A lot of magicians and singers have won America’s Got Talent, but it’s the danger acts that always capture the audience’s attention, especially judge Simon Cowell, who one year created a special version—America’s Got Talent: Extreme—that only featured the death-defying acts.
But they still continue to be a part of regular AGT, and July 14’s episode featured Ukrainian aerial pole artist Veronika Goroshkova.
Who Is Veronika Goroshkova? The Ukrainian Aerialist Who Moved the AGT Judges’ Seats
“When I was a little girl in Ukraine, I always wanted to be onstage,” she said in her video package. “My mom always [encouraged] me to chase my dreams, so I leave Ukraine four years ago and I moved to America. It was so hard to leave my family, but I am so excited my mother came to see my performance on America’s Got Talent.
“She’s like a sister and a friend, she not only gives me support, I feel she understands me. I have been doing this act all my life. I always watched America’s Got Talent. It was my dream to perform on this show. This was my dream to show the world what I can do.”
Unlike previous aerial acts that performed on the AGT main stage, Veronika’s platform was built behind the judges’ table so that Simon, Sofia Vergara, Mel B and Howie Mandel had to move their seats to be able to watch the young aerialist perform her take-your-breath-away act.
“What’s interesting, you mentioned the Olympics,” Simon told Veronika when she finished. “That felt like a Gold Medal performance in every way, your showmanship, it was so difficult. I loved that you put the stage [behind us] so we were looking at things from a different perspective. You see how hard and dangerous this is. I think that was perfection.”
Why Sofia Vergara Hit Her Golden Buzzer for Veronika Goroshkova
Sofia jumped in, attempting to fake Veronika out as to her intentions. “I was really, really into it in a way, but we were at a weird angle to look at it. We’ve seen a lot of these kinds of acts. But I don’t know why I have this feeling…I’m going to do this right now.”
And the audience, which had been booing her for not appreciating Veronika, turned to cheering as Sofia hit the Golden Buzzer.
Backstage, Sofia said, “I have to say, you deserved it. That was amazing. I was, ‘How is this happening before our eyes. It’s so dangerous.’ I’ve never seen it like that. She was doing it with a smile. She was making it look so easy, but I know it wasn’t. It takes years and years of preparation to be this good.”
Veronica said, “I can’t believe this. For me, it’s like magic.”
Then Sofia said, “ She was going to make it anyway. All the way to the top without me, but I just wanted to give her a little push.”
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Streams next day on Peacock.