Andrew Torgashev
An American figure skater whose explosive artistry and technical command have made him a thrilling and resilient force in the sport's new generation.
Born 2001 (age 25)·American figure skater·Birthday: May 29·Generation Z
Biography
Andrew Torgashev won the U.S. national junior figure skating title in 2015. Born in Coral Springs, Florida, he brought raw power and creative potential to the ice. His career path became a narrative of comeback and refinement. He stepped away from competition for a period. He returned with a matured style, blending formidable quad jumps with a unique, expressive edge. His performances carry a palpable risk-taking energy. In the mid-2020s, he earned prestigious medals on the Grand Prix circuit and repeated podium finishes at the U.S. Championships. He became a principal contender on the world stage.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Andrew was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the bronze medal at the 2024 Grand Prix de France, a key event in the international figure skating circuit.
- Secured the silver medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in both 2025 and 2026.
- Captured the U.S. national junior championship title in 2015.
- Earned the silver medal at the 2019 Asian Open Trophy.
- Claimed the bronze medal at the 2016 Tallinn Trophy.
Did You Know?
He is known for incorporating a backflip into some of his exhibition programs, a move banned in competitive skating but a crowd-pleaser in shows.
His mother, Ilona Melichenko, was a competitive figure skater who represented the Soviet Union.
He trained under the coaching of his mother and father, Arthur Torgashev, for much of his early career.
He took a significant break from competition after the 2020 season before making a successful return.
“My skating is about blending athletic jumps with artistic expression on the ice.”
