Amber Glenn on expressing her feminine power: “I no longer compare myself to others”
U.S. national champion and 2024 Grand Prix de France winner Amber Glenn never quite fit the traditional figure skating mould. After many years of doubt, she is now embracing that as her power.
Figure Skating
Fist in the air. A graceful spin. A triple Axel matching the energy of a pop rock classic and a step sequence that seamlessly follows the notes of a melancholic piano solo. Black pantsuit. Pastel dress. And back to black.
It is easy to confuse Amber Glenn for two different figure skaters when she comes on the ice for her short and free programs. The U.S. national champion effortlessly transitions from Janet Jackson’s anthem of female empowerment to a mystical blend of violin parts and vocals, from declaring that “Heads Will Roll” in her short to calling for redemption in her free along with Muse's “Exogenesis” as humanity comes to an end.
It is a dichotomy of character that Glenn has come to embrace and own in recent seasons. Best known for her bold attitude on the ice, Glenn is now also feeling increasingly authentic in her softer, feminine skates.
By incorporating both personalities into her season's programs, she is helping to show that female figure skaters do not need to be stereotyped into one group or another.
"I used to stick out a bit more, but over the last couple of years, a lot of skaters have branched out more and are becoming a lot more unique and individual, and it's something I really appreciate seeing," Glenn said of the transformation that took place in the sport since she started competing as a senior almost 10 years ago.
"I feel like myself, as well as others, have come to embrace power and strength and their femininity all in one, and not just having to pick one or the other," she continued. "Before, I kind of felt isolated as someone who was more strong, more dominating, more powerful, rather than always the most graceful. But I feel like skating has really started to evolve, to accept all of that, and a lot of girls nowadays are accepting that a lot more, and it's been great to see."
Olympics.com spoke to this season's Grand Prix de France winner about not fitting into the stereotypical figure skating mould, how she started to embrace her feminine side, breaking the age ceiling in the sport and the things that can make her tear up when she steps onto the ice.
Soft, strong, and unapologetically herself: Amber Glenn's on-ice portrait
Glenn’s traditionally bolder programs are one way she stands out from the "ice princess" stereotype prevalent in the world of women’s singles skating.
Rather than opting for classical music – a failproof figure skating staple – Glenn’s most memorable programs are set to music as powerful as she is. She has turned to Queen, Beyoncé and Nina Simone, among others, as a musical accompaniment to her sizzling technical elements, while her recent exhibition numbers had the skater channelling a vampire and Gotham City villain Harley Quinn.
These self-assured characters came naturally to Glenn, who was able to pull them off with a brazen attitude few skaters could match. When it came to the softer, feminine skates, however, her self-confidence tended to dip. That is now changing as Glenn becomes more comfortable with expressing her feminine side too.
"I think it came with accepting myself for who I am and what I look like and what my body can do for me, not just how it appears," she said. "Being able to embrace that and love myself for who I am and what I can do has really uplifted my confidence and I no longer compare myself to others as much as I have in the past. So I feel like, with that, I've been able to really have moments of feeling that feminine power."
Glenn's program choices for the 2024-25 season show how the skater is finding the balance between her strong and softer sides. Set to Janet Jackson's "This Time", the short is full of punchy technical elements and hand gestures. The free skate, on the other hand, opts for flowing choreography to match the soft tones of Audiomachine's "I Will Find You" mixed with "The Return" by CLANN.
While these are two very different programs, for Glenn, both feel like an authentic expression of her true self.
"They've all been challenging in different ways, but I feel like this year they're a lot more comfortable and they feel more like they come from within," Glenn said. "The short program, I would say, is a lot more bold and I have a lot of fun doing it. It's a good time and it's dynamic and it's exciting. It gets the crowd really thrilled. But I really do enjoy those softer, more melancholy and dark feminine kind of feelings, like my free skate. I just love the artistic side of it, and so I love both equally."
Never too late: How Amber Glenn hit her prime at an age when most skaters retire
Flipping through photographs of fellow figure skaters and watching their programs, Amber Glenn used to feel she could never fit the description of a so-called typical skater. It was not only about the edgy persona she brings to the ice, but also her age.
While most skaters retire in their early 20s, Glenn made her worlds debut at 23, won her first national title at 24 and her first Grand Prix at 25. The four years between Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026 are the third Olympic cycle for the skater who hopes to make her Olympic debut at age 26.
It is an unlikely timeline of skating progress that takes Glenn herself by surprise.
"My gosh, ancient!” the athlete said of how old 25 is in ‘skating years’. “I remember when I was younger thinking, 'Oh, 18 is when everyone stops. That's the end of it'. I would never imagine at 25 I'd be still skating and still improving. And it's been a blessing."
"If you had told me this 10 years ago, I would have laughed it off. I would think that's impossible," Amber Glenn to Olympics.com
While it was not impossible, skating at the top level at age 25 does require a lot of work.
One of the oldest athletes in the women’s singles field, Glenn sticks to an extensive warm-up and cool-down regimen to make sure she is at her best for competition. This involves coming to the rink two hours before the event starts – much earlier than the younger skaters – warming up her muscles with a hand massager and constantly moving before she goes onto the ice.
Glenn's pre-skate routine gets more elaborate and time-consuming each year, but for the skater, the effort is worth it. Aside from her love for skating, Glenn is determined to continue competing to send an encouraging message to others in a similar age bracket.
"It's never too late. You never know what'll happen," Glenn said. "Don't give up on yourself, especially if you're working hard and improving and you see that progress. Don't give up just because there's some stigma or there's some imaginary cut-off. You can still keep going and accomplish so much."
Amber Glenn won her first Grand Prix a few days after turning 25.
Amber Glenn: A voice for diversity
Amber Glenn approaches life the same way as she does her programs – not holding anything back and taking the risk to reveal her most vulnerable sides.
"I would say both in life and in skating, I put my whole heart into it, whether that is for the best or not," she said. "I do everything with all the care that I possibly can and with all the determination and I put my heart out on my sleeve both in life and in skating. And sometimes that can be hard and sometimes it can be so, so rewarding."
The USA skater has never been shy of sharing her most personal struggles, including her coming out as bisexual and the mental health struggles she has faced with her ADHD diagnosis.
This vulnerability has had a profound impact within and beyond the figure skating community. Spectators waving rainbow flags are a constant presence at her competitions, no matter where in the world they are held. Glenn also receives countless messages expressing gratitude for her openness.
"There's been so many messages and so many in-person interactions that encourage me to keep going and to keep improving and showing that no matter who you are or what you identify as, you can have success and you can enjoy this sport. You can enjoy your passions," Glenn said. "Having that representation means a lot to people. I almost get teary-eyed every time. To see that these people see themselves or see part of themselves in me and that they're not alone, it means everything."
Be that fans who praise her advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues, her honesty about mental health, or her audacity to be her unapologetic self on the ice, in Glenn’s world everyone gets a sympathetic ear. As the figure skating world becomes more diverse, the skater said she feels most proud to be among those heralding that change.
"I want to be remembered as someone who wanted to make a change in the sport, that wanted to help make a positive difference in not just ladies figure skating, but all of it in how we are perceived and how we are treated as athletes," Glenn said of the legacy she wants to leave in the sport she has dedicated 20 years of her life to.
"I really want to help with that community and with that atmosphere. I feel like myself, along with many others, have really made a change in the skating community just in the last five to 10 years, and I want to continue that for as long as I can."