Bradley was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and comes from a family of skaters.[1] His sister, Becky, is a skating coach and former competitive skater, and his mother is a USFSA judge.[2]
Career
Ryan Bradley began skating at the age of two and participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program from 1986-1988.[2][3]
From 1996-1998, Bradley competed in pairs skating with Tiffany Vise.[4] They competed twice at the U.S. Championships. In 2001, he reached Sectionals with Melissa Gallegos.[1] Bradley decided not to continue with pairs, preferring to focus on his singles career and not having enough time to train in both.[1]
As a single skater, he won the silver medal at the Intermediate level at the Junior Olympics in the 1994-1995 season. The 1995-1996 season was Bradley's first at 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 at the novice level at Nationals. This win earned him a trip to the Triglav Trophy, which he won.
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 U.S. Championships. He went on to place 5th at the 2000 World Junior 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 U.S. Championships. He was originally placed on the team for the 2001 World Junior Championships; however, he was forced to withdraw prior to the event with injury. He had surgery to repair damage to his landing knee.[5]
Bradley missed most of the 2004-2005 season after breaking his arm while playing dodgeball; he had a spiral fracture in his right humerus and was off the ice for six months.[5]
In the 2006-2007 season, Bradley was given a host invitation to the 2006 Skate America due to the retirement of skaters who had placed ahead of him. Bradley placed 8th.
Bradley accidentally cut his shin with his blade three weeks before the 2007 U.S. Championships.[5] At the event, he held 3rd place after the short program. He skated last in the free skate, and won the silver medal. Upon learning that he had won the silver, Bradley skated back onto the ice and performed a back-flip for the crowd. Bradley went on to the 2007 Four Continents, held at his home rink, the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he placed fourth. During the off-season, he dealt with a torn meniscus in his right knee.[5]
Bradley had initially planned to retire from competitive skating, but decided to resume training in mid-October.[7] He missed the Grand Prix season, but competed at the 2011 U.S. Championships. Bradley won the short program and placed fourth in the free skate to win the overall competition and become the U.S. National Champion for the first time in his career. He was selected to compete at the 2011 World Championships.[8][9]
On May 10, 2011, Bradley announced his retirement from competitive skating.[10]