About Igor Goroshko
That would be too much text! In short, I was born in Kyrgyzstan and moved to Ukraine when I was 20.

What is the most interesting challenge you competed on at Topcoder and why?
NASA Marathon challenge in 2009. This was my first marathon challenge, so I didn’t have any experience, but I managed to get 2nd place in the room. I won a t-shirt + $200. This was my first prize winning on Topcoder!

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?
My most memorable Topcoder challenge was also the NASA Marathon challenge in 2009.

Who do you think is the most fierce or talented coder at Topcoder and why?
Petr and tourist. But, if I need to choose one, it would be tourist. I think he started winning algorithm competitions before he even learned to walk! :-)

What is the programming language you most relate to and why?
C# is the most used programming language in my daily work.

What do you do when not working?
Sports activities, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Where do you work? Tell us about your space(s).
Mostly at home. Sometimes I work during travel.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?
It depends on my mood. I listen to different kinds of music including alternative rock, pop, epic, etc.

What is the dream project you want to build, design, or solve for?
The project that would make people happy.

What’s the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other members at Topcoder?
Pay attention to detail and code quality. And, keep learning!

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Great international community!

What are you most excited about for this year’s TCO Finals?
This year my girlfriend (julia_vladi) is TCO finalist, QA track! Hopefully, her visa will be approved and we will have a great time traveling together!

Do you strive to be at TCO every year and if so, why does it matter to you?
Meet other members in person and have some fun!

What was your secret to getting a ticket for the TCO finals more than once?
Well, nothing special I think. Just compete and win enough challenges. It is not as hard as winning a ticket for algorithm track.