At 26, Amber Glenn Chases US Figure Skating Comeback

Amber Glenn may be competing in her first Winter Olympics at 26, but she's bringing two decades of experience to the ice in Milan.

The three-time US women's figure skating champion knows she's older than most competitors in a sport that typically celebrates teenage phenoms. "At 26, I'm a little bit of a dinosaur in ladies' singles, which is absurd, but it is true," Glenn said at a press conference Wednesday.

But Glenn isn't letting age define her moment. She beat reigning world champion Alysa Liu to claim her third US title last month, and now she's focused on bringing home America's first Olympic medal in women's figure skating since Sasha Cohen's silver in 2006.

The 20-year gap represents the longest drought in US women's figure skating history. Glenn sees it not as pressure, but as opportunity.

"Because we've been here for so long, the intensity wore off pretty quickly, and now it's just a really cool, fun experience," she said. "I'm just trying to embrace that and remind myself that this is a great opportunity, not just a competition."

Glenn's path to the Olympics hasn't been typical. While many elite figure skaters retire before their mid-twenties, she kept training and improving. Her persistence is paying off at exactly the right time.

The Texan has also become a prominent voice for LGBTQ athletes. She plans to use her Olympic platform to speak out on issues that matter to her, despite criticism that athletes should stay silent.

"I know that a lot of people say you're just an athlete, like, stick to your job, shut up about politics, but politics affect us all," Glenn said. "It is something that I will not just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives."

Why This Inspires

Glenn's story challenges the notion that athletic success has an expiration date. In a sport that often pushes young skaters to peak before they're old enough to vote, she's proving that dedication and experience matter just as much as youth.

She's also showing that athletes can be both competitors and advocates. Her willingness to speak authentically about her identity and values makes her a role model beyond the rink.

The team competition begins Friday, with women's singles starting February 17. Glenn will compete alongside a deep US roster favored to defend their Olympic team title, led by two-time men's world champion Ilia Malinin.

History shows Glenn's age isn't impossible: Britain's Madge Syers won Olympic gold in women's singles at 27 in 1908. Over a century later, Glenn has a chance to prove that age is just a number.