Amber Glenn Bio: Age, Career, Olympics & Personal Life
Amber Glenn is an American figure skater and Olympic champion known for her powerful jumps and expressive performances. She competes in women’s singles for the United States.
Glenn was born on October 28, 1999, in Plano, Texas. She represents the Dallas Figure Skating Club and trains in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her coaches include Damon Allen and Tammy Gambill.
Over the years, Glenn has built an impressive career in competitive figure skating. She has won three consecutive U.S. national titles from 2024 through 2026.
She also won the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final and became a six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist.
In 2026, Glenn reached another major milestone. She made her Olympic debut at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
She helped Team USA win gold in the mixed team figure skating event. She later finished fifth in the women’s individual competition.
Amber Glenn Early Life and Family
Amber Glenn grew up in Plano, Texas, where she discovered figure skating at a young age.
According to U.S. Figure Skating, Glenn began skating when she was five years old. Her early talent quickly encouraged her to pursue competitive skating.
Her family also supported her athletic journey. Her father, Richard, works as a police sergeant. Her mother, Cathlene, works as a fitness instructor.
Glenn also has a younger sister named Brooke. She has described Brooke as one of her biggest fans.
Outside skating, Glenn enjoys several creative and recreational activities. Her interests include content creation, thrifting, anime, Sanrio, Star Wars, and Magic: The Gathering.
She also volunteers at a local animal shelter. Additionally, she owns a Schipperke dog named Uki.
Amber Glenn Figure Skating Career
Glenn began competing nationally as a promising young skater.
She won a U.S. novice silver medal in 2012. Two years later, she captured the 2014 U.S. junior championship.
Her international junior career also showed strong potential. She earned bronze medals at two ISU Junior Grand Prix events.
However, her senior career required patience and persistence. Glenn faced setbacks while trying to establish herself among America’s leading women.
She eventually broke through at the senior level. Her performances became more consistent, while her technical difficulty continued to grow.
Amber Glenn and the Triple Axel
One of Glenn’s most recognizable skating skills is her triple Axel.
The jump remains one of the most difficult elements in women’s figure skating. Only a relatively small number of elite women have landed it successfully in major competition.
Glenn became the sixth U.S. woman to successfully land a triple Axel in competition at Skate America in 2023.
That achievement strengthened her reputation as one of America’s most technically ambitious skaters.
She also made history at the 2026 Olympics. Glenn became the first U.S. woman to land three triple Axels at one Olympic Games.
Her ability to attempt difficult elements gives her programs significant scoring potential.
Amber Glenn U.S. National Championships Success
Glenn’s rise reached another level at the U.S. Championships.
She won the U.S. national title in 2024. She successfully defended that title in 2025.
Then, she captured her third consecutive championship in 2026.
At the 2026 U.S. Championships, Glenn delivered outstanding scores. She recorded a short-program score of 83.05 and a free-skate score of 150.50.
Her combined score reached 233.55, which became her U.S. qualifying competition personal best.
That victory helped secure her place on the U.S. Olympic team.
Amber Glenn Grand Prix Final Victory
Glenn also reached the top of the international Grand Prix circuit.
She won the 2024 Grand Prix Final, marking one of the biggest achievements of her career.
The victory demonstrated that Glenn could compete successfully against the strongest skaters worldwide.
She also earned multiple medals throughout the ISU Grand Prix Series. U.S. Figure Skating lists six Grand Prix Series medals among her career accomplishments.
Her international performances helped establish her as a major American figure skating star.
Amber Glenn at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics represented a defining moment for Glenn.
She entered the Games as a three-time U.S. champion and one of America’s leading women’s singles skaters.
Glenn competed in the Olympic team event alongside several American stars. Team USA ultimately won gold in the mixed team figure skating competition.
The individual women’s event brought a more difficult challenge.
Glenn opened the short program with a strong triple Axel. However, she doubled a required triple loop and received no points for that element.
The mistake dropped her to 13th place after the short program with 67.39 points.
Despite the disappointment, Glenn responded with a determined free skate.
She delivered a season-best free skate and climbed dramatically through the standings. She eventually finished fifth overall.
Her Olympic comeback became one of the memorable stories from the women’s competition.
