I may figure out how to download them. I may look in the Rewatch thread if there is one. As far as downloading from Peacock, I'll see if I have time before they disappear. But that's a big if.
Real life + Olympic year + NBC weirdness. Not a good mix. But, nonetheless, GO ANDREW!!!
If anyone finds videos of Andrew's programs elsewhere (Twitter, YouTube, etc), please bring them here and I may figure out how to download them. I may look in the Rewatch thread if there is one. As far as downloading from Peacock, I'll see if I have time before they disappear. But that's a big if.
Real life + Olympic year + NBC weirdness. Not a good mix. But, nonetheless, GO ANDREW!!!
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- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Honestly, Andrew's SP went better than I feared it would. He's in 5th with 84.99, very close to Max and Jason. Even Tomoki is only at 89 in 2nd. Andrew fell on the 4T, but it was not UR and he got up very quickly. The rest was sublime. In fact, he got positive GOE from every single judge on every single element except the fall, and Level 4s on all spins and steps. The crowd reaction seemed kind of quiet, so either the fall did it for them or they didn't respond as much to this music. This is no L'Enfer, but I still enjoyed it. Andrew surpassed my (low) expectations today!
I am torn, because I would like to have a copy of this skate but the stream is 6 hours long, and it's T&J. I guess I'll see if my hard drive has enough space left. 
YouTube has Ilia, Jason, and Max. NBC must upload by name recognition, because Tomoki is not there even though he finished 2nd.
On to the Free Skate! Tomoki being in 2nd was not on my bingo card. The Free Skate will be very interesting indeed. I'd say this was Andrew's best SP of the season so far despite the fall.
I am torn, because I would like to have a copy of this skate but the stream is 6 hours long, and it's T&J. I guess I'll see if my hard drive has enough space left.
YouTube has Ilia, Jason, and Max. NBC must upload by name recognition, because Tomoki is not there even though he finished 2nd.On to the Free Skate! Tomoki being in 2nd was not on my bingo card. The Free Skate will be very interesting indeed. I'd say this was Andrew's best SP of the season so far despite the fall.
The stream I was watching broke just when Andrew was starting. I didn’t get to see him but am glad it wasn’t a total disaster. He could move up in the free, even if the Olympics may be out of reach.
I knew that Tomoki was doing very well this season. Andrew has been less visible with some bad PR which may account for the muted crowd reaction. The totals are close, so the standings might change.
I knew that Tomoki was doing very well this season. Andrew has been less visible with some bad PR which may account for the muted crowd reaction. The totals are close, so the standings might change.
While using proper English one could take Raf at face value when he said, "His weakness is he had to stop working with me so much." But since he is not American, I think he meant Andrew's weakness is that he couldn't continue working with Raf as much as he could have and possibly get better results.found an interview
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Thoughts from others?
