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The three-time reigning world champion had to settle for second place on her seasonal debut in Bergamo behind 24-year-old American Glenn.

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Kaori

Kaori Sakamoto - Olympics.com

Figure Skating

Lombardia Trophy 2024: Amber Glenn posts career-best short program to lead Sakamoto Kaori

Reigning US national champion **Amber Glenn** holds the lead after the short program of the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy 2024 in Bergamo, Italy, on Friday (13 September 2024).

Three-time reigning world champion **<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kaori-sakamoto" target="_blank">Sakamoto Kaori</a>** is second in her first competition of the 2024-25 figure skating season. Another American, **Sarah Everhardt**, lies third ahead of Georgia's 2023 European champion **<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/anastasiia-gubanova" target="_blank">Anastasiia Gubanova</a>**.

Sporting a new blonde hairstyle, Sakamoto performed a tango-inspired routine to music by **Gidon Kremer**. She opened with a double Axel followed by a triple Lutz and then a slightly sketchy triple flip-triple toe loop combination.

Japan's <a href="https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/beijing-2022" target="_blank">Beijing 2022</a> bronze medallist scored 73.53, enough for the lead at the time, but she was soon displaced by Glenn.

Skating to **Janet Jackson's** 'This Time', the 24-year-old landed a triple Axel, triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple loop in a near-flawless display. She earned 75.71, an improvement of more than four points on her previous best short program, to take the overnight lead.

After winning her first national title in January, Glenn finished 10th at March's World Championships in Montreal. She also has two ISU Grand Prix podium finishes to her name.

The women's free skate takes place on Saturday.

Men's world champion <a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/ilia-malinin" target="_blank">**Ilia Malinin**</a> made it a winning double for the United States later on Friday, opening his season in fine style with a <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/lombardia-trophy-2024-ilia-malinin-makes-stunning-season-debut-in-short-program-results" target="_blank">short program personal best</a>.

*   <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-amber-glenn-usa-champion-2024-role-olympic-dream-exclusive" target="_blank">Amber Glenn on her new role as U.S. champion and a renewed Olympic dream: ‘I really do see it as a possibility’</a>
*   <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/sakamoto-kaori-world-figure-skating-three-peat-targeted-year-exclusive" target="_blank">Sakamoto Kaori exclusive: 'The three-peat was something I targeted all year'</a>

At 24, Glenn is a first-time national champion a decade after winning in the juniors. She’s been open about her mental health struggles, but also about her sexuality. She spoke to Olympics.com exclusively.

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U.S. champion Amber Glenn on doing things her own way: ‘I want to make a change in the sport'

## Results from women's short program at the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy 2024 (top 10):

1.  Amber Glenn (USA) 75.71
2.  Sakamoto Kaori (JPN) 73.53
3.  Sarah Everhardt (USA) 69.13
4.  Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) 66.78
5.  Anna Pezzetta (ITA) 64.11
6.  Watanabe Rinka (JPN) 61.79
7.  Niina Petrokina (EST) 60.73
8.  Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA) 57.06
9.  Kim Seo-young (KOR) 54.89
10.  Anastasija Konga (LAT) 50.94

Amber Glenn upstaged Sakamoto Kaori in the short program at the 2024 Lombardia Trophy

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Lombardia Trophy 2024: Amber Glenn posts career-best short program to lead Sakamoto Kaori

Results from women's short program at the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy 2024 (top 10):

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