Amber Glenn at the 2026 World Championships
After the Olympics, Glenn continued her season at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague.
She entered the women’s event with plenty of momentum. Glenn finished third in the short program with 72.65 points.
However, the free skate presented another challenge.
Glenn struggled with several elements and lost valuable points. She still landed her signature triple Axel during the program.
Ultimately, she finished sixth overall with 203.12 points.
Although she missed the podium, the performance added another top-six World Championship result to her career.
Amber Glenn and LGBTQ+ Representation
Glenn has also become an important figure beyond competitive skating.
She publicly came out as pansexual and bisexual in 2019. Her openness has made her a prominent LGBTQ+ voice within American figure skating.
Her visibility matters because elite sports can create significant pressure around identity and public expectations.
Glenn has spoken about the importance of representation and creating spaces where athletes can feel comfortable being themselves.
Her journey has therefore connected with many fans beyond traditional figure skating audiences.
Moreover, her Olympic success gave her an even larger platform.
Amber Glenn Dancing With the Stars
In September 2026, Glenn added another major entertainment opportunity to her growing profile.
She joined the cast of season 35 of Dancing With the Stars.
Glenn will compete with professional dancer Pasha Pashkov. The season will premiere on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The Olympic champion has long admired the program. She previously watched Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis compete on the show.
Glenn said joining the series felt like an easy decision. She also sees the competition as a chance to explore another form of performance.
Her figure skating background should help her adapt to the ballroom environment. However, ballroom dancing requires different techniques, rhythms, and body movements.
Therefore, fans will get to see another side of her personality and athletic ability.
Amber Glenn’s Skating Style
Glenn combines technical difficulty, musical expression, athletic power, and personality.
Her triple Axel remains one of her signature elements. She also brings strong performance energy to her programs.
Her choreography often allows her personality to stand out.
Importantly, Glenn does not rely solely on technical elements. She also works to improve her presentation and interpretation.
That combination has helped her become one of the most recognizable American women’s skaters.
Amber Glenn Career Achievements
Glenn has already collected numerous major accomplishments.
Her career highlights include:
- 2026 Olympic team event gold medalist
- 2026 Olympian
- Three-time U.S. champion
- 2024–25 Grand Prix Final champion
- 2014 U.S. junior champion
- Six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist
- Two-time World Team Trophy champion
- 2023 and 2025 World Team Trophy team champion
- Triple Axel pioneer for U.S. women
- 2026 Olympic fifth-place finisher
- 2026 World Championship sixth-place finisher
U.S. Figure Skating also lists several personal-best scores for Glenn. Her international personal best includes 78.14 in the short program and 148.93 in the free skate.
What Makes Amber Glenn Inspirational?
Amber Glenn’s story reflects persistence and resilience.
She did not become an Olympic champion overnight. Instead, she spent years developing her technique and handling difficult moments.
Her Olympic experience particularly demonstrated that resilience.
After falling down the standings during the short program, Glenn returned with a powerful free skate.
That comeback helped her finish fifth instead of remaining outside the top group.
Furthermore, her openness about identity has expanded her impact beyond sports.
She continues to show young athletes that authenticity and elite competition can exist together.
Amber Glenn’s Future
Glenn enters the next stage of her career with several accomplishments already secured.
She owns three consecutive U.S. national titles and an Olympic team gold medal.
Meanwhile, her appearance on Dancing With the Stars season 35 gives her an opportunity to reach a new audience.
The series pairs her with Pasha Pashkov, who brings extensive ballroom experience to their partnership.
Glenn now faces a different kind of performance challenge.
Instead of performing on ice, she will compete on the ballroom floor.
Her skating career, however, remains an important part of her identity.
Final Thoughts on Amber Glenn
Amber Glenn has become one of the most accomplished American figure skaters of her generation.
Her journey includes national championships, international victories, Olympic success, and historic triple Axels.
However, her impact extends beyond medals and skating scores.
She has embraced her identity and used her platform to promote visibility and authenticity.
Her comeback at the 2026 Olympics also showed her ability to recover from disappointment.
Now, her move into Dancing With the Stars offers another exciting chapter.
As Glenn continues exploring new opportunities, her competitive spirit remains a defining part of her story.
