I think what a lot of us feared is true - Bradie is withdrawing from Nationals.
*edited to add her full statement:
This morning I made the hardest decision of my life to withdraw from Nationals due to my ongoing foot injury.
I don’t really know how to put into words what I’m feeling right now. I normally try to keep things light, but this hurts. I don’t like to give up when things get hard, but time has not been my friend this year and now it’s run out.
These past six months, I’ve been consistently on and off the ice as we’ve worked to identify and address exactly what is wrong with my foot. I have seen expert doctors across the country in California, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Portland, Chicago, and Boston. I changed boot companies to try to alleviate some of the pain. I’ve tried many different treatments, some of which worked for a little bit, some of which didn’t work at all. As summer turned to fall and then fall to winter, I refused to give up. I thought if I kept pushing, I’d be able to overcome the pain enough to consistently be on the ice, training in the sport I love. And though I have done everything in my power to try to be ready for Nationals, I have to listen to what my body is telling me and accept that I won’t be able to compete next week.
I will keep working to get healthy, and I wish everyone the absolute BEST of luck next week. I will be cheering my hardest for ALL of Team USA as they head to Beijing.
I want to thank my mom for being endlessly supportive and helping me do whatever it takes in both the good times and the bad. In addition to everything else, I feel so lucky to have a mom in the medical field to help me navigate all of this. I would have been lost without your guidance and knowledge. Words don’t even begin to express how much I love you.
I want to thank @benoitrichaud for coming to help me try to train this whole last month. Thank you for helping me push my limits and bend my ankles.
Thank you to @coachtomz for sticking by me through the ups and downs of this season and for all your knowledge and support.
Thank you to my whole team in Colorado, including the World Arena. I feel so lucky to have so many people in my corner.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to all my fans for your support, encouragement, and all-around positivity. I can’t even express what it has meant to me this year. Hugs to every one of you.
I’ll be back. I’m not done fighting.