Who is Amber Glenn? Team USA skater in tears, falls to 13th after short program mistake at Milano Cortina Olympics

At the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn, 26, faced a dramatic and emotional moment during the women’s short program, where a costly mistake left her in tears and put her medal hopes in serious jeopardy. Glenn entered the competition as part of the highly anticipated American trio nicknamed the “Blade Angels,” alongside Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. The event had been framed as a major showcase for Team USA’s women’s skating prospects.

Glenn’s performance began strongly, skating to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and opening with a big triple axel followed by a solid combination pass that raised hopes for a clean program.

However, the routine unraveled when she doubled a planned triple loop, which invalidated the element and earned zero points. The mistake significantly impacted her score, leaving her in 13th place with 67.39 points after the short program. Moments after stepping off the ice, Glenn was visibly emotional and broke into tears as she spoke with her coach.

Who is Amber Elaine Glenn?

Amber Elaine Glenn was born on October 28, 1999, in Plano, Texas, in the United States. She began skating at a young age and quickly showed promise as a competitive athlete. By her early teens, Glenn was already competing internationally, claiming the US junior national title in 2014.

Glenn’s senior career reached a new level in the mid-2020s. She became a three-time US national champion from 2024 to 2026 and won the 2024-25 Grand Prix Final, one of the most prestigious events in the sport.

She has also earned multiple medals on the ISU Grand Prix and consistently placed among the top skaters at major international championships.

One of her most notable technical achievements is landing the triple Axel in international competition.

Glenn was selected for the US team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she helped win a team gold medal.

Her Olympic selection was historic beyond results: she became the first openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic women’s singles figure skating.

Despite the setback, the broader Olympic story for Team USA remained mixed. Glenn had already contributed to the United States winning gold in the team figure skating event earlier in the Games, marking a major achievement in her Olympic campaign.

Meanwhile, teammate Alysa Liu held third place after the short program, keeping U.S. medal hopes alive heading into the free skate. Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto led the standings following the short program.

The competition unfolded amid intense public attention surrounding Glenn off the ice. Earlier in the month, she announced she would limit her social media use after receiving what she described as a “scary amount of hate” following comments critical of Donald Trump’s policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

Glenn emphasized that athletes should not remain silent on political issues, stating that politics affects everyday life and expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community during a Winter Games press conference.