Who is Amber Glenn? First openly out figure skater eyes Winter Olympics 2026 win after historic U.S. women’s championship feat

Amber Glenn had just left the ice when she screamed in shock. She was standing in the cooldown area at the USA Figure Skating Championships when her score appeared on the screen. The number, 83.05, was the highest short program score ever recorded at a U.S. women’s championship. That moment set the tone for the rest of the event. Two days later, Glenn sealed her third straight national title. No American woman had done that in more than two decades.The win also earned Glenn a place on her first Olympic team. At the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics next month, she will have a chance to make history again. She could become the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic singles medal since 2006. The achievement is even more meaningful because Glenn once stepped away from skating. She doubted her future and focused on her mental health. Today, her personal growth and athletic success are closely linked.Amber Glenn believes her career changed after she came out publicly as bisexual and pansexual in 2019. She said that decision helped her feel free. She explained to NBC news that she no longer felt pushed to live up to someone else’s expectations. Instead, she could finally be herself on and off the ice. According to Outsports, she will be the first openly out woman to compete in figure skating at the Olympics.Glenn grew up in Plano, Texas, and trained near Dallas. Her coming-out moment happened quietly in a local LGBTQ news story. She later said she expected very little attention. In reality, the story spread quickly around the world. That sudden spotlight made her nervous. She worried about competing in other countries. She also feared how judges, sponsors, and fans might react.Figure skating relies on judging opinions. Glenn said that always scared her. She felt she did not match the traditional image of a female skater. She worried people might see her as less graceful or unfairly judge her appearance. Over time, she realized change had to start somewhere. She felt that being visible could help future athletes feel less afraid.Her fears never became reality. Glenn said her scores did not suffer. Fans showed support, including Pride flags in the stands. Sponsors stayed with her. Still, success did not come overnight. Injuries, concussions, and illness slowed her progress. She missed key moments early in her career.After the 2022 Olympics, Glenn made big changes. She moved to Colorado, changed coaches, and worked with a mental performance coach. Breathing techniques helped her manage pressure. Results followed. She won Grand Prix medals, a U.S. title, and later the Grand Prix Final.