ANDREW

Profile Name Andrew Speroff Birthday May 19, 1988 Birthplace Newark, New Jersey Hometown Colorado Springs, Colorado

Biography

Andrew Speroff was born May 19, 1988, in Newark, New Jersey.

He began skating at 8 years old. "My sister and I were in Learn to Skate. When my sister started taking private lessons I kept pestering my parents to let me take lessons," Andrew said.

Andrew skated singles for several years. He was a regional medalist and Junior National Medalist at the juvenile level as well as a regional medalist at the Intermediate level.

After turning to pairs at age 13,  he teamed up with Rachael Flatt.

The team was successful early in their partnership. "I paired up with Rachael Flatt just for fun, in a few short months we were the Juvenile Pairs Junior National Silver Medalists," Andrew said.

The pair then went on to win gold medal at the 2004 Junior National Intermediate Pairs Championships. But the following season Andrew made the decision to quit skating, leaving Flatt to focus on singles.

"I quit skating when I was 15 years old for a little over six months, missing the entire qualifying season," Andrew said. "I realized how much I loved and missed skating and competing and decided to come back to skating and pairs." 

He teamed up with Arielle Avant for the 2005-06 season. Together, they won the silver medal at the Southwestern Regional Championships and later finished fifth at the sectional competition.

Andrew eventually paired with Amanda Luchau for the next season. At the Midwestern Sectional Championships in November 2006, the team won the novice pairs gold medal to qualify for the 2007 U.S. Championships. They finished fifth but parted ways in August.

"I was faced with sitting out the season when my coach Dalilah Sappenfield suggested I try out with Brittany. We had a great tryout and decided to skate together," Andrew said. But the partnership presented its challenges.

"Brittany had never skated pairs before so she had to take all of her pair tests in a week in order for us to get our paperwork in for the qualifying competitions by the Sept. 1 deadline," he said.

Brittany passed the tests in time for them to compete at Midwesterns. At sectionals, they won the short program but finished second overall in novice pairs, which qualified them for the 2008 U.S. Championships. The team won the silver medal at nationals.

The U.S. Championships is his favorite competition because "I love to compete in front of large crowds," said Andrew, who skates in SP-Teri boots.

Andrew is currently a full-time college student at Pikes Peak Community College. After finishing his degree within the next few years, he would like to become a figure skating coach or possibly move up in the Olympic Training Center Organization, where he currently works.

"I work at the Olympic Training Center in their Aquatics Department as a Lifeguard," Andrew said. "I love working there and I get paid to work out in their gym as part of my job, which I really love."

He met Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps his first day on the job.

Andrew's hobbies are cycling, skiing (both water and snow) and hanging out with his friends. He also likes to play with his two dogs.

Fast Facts

• "I have two dogs which I call 'the boys' a golden retriever named Tucker and a golden chow mix named Rudy. Tucker likes to sleep in my bed."

• "My sister Allison, who works at U.S. Figure Skating Headquarters, was on a synchronized skating team that won the U.S. juvenile bronze medal."

• "I love to road bike with my Dad and/or Rockne Brubaker."