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U.S. Figure Skater Amber Glenn Reflects on Bittersweet Olympic Experience
The 26-year-old skater helped lead Team USA to gold in the team event but narrowly missed the individual podium.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Competing in her first Winter Games, U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn had a rollercoaster experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The 26-year-old from Plano, Texas helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in the team event, but a critical mistake in the women's individual short program virtually ruled her out of a podium finish. Glenn bounced back with an incredible free skate performance, finishing fifth overall. In an interview before the closing ceremony, Glenn admitted feeling "strange" about having to leave the Olympic Village, where she had grown accustomed to living for nearly a month.
Why it matters
Glenn's bittersweet Olympic journey highlights the emotional highs and lows that elite athletes experience at the Games. Despite narrowly missing the individual podium, her gold medal in the team event and strong finish in the free skate demonstrate her resilience and skill as a figure skater. Glenn's reflections on leaving the Olympic "bubble" also provide insight into the unique challenges of adapting to life inside and outside the Games.
The details
After missing the 2022 Beijing Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test, Glenn made the most of her opportunity in Milan Cortina. She helped the U.S. team capture gold in the figure skating team event, a major accomplishment. However, Glenn committed a critical error in the women's individual short program that virtually eliminated her chances of winning a medal in that discipline. Undeterred, Glenn turned in a season-best free skate performance, scoring 147.52 points and finishing fifth overall with a total of 214.91 points.
- Glenn has been in Italy since the end of January 2026.
- The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics lasted three weeks.
- Glenn spoke to reporters before the closing ceremony on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
The players
Amber Glenn
A 26-year-old figure skater from Plano, Texas who competed in her first Winter Olympics in 2026, helping lead Team USA to a gold medal in the team event and finishing fifth overall in the women's individual competition.
Nick McCarvel
A reporter who interviewed Amber Glenn before the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
What they’re saying
“Honestly, I'm trying to remember the exact date I got here, but it was the end of January. So, it's so strange thinking I've been here for so long.”
— Amber Glenn, U.S. Figure Skater
“But also, this feels like just my life now. Like, I live here. I live in the village, the dorms. Like, this is just life, right? So to go back is kind of a strange thought.”
— Amber Glenn, U.S. Figure Skater
The takeaway
Amber Glenn's Olympic journey demonstrates the emotional rollercoaster that elite athletes experience at the Games. Despite narrowly missing the individual podium, her resilience and skill as a figure skater shone through, and her reflections on leaving the Olympic "bubble" provide insight into the unique challenges of adapting to life inside and outside the Games.
