ST. LOUIS — When Bradie Tennell stepped onto the ice at the Enterprise Center for her short program at the 2026 U.S. Championships, it marked more than just a competitive appearance. It was the culmination of a two-year journey back to elite competition for one of the most accomplished skaters in recent U.S. history.
Tennell, a two-time U.S. champion, 2018 Olympian, and member of the Olympic team event bronze-medal team, had largely stepped back from competition following the 2023–24 season. The answer to whether she would return, delivered emphatically this week, was yes.
"I just wasn't ready to stop," Tennell said. "I had more to give and I wanted to compete at the highest level again. I had to be patient with myself, but I never lost the drive."
Working with coach Tom Zakrajsek in Colorado Springs, Tennell overhauled her programs and focused on rebuilding the consistency that defined her best seasons. The work paid off at the 2025 Four Continents Championships, where she claimed the silver medal — her first international podium in several years — and continued this week in St. Louis, where she finished fourth overall with 211.48, delivering two of the cleanest performances of the week.
Her free skate to "The Mission" by Ennio Morricone showcased the technical precision and quiet artistry that have always set her apart from the field.
"Fourth place isn't where I want to finish," she said with a smile after the free skate. "But I'm proud of what I put out there. I'm not done yet."