MILAN — Amber Glenn seldom conceals her sentiments while performing on the ice. The current U.S. titleholder inevitably displays every emotion openly, from sheer joy to profound disappointment. She would likely fare poorly in a game of poker, yet she possesses an enthralling charm as an athlete on skates.
During Thursday’s free skate, commencing from the 13th spot following a severely flawed short program, Glenn advanced onto the rink just as the music from the previous competitor concluded. Dressed in her Team USA training attire, she circled the ice as numerous American spectators in attendance stood and waved their nation’s flags above her. Although her demeanor conveyed assurance, her gaze appeared quite apprehensive.
Nevertheless, she suppressed any apprehension she felt. She passed her jacket to her coach, Damon Allen, exchanged a handshake, and then glided to the center of the rink. Subsequently, her musical selection — a blend of “I Will Find You” by Audiomachine and “The Return” by CLANN — commenced, leaving no room for hesitation or worry.
The instant she executed her initial leap — the triple axel, a maneuver scarcely attempted by any other female competitor — the audience at Assago Ice Skating Arena erupted in overwhelming delight, as though releasing a collective breath. Glenn proceeded to deliver a powerful performance reflective of her capabilities. It wasn’t her career-best, nor was it flawless — “almost perfect,” she murmured to herself regarding a minor misstep near the end of her skate — but it was certainly a comeback.
Her free-skate score culminated in 147.52, bringing her overall total to 214.91, sufficient to occupy the first-place seat with a dozen competitors still remaining. She then had to await the outcome, hoping that, against the odds, her score would be enough for a medal. It proved not to be, as an impeccable Alysa Liu secured gold with 226.79 points, while Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90) and Ami Nakai (219.16) earned silver and bronze, respectively. Glenn ultimately placed fifth.
“Many hypothetical scenarios,” she commented on her reflections while positioned on the provisional leader’s bench. “I wished for no one to falter, yet I also desired to remain here (on the couch, not returning backstage), which presented a strong contradiction. I was simply pleased to witness such a magnificent competition firsthand.”
Two weeks prior, Glenn, alongside her Team USA companions Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito, came to Milan amidst a wave of national acclaim. They self-proclaimed themselves the “Blade Angels,” forming an ideal group: the sincere Glenn, the distinctive Liu, and the reserved Levito. Their immense skill and potential — each being a national titleholder — fueled speculation of a complete sweep of the medals. It was widely anticipated that at least one of them would end the American medal absence in women’s figure skating, a streak ongoing since 2006. Ultimately, it was Liu who accomplished this with a flawless execution.
For Glenn, initial signs of difficulty emerged during the team competition. Assigned to perform the free skate component — Liu having managed the women’s short program — Glenn displayed an uncharacteristic hesitation, concluding her performance in third position.
“A casual observer might watch and think, ‘It’s perfectly acceptable. Merely a few minor issues,’ but those familiar with skating understand that numerous potential points were unearned,” Glenn remarked later. “I neither felt nor performed as I had intended. Physically, I wasn’t at my peak. My legs felt heavy, I was fatigued, I simply wasn’t at my optimum, despite having practiced exceptionally well here.”
The United States nevertheless secured the team gold for a second consecutive Olympic event, yet Glenn’s expression revealed her distress and apprehension that she might have jeopardized Team USA’s gold medal, a worry that persisted until the official scores were declared.
“I believe I experienced some tiredness and must carefully handle that heading into the solo competition,” Glenn stated then. “However, I am truly proud of the mental resilience I’ve cultivated over time to overcome initial errors and persevere strongly in the latter part of the performance.”
She was unaware that a far more challenging situation awaited. Glenn and her companions, the Blade Angels, had over a week separating the team contest from their personal competitions, an extensive period to sustain peak Olympic concentration.
When Glenn eventually commenced her short program on the ice, her opening move was a triple axel, a leap of such complexity that only one other participant in this year’s female competition successfully executed it. Following another well-performed component, she got ready for a triple loop, a comparatively standard jump; nearly every Olympian in Tuesday’s lineup accomplished it. However, a minor instability caused her to complete only two rotations instead of three, resulting in no points for that entire segment.
That deduction caused her to drastically fall in the rankings; she concluded the routine in 13th position, over 11 points adrift of Japan’s leader, Ami Nakai. She was clearly heartbroken, departing the venue after a very short interview.
Glenn returned to the skating surface on Thursday evening, presented with a chance to alter her story. She achieved precisely that, and her feelings upon doing so were undeniable.
“I promised myself that regardless of how the performance unfolded, I would look up and remind myself, ‘You are at the Olympic Games,’ and I succeeded in doing so. I am genuinely proud of that particular instant,” she remarked.
“ … This is an experience I will cherish forever, and I have lived the moment I constantly envisioned. I intend to hold on to that memory tightly.”
