Gorshkova began skating at age four and switched from singles to ice dancing at age ten.[1] After their coach, Tatiana Kuzmina, was killed in a car accident in July 2007, Gorshkova and Butikov began working with Elena Tchaikovskaia, Ksenia Rumiantseva, and Petr Durnev.[1]
Gorshkova is studying Cultural and Social Anthropology at the University of Latvia.[citation needed]