Figure skating is an extremely difficult sport because of the technical aspects involved. Beyond just spatial awareness, honed skills, and unending stamina, the athlete also needs finesse and grace. While moving through the ice at an explosive speed, these can be very difficult to maintain. As a result, the chances of injuries reach an exponential rate for figure skaters. One American legend with a couple of medals under his belt learned this the hard way.

Andrew Torgashev went missing from the athletic world after winning the silver medal at the 2019 CS Asian Open Trophy. When he did not appear in the 2020 World Junior Championships, it was a shock to the figure skating community. After a period of suspense, Torgashev has resurfaced and revealed how he was on the brink of retirement.

Figure skating icon suffers foot injury

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and Andrew Torgashev was no exception. The break put his body in a passive mode that he was dying to get out of. When he finally hit the ice once more, he put the reps in and pushed his body to its limits. He was trying to get back in shape and redeem himself for finishing fifth and eighth at the 2020 U.S. Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships, respectively. In hindsight, this was a bad decision.

Speaking to Fanzone US Figure Skating, Torgashev revealed, “I couldn’t stand on the ball of my foot, so all landings were very painful. Takeoff for loop, flip and Lutz was painful, and it’s a killer because it’s not like I’m in a full-body cast or anything crazy…I can’t use my right foot, and that’s unfortunately a big part of this sport”.

The doctors told him that he had suffered a stress fracture in his metatarsals. There was also a dislocation in the metatarsals that prevented proper healing. He expressed his regret, saying, “I didn’t want to retire on that last season”. However, his body did not permit him, and he knew the price of not paying heed to his body’s needs. After two years, he is back to figure skating, but it is not smooth sailing for the Team USA staple.

Andrew Torgashev’s gritty comeback

Andrew Torgashev’s legs have healed, but he has had to adapt his jump to his new physical condition. Because of his long absence, he lost his place in Team USA and needed to earn his way through the sectionals of the U.S. Championships. He said, “When I was first competing again, it felt like starting from scratch”.

During these two years of absence, he was written off from the conversation around top figure skaters and had to earn his place back on the table. This has given him a new perspective on the sport, and he would never take anything for granted ever again.

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He is back at the top of the figure skating world after finishing second in the 2023 Eastern Sectional Singles Final. He also qualified for the U.S. Championships and made the World Championships team by placing third in the nationals. Torgashev was placed 21st in the World Championships in Saitama, Japan, and will be carrying this momentum to the Olympics. In that regard, he said, “My ultimate goal is to be on the 2026 Olympic team”. For now, he is enjoying being back in the sport that he loves and cherishes.

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