Bradie Tennell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bradie Tennell
Tennell at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy
Personal information
Country represented	United States
Born	(1998-01-31) January 31, 1998 (age 27) Winfield, Illinois, United States
Home town	Cary, Illinois
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Coach	Benoit Richaud Jeremy Allen
Skating club	Skating Club of New York
Began skating	2000

Bradie Tennell (born January 31, 1998) is an American figure skater. She is known for her amazing jumps and how consistently she lands them. Bradie has won a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympic team event, a bronze medal at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, and is a two-time U.S. national champion (winning in 2018 and 2021).

Bradie started skating when she was just two years old. Even though she had some foot problems early on, she loved the ice. She quickly moved up through the ranks, becoming a senior-level skater in 2016. After dealing with a back injury for two seasons, she made a big comeback in 2017. She won the gold medal at the 2018 U.S. Nationals and then competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Bradie's Life Story

Bradie Tennell was born on January 31, 1998, in Winfield, Illinois. Her mom, Jean Tennell, was a nurse and raised Bradie and her two younger brothers, who played ice hockey. Bradie and her brothers were homeschooled and took online classes.

Bradie's love for skating started very early. When she was just two, she would ask her mom to take her to the ice rink. Her first rink was in Crystal Lake, Illinois. When she was seven, Bradie drew a picture of herself on an Olympic podium, with her heroes Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi beside her. This showed her big dreams! At age ten, she started working with coach Denise Myers, who helped her for many years. Bradie even taught lessons to younger skaters at her rink in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, before her own training.

Bradie's Skating Journey

Starting Out in Skating

Bradie won her first competition when she was ten years old. In 2010, at age 12, she placed first at a regional competition, which allowed her to compete at the 2010 U.S. Junior Nationals. She finished 10th there. Her goal for the next year was to master her double axel jump.

In 2013, Bradie won a bronze medal at the U.S. Nationals in the novice division. This was her first important medal. She showed off her skills even with only a few triple jumps in her program.

Her Big Break in 2015

The 2014–2015 season was a huge one for Bradie. At the 2015 U.S. Championships, she won the gold medal in the junior division. She skated a nearly perfect program, winning by a large margin. Bradie later said she didn't expect to win, but it was a big step towards her dream of competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

However, just three months after her big win, Bradie fractured her back. She had to wear a back brace for the summer of 2015.

Dealing with Injuries

Bradie continued to face challenges with back injuries. In June 2016, she had the same injury again, but in a different part of her back. She had to wear a back brace and stay off the ice for three months, doing a lot of physical therapy. This was a tough time for her, but her mom helped her stay strong and not give up. Bradie said this experience made her love figure skating even more and gave her new motivation. Her coach praised her for her toughness, saying it was never a question of if she would come back, but when.

Despite her struggles, Bradie made her senior international debut in November 2016, finishing third at the Tallinn Trophy.

Road to the 2018 Olympics

The 2017–2018 season was amazing for Bradie because she was finally injury-free. She started as a lesser-known skater but ended the year as a U.S. champion and an Olympic medalist! She chose music from the Korean film Taegukgi for her short program, which was a special choice since the 2018 Olympics were in Korea. Her free skate was set to music from Cinderella.

Bradie won her first event of the season, the 2017 Philadelphia Summer International. This earned her an invitation to Skate America, her first major Grand Prix event as a senior skater. She surprised everyone by performing two perfect routines and winning a bronze medal. This was a huge step and put her in the running for the U.S. Olympic team.

At the U.S. Championships, Bradie skated two more flawless programs, showing off her strong jumps. She was in first place after the short program and continued her excellent performance in the free skate. She won her first U.S. Nationals gold medal! Bradie, along with Mirai Nagasu and Karen Chen, were chosen for the U.S. Olympic team.

Olympic Debut and Beyond

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Bradie skated a clean short program for the team competition. She landed all her jumps perfectly and helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal! She was very happy with her performance, saying she couldn't have asked for a better first program at the Olympics.

In the individual event, Bradie had a rare fall during her short program, but she recovered quickly and skated the rest of her program cleanly. She finished ninth overall, the highest placement among the American women. After the Olympics, famous skaters like Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton praised her mental toughness.

New Challenges and Growth (2018-2020)

For the 2018–2019 season, Bradie wanted to show a new side to her skating, focusing on being more expressive. Her choreographer, Benoit Richaud, said she was "still under construction" but was building on her strong technical skills. She added more difficult jump combinations to her programs.

