Amber Glenn broke down in tears after a disappointing performance in the short program of the women’s Winter Olympics figure skating.
The 26-year-old, who is bisexual and pansexual and the first openly queer woman figure skater to compete for Team USA, cried after her botched routine left her sitting 13th in Milan Cortina.
Glenn skated to the 1980s hit ‘Like A Prayer’ by Madonna, who had earlier sent the Olympian a video message saying she was ‘blown away’ by watching her on the ice.
But the reigning US champion saw her gold medal hopes all-but disappear when she doubled up a triple loop, making the jump invalid and worth no points.
Glenn, who had enjoyed a great start with a big triple axel and a solid combination pass, made it through the rest of her routine but then struggled to hold back tears as she stepped off the ice.
The 26-year-old skated towards her coaches and broke into tears. She ended the night in 13th place with 67.39 points. ‘I had it,’ Glenn told coach Damon Allen. He replied: ‘It’s not over.’
Amber Glenn broke down in tears during the short program of the women’s figure skating
The 26-year-old, a trailblazing Team USA star, ended the night in 13th place with 67.39 points
Glenn, one of America’s ‘Blade Angels,’ broke down in the wake of her disappointing routine
Glenn, who helped Team USA win gold in the team event earlier this month, is one of three American figure skating stars who have become known as the ‘Blade Angels.’
Pop superstar Taylor Swift provided the voiceover for an NBC feature on Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. On Tuesday night, however, they were all upstaged by Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto on Tuesday night.
They sit first and second, respectively, with Liu in bronze medal position heading into the free skating on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Glenn revealed she is taking a break from social media after receiving a ‘scary amount of hate’ for condemning Donald Trump over his treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Glenn addressed the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on LGBTQ+ Americans at a press conference for the Winter Games in Italy.
The 26-year-old told reporters it has been a ‘hard time’ for the community, while insisting she wants to use her platform to ‘try and encourage people to stay strong’.
Yet just days on from that speech about America’s political climate, Glenn said she is stepping back from her social channels after being threatened online.
‘When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (Freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel,’ she wrote in a post on Instagram.
Glenn revealed she is taking a break from social media after receiving a ‘scary amount of hate’
‘I did anticipate this but I am disappointed by it. I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now but I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.’
Glenn’s comments come after Trump signed an executive order in early 2025 banning transgender women from competing against biological females in sporting competitions. His administration has also introduced measures which impact how federal agencies address health care programs and policies affecting LGBTQ+ Americans.
During her press conference, Glenn also spoke about the importance of using her platform to raise political issues.
‘I know that a lot of people will say: “You’re just an athlete, stick to your job and shut up about politics,” but politics affects us all,’ she said. ‘It’s something that I will not just be quiet about, because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives.
‘So of course there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead of us.’