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Ryan Bradley

Bradley at the 2008 Skate Canada
Personal information
Country represented:	United States
Date of birth:	November 17, 1983 (1983-11-17) (age 26)
Place of birth:	Saint Joseph, Missouri
Residence:	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Height:	180 cm (71 in)
Former partner:	Tiffany Vise
Coach:	Tom Zakrajsek, Becky Calvin
Former choreographer:	Nikolai Morozov Braden Overett
Skating club:	Broadmoor SC
ISU personal best scores
Combined total:	212.75 2008 Skate Canada
Short program:	72.50 2008 Skate Canada
Free skate:	140.25 2008 Skate Canada

Ryan Bradley (born November 17, 1983 in Saint Joseph, Missouri) is an American figure skater. He is the 2007 U.S. silver medalist and three time U.S. Collegiate Champion. Bradley is known for his crowd-pleasing programs and backflips.

Biography

Personal life

Bradley comes from a family of skaters. His parents were skaters, and his sister, Becky Bradley, is a skating coach and former competitive skater.

Bradley studies business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is a volunteer at the Broadmoor Skating Club and a coach at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

Career

Ryan Bradley began skating at the age of two in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program.

From 1996-1998, Bradley competed in pair skating with Tiffany Vise.^[1]. They competed twice at the United States Figure Skating Championships.

At the same time, Bradley was also competing as a single skater. He won the silver medal on the Intermediate level at the Junior Olympics (later renamed Junior Nationals) in the 1994-1995 season.

The 1995-1996 season was Bradley first on the Novice level, and he did not make it out of Sectionals. In the 1996-1997 season, he placed 7th at the novice level at Nationals. In the 1997-1998 season, Bradley won the silver medal on the novice level at Nationals. This win earned him a trip to the Triglav Trophy, which he won.

The following season, 1998-1999, Bradley debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix. He won medals at both his events. At that time, the World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held before the U.S. Championships. At the Junior Worlds selection competition, Bradley placed second and was placed on the team for the 1999 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, where he placed 10th. At the 1999 United States Figure Skating Championships, he won the Junior title. He competed at the Gardena Spring Trophy following Nationals and won the competition.

In the 1999-2000 season, Bradley remained on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. He won two more medals and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where he finished 8th. He went on to place 7th in his senior debut at the 2000 United States Figure Skating Championships. He went on to place 5th at the 2000 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

In the 2000-2001 season, Bradley won both of his Junior Grand Prix events and made his senior international debut at the Golden Spin of Zagreb, which he won. He placed 5th at the Junior Grand Prix Final. He placed 9th at the 2001 United States Figure Skating Championships. He was originally placed on the team for the 2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. However, he was forced to withdraw prior to the event with injury. His vacated spot was given to Evan Lysacek.

In the 2001-2002 season, U.S. Figure Skating did not allow American skaters to compete on the Junior Grand Prix because of security concerns following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Bradley placed 7th at the 2002 United States Figure Skating Championships. He went on to the 2002 World Junior Figure Skating Championships and placed 15th.

In the 2002-2003 season, he competed at the Karl Shafer Memorial, placing 4th. He made his Grand Prix debut at the 2003 Skate Canada International, where he placed 6th. He was 9th at the 2003 United States Figure Skating Championships.

In the 2003-2004 season, he placed 6th at the 2004 United States Figure Skating Championships. He made his senior ISU Championship debut at the 2004 Four Continents Championships, where he placed 11th.

He took most of the 2004-2005 season off. He competed in the 2005-2006 season, hoping to contend for a spot to the 2006 Winter Olympics. He placed 8th at the 2006 United States Figure Skating Championships.

Bradley performing a backflip in exhibition at the 2006 Skate America

In the 2006-2007 season, he was given a host invitation to the 2006 Skate America due to the reitrement of skaters who had placed ahead of him at the 2006 Nationals. Bradley placed 8th.

At the 2007 United States Figure Skating Championships, Bradley held 3rd place after the short program. He skated last in the free skate, and won the silver medal, ahead of defending champion Johnny Weir. Upon learning that he had won the silver, Bradley skated back onto the ice and performed a backflip for the crowd.

Bradley went on to the 2007 Four Continents Championships, held at his home rink, the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he placed fourth behind training-mate Jeremy Abbott.

In the 2007-2008 season, Bradley competed on the Grand Prix circuit with a 6th place finish at Skate America and a 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard. He finished 5th at the 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships.

Bradley began the 2008-2009 season at the 2008 Skate Canada International, where he won the silver medal. He then placed 7th at 2008 Trophee Eric Bompard. At the 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships Bradley finished 4th.

Commercials and endorsements

Bradley appeared in a commercial for Fuji Xerox with Stephane Lambiel, wearing heavy makeup to appear as an old man. He performed a backflip in this commercial. Due to its popularity, Fuji released a second one explaining how it was done.

Programs

Competitive highlights

Singles career

Post-2003

• Bradley did not compete in the 2004-2005 season.

Pre-2003

• N = Novice level; J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

Pairs career

(with Tiffany Vise)

• N = Novice level

References

External links

• Official site
• Ryan Bradley at the International Skating Union
• Ryan Bradley at the United States Figure Skating Association