Amber Glenn grew up figuring skating in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. As a homeschooled kid in a small town, skating was her only passion and social outlet. In 2014, she won the Junior Figure Skating Championship at just 14 years old.
Despite her early success, the young skater faced an internal battle. Struggling with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. As a teen, Glenn was admitted to a mental health facility. She stayed there for a week but left before her treatment was up to attend the Senior Figure Skating championships. She finished in sixth place.
Defeated, she returned home, where her psychiatrist recommended she take a year off from skating. Her struggles continued after she returned. She’d perform flawlessly until halfway through her set, she’d become conscious of the large audience. With her focus pulled, she often made a mistake or fell out of a trick. This continued to happen until 2019 when Glenn received a diagnosis of ADHD.
For the first time, Glenn began to focus inward. Later that year, she came out as bisexual, making global headlines. In 2020, while many of her competitors were taking time away from the sport, Glenn doubled down to teach herself the triple axle—one of the most complex moves a figure skater can perform. Only five American women had ever landed it in a competition.
In 2021, she attempted the jump at the US National Championships but failed to land it. She took home silver. In 2022, Glenn tried out for the US Olympic Figure Skating team. During the intense tryout process, she tested positive for COVID-19 – landing her a position as an alternate.
In 2023, at a Grand Prix competition in her hometown, she attempted the triple axel for the 14th time – and finally landed it. As one of six qualifiers for the Grand Prix Final, Glenn tried the triple axel for her final performance. She completed the trick with a smooth leap into the air and a flawless landing. Glenn beat the three-time world champion Mone Chiba to earn the highest title any US Figure Skater has achieved in over a decade. With two years until the next Winter Olympics, many are hopeful that Glenn will be the next face of a dominant American team.
