Olympic hopeful and Irvine-based figure skater Andrew Torgashev hopes to qualify for one of three spots on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Less than a month before the Milano Cortina Games, the final qualifying event for figure skaters will be held this weekend.
“The idea of representing the United States at the Olympics is crazy,” Torgashev said. “If I can achieve that, and I’m doing everything in my power to achieve that, that would be goal complete for me.”
Torgashev, 24, first started figure skating 20 years ago. His parents are former Soviet skating stars and his first coaches.
Originally from Florida, Torgashev moved to Colorado Springs and then to Orange County, where he started training at Great Park Ice. The facility is also where he began learning from famed Olympic coach Rafael Arutyunyan, who helped 2022 Olympic Champion Nathan Chen earn a gold medal.
“Out of the whole world, Raf was the only person that I could go to to develop my skating even further,” Torgashev said.
As Torgashev looks to qualify for his first Olympics, his skating style is what he wants to show the world the most.
“I put my emotions into my skating,” Torgashev said. “Every program, I try to perform to the best of my ability. It takes a lot of vulnerability (and) a lot of emotion to get to that point.”
Torgashev, who is currently in fifth place after his short program on Wednesday, will perform his free skate program Saturday night.
The figure skaters who will represent Team USA will be announced on Sunday.