Amber Glenn could not have imagined, even in the wildest scenario, that she would repeat as U.S. national champion three times in a row, the first woman to accomplish that feat since Michelle Kwan in 2000.
Watching Glenn skate at the championships with power and precision, nailing all of her jumps, including the triple axel—one of the hardest jumps women at the elite level perform—it’s hard to imagine the young woman she once was, filled with anxiety and self-doubt, constantly feeling unworthy, and lacking the confidence to believe she could reach the top ranks of skating, let alone make an Olympic team.
But anyone who has followed Glenn’s story knows just how much work it has taken her to get to this point, not just on the ice but off. Gregarious by nature, Glenn has talked freely about her struggles with her mental health, which led her to leave competitive skating for a few months as a teen, but also motivated her to become a stronger and more consistent athlete, as well as her decision to come out as bisexual and pansexual. It is this journey as much as her performance on the ice that have endeared her to skating fans and will make her programs among the most anticipated at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
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In her first press conference as an Olympian in Milan, Glenn addressed the challenging situation facing the LGBTQ community in the U.S., saying, “It’s been a hard time for this community overall, and this Administration—it is the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and fight for our human rights. And it’s not just affecting the queer community, but many others. I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times. I know that a lot of people say, ‘You’re just an athlete, stick to your job. Shut up about politics.’ But politics affects us all. It is…
