Bradie Tennell and Amber Glenn: Sharing a Supernatural Friendship

When Bradie Tennell finished her winning free skate at the 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Las Vegas, tears streamed down her face in a rare moment of raw emotion for the typically reserved champion. With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the only faces in the audience were made of cardboard.
 
As she sat alone in the Kiss and Cry awaiting her fate, Tennell breathed heavily into her golden face mask. When she learned that she would ascend to the top of the podium for a second time in her career, Tennell headed backstage to fulfill her media obligations. She was greeted by silver medalist and longtime friend, Amber Glenn, who was the first to congratulate Tennell on her accomplishment.
 
"Nobody else was there for her, and I wanted to help her to celebrate," Glenn said. "I screamed when I saw her and ran up to congratulate her."
 
How long Tennell and Glenn have known each other is up for debate, but the two settled on 'about 10 years'.
 
"We competed against each other when we were younger, but I think it wasn't until I was in my second year of junior when we started to get to know each other," Glenn recalled.
 
Tennell added, "We would talk about anything just to fill the silence, and I think that really helped us to become friends."
 
What started as a means to control competition nerves has blossomed into an easy friendship based on shared experiences, the unspoken sisterhood of competing in the same sport at the elite level, and the love of the superhero genre.
 
"The skating world is so small, so there are not a lot of people who can relate to what a skater goes through every day," Tennell explained. "While we have had very different paths, we know that neither has been easy, which has strengthened our bond as friends."
 
As competitors, Tennell and Glenn share a healthy attitude towards one another and always wish the best for their friend.
 
"I want her to achieve all of the goals that she sets for herself," Tennell said of Glenn. "I think that we are able to separate our friendship from our skating."
 
Glenn added, "I agree 100 per cent. We want the best for each other. I am happy for Bradie's successes, and I know that Bradie feels the same way about mine."
 
As a competitor, Tennell sees Glenn as a prolific technician, and admires the speed and attack that she brings to the ice.
 
"Amber's jumps are fabulous," Tennell said. "I would love to have (the triple Axel) that she does. It's beautiful. She can be a bit scary to skate with because she is super powerful.
 
"Off-ice," she continued. "Amber is one of the funniest people that I have ever met. We talk about super random stuff, and we can be super goofy with each other."
 
Glenn says that Tennell can be goofy as well, but once she steps onto the ice, she transforms into a steely competitor who lets nothing get in her way.
 
"You could patch videos of Bradie's practices on top of one another and she would always be in the same place on the ice and in the same position," Glenn marveled. "She has this precision and consistency, and you can see how confident she is in what she is doing. Bradie has this fierceness and determination, but then she can be goofy and fun the moment she steps off the ice."
 
The self-described 'low-key nerds' bonded over their obsession with the television show, Supernatural, and have been in mourning since the series finale last fall.
 
"That was a big thing for us. It was kind of devastating," Glenn said with a laugh.
 
"Every so often Amber would send me a TikTok, and I would be at the rink in the bleachers between sessions and just start laughing. I am sure that everybody around me thought I was crazy," Tennell added.
 
Tennell and Glenn also have a passion for the superhero genre, although they cannot agree which world is better—Marvel or DC.
 
"I'm more of a Marvel fan than DC," Tennell said.
 
"Same" Glenn interjected. "But the DC shows are so good."
 
Tennell added, "OK, but the new Marvel shows are freaking amazing."
 
Glenn acquiesced, "Well, yeah. Oh! We have to catch up on Loki."
 
Tennell quickly interrupted, "I haven't seen today's episode so don't tell me anything!"
 
The two friends will head back to Las Vegas in October to compete at 2021 Skate America, the fourth time that they will compete head-to-head at The Orleans Arena, and hope that restrictions will allow for an audience this time.
 
"I can't wait to compete in front of an audience again," Tennell said. "I am thankful for all of the opportunities that we have had to compete, but I've missed performing for an audience."
 
Glenn added, "I feel like I have been to Las Vegas so many times and have never gotten to experience Vegas. Maybe one day when our careers are over, we can come back and be social and see the city. It would be nice to sit down and have a nice dinner and see the sights with Bradie."

Tennell agreed, "I'm in. That sounds like so much fun."

To which Glenn replied, "But knowing us, we'll probably be the two people who sit in a basement somewhere to watch TV and eat snacks."
 
Tennell nodded her head in agreement.