2011 U.S. Champion Ryan Bradley Announces Retirement from Competitive Figure Skating
Ryan Bradley, the 2011 U.S. champion, announced today his retirement from competitive skating after more than a decade of international competition.
“This has been a long road and a great ride,” Bradley said. “Becoming U.S. champion was a dream come true, and I’m now at a point in my life where I can look back on my career and feel completely content.”
Bradley, who also took the silver at the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, represented the United States at three World Figure Skating Championships, enjoying his best finish (13th) last month in Moscow. He earned a pair of medals—silver at 2008 Skate Canada and bronze at 2009 Skate America—in the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Bradley also won three consecutive U.S. Collegiate titles (2005-07), and is the 1999 U.S. junior champion.
The St. Joseph, Mo., native trained with Tom Zakrajsek for more than 20 years. Bradley’s older sister, Rebecca, also helped him prepare this season for the U.S. and World championships.
“I want to thank my coaches, family and fans for sharing this journey with me,” Bradley said. “My career would not be what it was without Tom and Rebecca.”
Since 2007, Bradley has been mentored by 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano and his longtime coach Linda Leaver.
“A special thanks to Brian and Linda for supporting and encouraging me over the last several years,” he said.
Bradley, who trains at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colo., will remain active in the sport, appearing in skating shows, teaching seminars across the country and mentoring young skaters. He plans to maintain his eligibility to keep open the possibility of a return to competitive skating.
“I am looking forward to staying involved in the sport of figure skating,” he said. “I want to use my knowledge and passion to keep the sport moving in the right direction.”
Renee Felton
U.S. Figure Skating Communications
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– About U.S. Figure Skating –
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is made up of 743 member, collegiate and school-affiliated clubs and more than 990 Basic Skills programs representing approximately 176,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.