Bradie Tennell is ready to take the ice with a clear sense of purpose. The two-time U.S. champion and 2018 Olympic bronze medalist opens her 2025–26 Winter Olympic figure skating season at the ISU Challenger Series Kinoshita Group Cup in Osaka, Japan. Her goal is clear — a steady and confident build-up toward Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026.
For Tennell, who has experienced both career highs and difficult setbacks, this season opener carries extra weight. It is more than just another event on the calendar — it is the first step in her Olympic journey. It is the first step in a carefully constructed road back to the Olympic Games.
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Winter Olympic Figure Skating Consistency Defines Tennell's Legacy
Tennell's reputation as one of the most consistent competitors in U.S. Winter Olympic figure skating history was cemented during her breakout 2017–18 season. After overcoming a series of stress fractures early in her career, she captured the U.S. national title in 2018, earning a spot on the PyeongChang Olympic team and helping secure a bronze medal in the team event. Her performances were not only technically sound but also delivered under immense pressure. She quickly became known for her ability to rise to the occasion.
“When I step onto the ice, I try to focus on one element at a time and block everything else out,” Tennell once said of her competition mindset. That mental fortitude has remained her trademark. It will be critical as she faces a younger, more technically ambitious field of competitors this season.You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: What It's Like to Be on UC Berkeley's Intercollegiate OlympicFigure Skating Team
A Comeback Built on Patience and Perseverance
Tennell's journey has not been without setbacks. Following her 2021 U.S. title, she missed the entire 2021–22 season with a foot injury. The setback forced her to withdraw from her Grand Prix assignments and give up any hope of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. For a skater so used to performing under pressure, sitting on the sidelines was a challenge. But it ultimately fueled her comeback.
By 2023, Tennell was back on competitive ice, showing flashes of her former self. She earned a top-ten finish at the World Championships in Saitama, Japan. After that, she continued building momentum with solid performances on the Grand Prix circuit. Each season since has shown her determination not just to return to her former level but to grow as a performer. “Being forced to step away gave me perspective,” she reflected in a recent interview. I learned patience, I learned to trust the process, and I rediscovered why I love this sport.
Season Opener in Osaka
The Challenger Series event in Osaka offers Tennell a chance to set the tone for her Olympic season. While not as prestigious as the Grand Prix, the competition provides valuable ISU World Standing points and an opportunity to test programs under competitive conditions.
Tennell's planned programs for 2025–26 highlight her renewed focus on blending technical strength with artistic growth. Her short program, choreographed to an elegant classical piece, emphasizes clean skating skills and seamless transitions. Her free skate is built around a dramatic and emotionally charged theme designed to showcase her maturity as a performer.
Competing in Japan will also mean sharing the ice with some of the world's best. That includes reigning World champion Sakamoto Kaori. The Japanese star has set the standard for consistency in recent seasons. Skating against her will give Tennell a valuable benchmark.
Battling for a Winter Olympic Spot on Team USA
Perhaps Tennell's biggest challenge is not international rivals but domestic competition. Team USA's women's field is deeper than it has been in years, with rising stars like Isabeau Levito leading the next generation. Amber Glenn, Lindsay Thorngren, and Ava Marie Ziegler are all hungry to earn one of the three Olympic spots expected to be available for Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026.
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In such a competitive environment, Tennell's experience could be her strongest asset. She has been through the pressure of Olympic trials, knows how to deliver under scrutiny, and has proven she can maintain composure when the stakes are highest. Her task now is to stay healthy, consistent, and technically competitive in an era where triple-Axels and quads are increasingly common.
Artistry Meets Athleticism
One of the most striking elements of Tennell's recent seasons has been her growth in artistry. Long admired for her textbook technique and ability to skate clean programs, she has placed more emphasis on musical interpretation and program construction. This season, she has worked closely with her choreographers to develop programs that push her out of her comfort zone and challenge her to connect with audiences in a deeper way.
Judges have taken notice, with her component scores steadily improving. If she can maintain her trademark consistency on jumps while elevating the performance quality, Tennell could position herself as one of the most well-rounded skaters heading into Olympic selection.
Building Toward Winter Olympic Milano Cortina
Everything Tennell does this season will be part of a bigger picture. From Challenger Series events to the Grand Prix and U.S. Championships, the focus is on peaking at the right time. The U.S. Championships in early 2026 will serve as the unofficial Olympic trials, and Tennell knows that a strong, reliable body of work leading up to that event will give her the best shot at selection.
Her goals are realistic yet ambitious: secure international assignments, climb the world rankings, and deliver clean, commanding programs that remind judges and selectors of her ability to anchor a team. For Tennell, Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 is not just another Olympic Games — it's a chance to write the next chapter in a career defined by perseverance.
A Quiet but Determined Road to Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026
Bradie Tennell's story has always been one of quiet grit. She is not the loudest or flashiest skater, but she is one of the most reliable. In a sport that demands mental toughness and rewards consistency, she has built a reputation for both.
As she takes the ice in Osaka, Tennell will be thinking not just about the scores but about the bigger journey ahead. Every skate this season is a brick in the path she is laying toward Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026. And if history is any guide, Tennell will continue to meet challenges head-on — with determination, grace, and an unwavering belief in her ability to rise again.
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