The last time the United States hosted the World Championships, Amber Glenn was 16 years old. Like most junior American girls at the time, she sat in the audience and watched Ashley Wagner win the silver medal on home soil.
“I just remember cheering so loud I couldn’t even hear myself in that building,” Glenn said.
Now, at 25 and as the reigning U.S. national champion, she is experiencing many firsts in her career. Before this year, the Texas native had yet to win any international competition at any level. The first half of this season could not be any more different—not only did she win both of her Grand Prix assignments, but she also became the first American woman to win the Grand Prix Final title in 14 years.
While last season felt like a breakthrough for Glenn, who ratified her triple axel for the first time, she struggled consistently to deliver a clean program from start to finish. Glenn would land the triple axel with ease, but the adrenaline rushed over her and she would just, let it go.
This season has been like night and day. She is now capable of jumping the triple axel at the beginning of the program and keeping her composure through the rest of the technical elements. For Glenn, landing the element multiple times took off the pressure to prove that the first time, and even the second time, wasn’t a fluke. Entry. Takeoff. In air. Exit. On the money pretty much every single time. Now, the ‘trixel’ is just part of the program like any other jump.
“There’s less anticipation, there’s less adrenaline, and it kind of just carries me through the program, rather than having this huge spike in the beginning and then crashing,” she said.
Coming into the U.S. National Championships as one of the most experienced in her field, Glenn has existed in many eras of American figure skating, witnessing the changing of the guard. In many ways, she embodies that change—not just in her country but for the entire sport. Figure skating has a warranted reputation for being a sport stuck in the past, plagued by conservatism and inaccessibility. Queer athletes in the current and former generations had little to no athletes to look for in representation. For the majority of her career, Glenn did not feel that it was safe to come out.
With Glenn being one of the only openly queer skaters in the women’s field, she has become a role model for young LGBTQ+ athletes. Glenn, no matter where she is performing, is met with a sea of pride flags throughout the audience while she takes her bows. Not only are the flags a symbol of acceptance and progress, but also a message to queer athletes: they are not alone—they belong, and they have a community within the skating world.
Many athletes that Glenn grew up either watching or competing against retire and want nothing to do with the sport. It is no secret that the sport that presents such a beautiful picture on the ice, can be so ugly behind the scenes. Allegations and evidence of abuse and unhealthy training environments run rampant.
Glenn firsthand suffered from these systemic-like norms in the sport, which is partially, why her rise to the top was tenuous and unorthodox in every sense of the word.
Glenn won the junior national title, but soon after, at 15-years-old, Glenn’s mind and body were experiencing severe burnout. Those who are not as knowledgeable about the dynamics of figure skating might be confused as to why a teenager, burgeoning on a blossoming career, would be put under so much pressure to the point of needing to take time off. It’s just different in figure skating. The sport not only favors younger athletes but places high expectations on them to perform at such a young age, often at the expense of their mental and physical health.
As the most experienced athlete among American women, Glenn has become a mentor and role model for younger girls. She is passionate about ensuring that the new generation is protected from the struggles she had to endure.
“To be able to see that excitement and passion in these athletes at the age that I was starting to lose when I was at their age is amazing,” Glenn said with a smile. “It just warms my heart and makes me happy, and it’s what I want to do for the sport.”
Taking ownership of her struggles has also given her a new mission of destigmatizing the topic of mental health among athletes. There are probably a number of athletes struggling quietly, unbeknownst to fans. Glenn’s vulnerability in being one of the few to share the good, the bad, and the ugly is a constant reminder to those on the other side of the boards that these athletes are people who struggle, fear, and feel just the same as anyone else.
Glenn admits that although there is still much progress to be made, she sees that the current and future wave of American women are having much more positive experiences than she did. They are healthier, happier, and uplifting each other.
“I feel like very slowly, we’re starting to try and find that groove, starting to let go of the past a bit,” Glenn said. “We just need to find our way in this new generation how to make our sport a healthier, happier, and safer place for the athletes.”
Her short program this season, choreographed by Kaitlyn Weaver, is “This Time” by Janet Jackson. It is not Janet’s typical sound, but it still has the flair, sass, and boldness with which Glenn is synonymous with. Her choice of intense, dynamic programs in recent years, as opposed to a more balletic style, is still considered to be a push of boundaries. Glenn saw what kinds of programs were successful and felt pressure to skate to graceful, classical pieces of music. The style started to feel repetitive, and she was ready for a change.
The transition from skating to more dynamic programs was challenging. Glenn felt a bit insecure in the contrast of movement. She still finds difficulty in sharp, dynamic choreography and hitting certain shapes but enjoys the challenge.
Looking ahead, Glenn knows that the road to the Olympics will be long and demanding, but it has started. With a year until Milano-Cortina, every part of the journey counts. The remainder of the season is critical in continuing to show consistency to cement herself as a reliable athlete for Team USA.
“Consistency is my biggest goal,” Glenn said. “It’s all about the mental side for me right now. Of course, I want to stay injury-free. I’m not 16 anymore—I’ve got to keep my body in its best possible shape, stay healthy, and maintain a good balance in life.”
After winning the Grand Prix Final title, Glenn admitted that she wrestled with imposter syndrome whilst adjusting to her newfound success. Not to mention the pressure and expectations of now being not just one of the favorites to win a title but the favorite. The weight of heightened expectations can and will be heavy, but Glenn is determined to carry it with composure. For the first time in a long time, she does not have to shy away from her dreams and ambitions; she’s leaning into them.
“I’m reaching for my goals rather than shying away from them,” Glenn said. “And it’s taken a long time for me to get to that point.”
