Queer Texan Amber Glenn Wins Olympic Gold in Figure Skating

The 26-year-old from Plano made history as the oldest American woman to qualify for the Olympic singles team since 1928.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Amber Glenn, a 26-year-old figure skater from Plano, Texas, has won a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Glenn, who is openly pansexual, is the first openly LGBTQ+ athlete from Texas to win Olympic gold. She is also the oldest American woman to qualify for the Olympic singles team since 1928.

Why it matters

Glenn's victory is a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in sports, particularly in the traditionally conservative state of Texas. Her success has inspired many in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, showcasing that athletes can be true to themselves and still achieve greatness.

The details

Glenn, who started skating at age 5 at the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, Texas, won her third consecutive U.S. national figure skating title last month, becoming the first woman to do so since Michelle Kwan from 2002 to 2005. She came out as pansexual in 2019, discussing the challenges of being accepted in the skating community. Glenn has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, often skating with rainbow flags and wearing pride pins.

  • Amber Glenn won her third consecutive U.S. national figure skating title last month.
  • Glenn came out as pansexual in an interview with the Dallas Voice in 2019.
  • Glenn made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

The players

Amber Glenn

A 26-year-old figure skater from Plano, Texas, who is the first openly LGBTQ+ athlete from Texas to win Olympic gold.

Ashley Cain-Gribble

A skating pair partner of Amber Glenn's, who is also from Dallas.

Timothy LeDuc

A skating pair partner of Ashley Cain-Gribble's, who is openly gay and non-binary, and became the first gay skater to win a pairs title and the first non-binary athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“The fear of not being accepted is a huge struggle for me. Being perceived as [going through] 'just a phase' or [being] 'indecisive' is a common thing for bisexual/pansexual women. I don't want to shove my sexuality in people's faces, but I also don't want to hide who I am.”

— Amber Glenn (Dallas Voice)

“I did not expect it to blow up in the way that it did. But I'm grateful because they got my message out there. I was able to represent a lot of people who are in skating, especially queer women.”

— Amber Glenn (ESPN)

“It's been a hard time for the [LGBTQ] community overall in this administration. It isn't the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights. And now especially, it's not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities.”

— Amber Glenn (Team Press Conference)

What’s next

Amber Glenn is expected to continue advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in sports, using her platform as an Olympic gold medalist to inspire others.

The takeaway

Amber Glenn's historic Olympic victory as an openly pansexual athlete from Texas demonstrates the power of authenticity and representation in sports. Her journey to the gold medal podium has uplifted the LGBTQ+ community and shown that true champions can come from anywhere, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.