Amber Glenn, a standout American figure skater, has carved her way to the sport’s elite and now sets her sights on Olympic gold. Growing up in Plano, Texas, she first laced up her skates at just five years old. Her journey began at the Stonebriar Centre Mall rink, continued with dedicated coaching in Euless, and ultimately led her to Colorado Springs as she chased her dreams ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Raised by her devoted parents, Richard and Cathlene, Amber’s path was paved with their sacrifices and unwavering support. In a recent interview, they opened up about the many challenges Amber overcame on her way to the top.
Amber Glenn’s Childhood Hardships In Ice Skating
Before Glenn became the star she is today, she faced countless hardships in her career. In fact, in her senior career, the American was forced to miss the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics after contracting COVID-19, just a year after she won the U.S. National Title.
In an interview with NBC, Glenn discussed various topics, including the gender inequality figure skating had established for men and women. She revealed that coaches and judges were trying to make her more ‘elegant’: (3:20 onwards)
“Even as a kid, I think was 10 years old, I was told to tone it down, because it wasn’t graceful. I was skating to ‘Live and Let Die’, and old rock and roll songs that I love, like I’m not trying to be lady-like, I’m trying to enjoy my sport.”
Her mother, Cathlene, said coaches wanted her to be “more graceful, leaner, and cut out carbs.” She also added: “Amber wanted to show people how much she loved to be out there, so she would land a jump, and have a really big face on. They had this feedback session with the judges afterwards, and it broke my heart, because a lady told her, ‘don’t do that big smile anymore’.
Now captivating audiences worldwide, Glenn has redefined what it means to be a female figure skater. She is set to take the ice at the Milan Olympics this February.
Glenn’s Emotional Reaction To Qualifying For Milan
Glenn punched her ticket to the Milan Olympics by capturing gold at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, her third national title in a row. She will join Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito as the nation’s top contenders.
A video shared on Instagram captured Glenn’s tearful joy as she learned she had clinched first place at nationals, throwing her arms around coach Damon Allen in a moment overflowing with emotion.
With Allen’s guidance, Glenn soared to her third consecutive U.S. title, a Grand Prix Final victory, and several Grand Prix triumphs, often crediting her coach’s support for her mastery of technical feats like the triple Axel.
