by ## Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady’s Son Makes Sporting Debut at the 2023 X Games
The 2023 X Games in Aspen, Colorado marked a milestone moment for 16-year-old John Edward Thomas Moynahan as he made his competitive sporting debut at the prestigious winter event. John, the son of actress Bridget Moynahan and NFL superstar quarterback Tom Brady, competed in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle competition – a high-flying event that tests riders’ skills on a course featuring a variety of jumps, rails, and other terrain park features.
While John was unable to secure a podium position, finishing 22nd out of 25 participants, his parents Bridget and Tom were beaming with pride at seeing their son take to the global stage for the first time. The X Games provided John with an opportunity to showcase the talents he has been developing over many years of snowboarding training and practice runs.
John first picked up a snowboard around the age of 5, starting off with basic lessons at local resorts near his home in California. Like many kids, he was instantly drawn to the thrill and freedom of sliding down the mountain. As his skills progressed over numerous winter seasons, John began entering amateur competitions and demonstrating clear natural ability on the slopestyle course format.
By his early teens, John was dedicating significant time year-round to honing his snowboarding technique and tricks. He spent weekends and school breaks training at elite facilities, working with top coaches to refine his style. In addition to slopestyle, John also focused on freestyle disciplines like halfpipe and big air. Video clips from these practice sessions showed John smoothly linking complex grabs, spins, and inverts off jumps and features.
John’s dedication to self-improvement paid off when he earned an invitation to compete at the 2023 X Games in January. The event is considered the pinnacle competition for action sports athletes, showcasing the world’s best talent in snowboarding, skiing, motocross, and more. Only the most skilled riders are selected to take on the challenging slopestyle course setup in Aspen.
For John, the opportunity to test his skills on sport’s biggest international stage was a dream come true after years of dedicated training. However, the pressure and spotlight as the son of famous parents also brought unique challenges. Both Bridget and Tom are recognizable figures in Hollywood and the NFL, respectively, generating significant media attention around their son’s debut.
John arrived in Colorado a week before the competition to familiarize himself with the course and fine-tune his planned run. The X Games slopestyle track featured multiple features packed into a tight space, requiring precision and big-air tricks to score well. John spent hours each day going through practice runs while coaches analyzed video footage looking for small improvements.
By the time the qualifying rounds began on January 27th, John felt prepared despite acknowledging nerves. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for so long but it’s definitely nerve-wracking knowing the whole world will be watching,” John said in a pre-event interview. “All I can do is go out there and show what I’ve been working on. Hopefully it comes together on competition day.”
John’s parents Bridget and Tom watched intently from the sidelines during qualifying. While neither wanted to add pressure, both quietly hoped John could advance through to the final. After his first qualifying run, John scored a 69.33 – solid but likely not high enough to move on. He would need a big second run to have a chance.
Taking a deep breath, John dropped in for his final qualifying attempt. He smoothly navigated the early features before launching off a massive kicker into a method grab Indy. Landing cleanly, John transitioned into a frontside double cork 1260 and stuck the landing. His impressive technical run earned a score of 78.66, moving him just inside the top-12 cutoff for the final.
Bridget and Tom erupted in cheers watching from the stands, thrilled with John’s performance under pressure. After qualifying wrapped up, they met John at the bottom to congratulate him on advancing. “You did so amazing out there,” Bridget said, hugging her son. “We’re beyond proud of you.”
The final was scheduled for January 29th, with the top 12 riders battling it out for medals. John spent the next two days relaxing while also reviewing footage of the other finalists, scouting their strengths and weaknesses. As the final began, John was the youngest competitor in the field by over two years. But he had proven he belonged among the elites by advancing from qualifying.
In the final, John landed his first run cleanly though didn’t stand out from the pack with a score of 75.33. He would need a massive second run to threaten for a podium position against the world’s best. After a quick meeting with his coaches, John took a deep breath and dropped back in for possibly his final run of the competition.
From the opening features, it was clear John was pushing his limits. He soared high off a hip jump into a double cork 1440, landing in the deep snow but staying on his feet. Accelerating into the next feature, John launched off the massive kicker and spun a frontside triple cork 1800, sticking the landing perfectly. The jaw-dropping trick wowed the crowd and had Bridget and Tom on their feet cheering wildly.
John finished out his run strong before riding off the course, exhausted but energized from his performance. His second run score of 94.00 rocketed him up the standings into 10th place overall. While he missed the podium, John had proven himself against the world’s best with one of the biggest tricks ever landed in X Games competition. His parents couldn’t have been more proud as they embraced John at the bottom.
After the competition wrapped up, John spoke to the media about his experience. “Competing at X Games was a dream come true and I’m thrilled with how I performed,” he said. “These are the best riders in the world and sharing the stage with them was an honor. I learned so much and can’t wait to apply it next season.”
Bridget and Tom also praised their son’s poise and progression at such a young age. “John works incredibly hard and really pushed himself this week,” Bridget said. “We’re just in awe of the athlete he’s become and know even brighter things are ahead.” Brady added, “Jack represented himself so well out there. He’s passionate about snowboarding and his dedication is inspiring. We’re beyond proud to support him in pursuing his dreams.”
While John didn’t secure a podium spot in his X Games debut, he announced his presence among the world’s elite slopestyle riders with massive tricks under pressure. His 10th place finish proved he can compete at sport’s highest level as a 16-year-old. With years still to develop, John’s future in snowboarding appears incredibly bright if he continues progressing at his current rate.
As for John’s parents Bridget and Tom, they will continue cheering on their son from the sidelines as his career progresses. While Tom’s NFL playing days wind down, he seems primed to take on more of a supportive father role for John in the years ahead. And Bridget will always encourage her son’s athletic passions from Hollywood. After such an impressive competitive debut at the 2023 X Games, all signs point to John Moynahan cementing himself as a star in snowboarding’s future.