Bradie won her first senior international title at the 2018 CS Autumn Classic International, beating a two-time world champion. She showed great power and grace. She also won the 2018 CS Golden Spin. At the 2019 U.S. Championships, she set a new record for the highest short program score at Nationals. She finished second overall, earning a silver medal.

In 2019, Bradie helped the U.S. team win the World Team Trophy. She skated one of the best free programs of her career, setting a new U.S. record score.

For the 2019–2020 season, Bradie worked on her artistry and expression. She had a stress fracture in her foot but still managed to perform well. She won a silver medal at 2019 Skate America, her first silver at a Grand Prix event. She also competed in her first Grand Prix Final.

At the 2020 U.S. Nationals, Bradie again set a new record for the short program score. She finished third overall, earning a bronze medal. She then won a bronze medal at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, becoming the first American woman to medal there since 2017.

Skating During COVID and Another National Title (2020-2021)

In August 2020, Bradie changed coaches to Tom Zakrajsek and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for training. She worked on adding a triple Axel and quadruple jumps to her skills. She won her second U.S. Nationals title in 2021, three years after her first win. This was a special achievement, as she was the first woman in over 100 years to have such a gap between national titles. She credited her new coach for helping her regain her consistency.

Bradie and Karen Chen were chosen to represent the U.S. at the 2021 World Championships. Bradie finished ninth, and her placement, along with Karen's, helped secure two spots for the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Bradie also helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2021 World Team Trophy.

Foot Injury and Comeback (2021-2023)

Unfortunately, Bradie had to withdraw from the 2021-22 Grand Prix season and the 2022 U.S. Championships due to a foot injury. This meant she couldn't compete in the Olympics unless she petitioned for a spot. She called it "the hardest decision of my life" but promised to return.

After months of healing, Bradie began training in France with Benoit Richaud and Cedric Tour in Nice. She wanted to try new training methods and look at skating in a different way. She even started learning French!

Bradie faced more ups and downs in the 2022–2023 season. She had to withdraw from some early competitions due to an ankle injury. At the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, she struggled but kept fighting. She then won a silver medal at the 2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, her first podium finish of the season.

At the 2023 U.S. Championships in San Jose, California, Bradie placed a very close second in the short program. She skated a strong and modern program. She finished second overall, winning a silver medal, which was a big comeback for her. She later revealed she had been sick at the Four Continents Championships but was proud of her control.

Another Injury and Future (2023-2025)

The 2023-2024 season started well for Bradie, as she won some smaller competitions. However, she had to withdraw from the rest of the season after breaking her ankle during training. This was her second ankle injury in three years. She had surgery to insert a plate and screws, and then another surgery to remove it. She said it was "devastating" but was determined to come back stronger.

Going into the 2024-2025 season, Bradie reported feeling "100% healthy" after five months off the ice. She continued training with Benoit Richaud remotely. She made her return at the 2024 Shanghai Trophy, where she won a silver medal. She also competed at 2024 Skate America, where she finished fifth, and the 2024 NHK Trophy, where she finished fifth. She then won a bronze medal at the 2024 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.

Bradie's Skating Style

Bradie Tennell is known for her amazing consistency, strong jumps, and mental toughness. Commentators have called her "a machine" because she rarely falls in competitions. Her ability to land difficult jumps consistently helps her earn high scores. Bradie credits her first coach, Denise Myers, for teaching her excellent technique. She also says her mom's support has been key to her success.

Bradie has said she's "never been a nervous competitor" and enjoys the challenge of jumps and performing for an audience. While her jumps and spins are nearly perfect, she has also worked hard to show more emotion and artistry in her skating.

Programs

Competitive Highlights

Images for kids

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  Bradie Tennell at the 2017 Junior Worlds Championships

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  Tennell at the 2018 Internationaux de France

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  Tennell performing during the Exhibition at the 2018 Internationaux de France

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  Tennell during the Exhibition at the 2018 Internationaux de France

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  Tennell during her short program at the 2019 Grand Prix Final

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  Tennell performing her free skate during the 2019 Grand Prix Final

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  Tennell during her free skate at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy

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  The women's podium at the 2018 Internationaux de France. From left: Mai Mihara (2nd), Rika Kihira (1st), and Bradie Tennell (3rd)

See also

In Spanish: Bradie Tennell para niños