Andrew Torgashev

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Men's singles figure skating
• Son of Ilona Melnichenko and Artem Torgashev, both former competitive skaters for the Soviet Union; has a younger sister named Deana
• Fluent in English and Russian
• Enjoys photography, hiking, surfing, biking, golf, tennis, rock climbing, painting and art, and cooking
• Earned the nickname “Pizza King” for eating pizza 53 days in a row
• Has a Dutch Shepherd dog named Cosmos
• Hopes to travel across the world to experience different cultures and climb mountains

Biographical Information

Andrew Torgashev grew up immersed in skating as the son of Ilona Melnichenko, the 1987 ISU World Junior ice dance champion, and Artem Torgashev, who earned silver in pairs at the same event representing the Soviet Union. He began skating at age 3, and the sport became a family affair with both his parents serving as his first coaches and his younger sister Deana also skating alongside him. Torgashev showed exceptional promise early in his career, winning the 2015 U.S. junior national title at just 13 years old, making him one of the youngest American junior champions in history.

Torgashev's career trajectory has been marked by both breakthrough achievements and significant setbacks. In June 2015, he fractured his right ankle while practicing a quadruple toe loop, requiring surgery to insert three screws and causing him to miss an entire season. He returned to competition in 2016 and quickly regained his form, winning silver at the Junior Grand Prix in Russia and earning bronze at the Tallinn Trophy. In 2018, he captured gold at the Junior Grand Prix in Lithuania, but a fractured toe forced him to withdraw from the Junior Grand Prix Final. His determination was tested again when a foot injury required ankle surgery, sidelining him for the entire 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons during an extensive rehabilitation process.

The 2023 season marked Torgashev's triumphant return to competitive skating. Torgashev exceeded all predictions by placing fifth in the short program and winning the free skate, ultimately capturing the bronze medal with a total score of 255.56 points. The performance earned him his first World Championships assignment. He followed this success with silver medals at the 2025 and 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, establishing himself as a consistent podium threat at the national level. On the international stage, he won bronze at the 2024 Grand Prix de France.

Torgashev has developed a reputation for his artistic expression and technical ambition. Torgashev is half-Ukrainian with family still living in the country, participating in ice shows to raise money for humanitarian aid. Off the ice, he balances his competitive career with coaching at Great Park Ice, where he shares his passion for skating and the lessons the sport has taught him. His diverse interests include outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing, as well as creative pursuits in photography and painting, reflecting his belief in the freedom and personal growth that skating provides.

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – 22th (Singles - Men)
• Years of participation: Singles - Men 2023, 2025
• Top finish: 21th – 2023 (Singles - Men)

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian
• Olympic Games Milan 2026, 12th (Singles - Men)