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MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 19: Amber Glenn of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Sometimes an athlete\u2019s greatest impact on their sport isn\u2019t in the form of a medal. After three U.S. titles and Olympic gold, American figure skater Amber Glenn has plenty of medals. Now, the Olympian wants to make a lasting impact on others. <\/p>\n
The three-time U.S. Champion left the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics with a gold medal and a rollercoaster of memories in tow. She learned many lessons in Italy \u2013 above all, the value of mental health. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really, really intense environment\u2026 but an incredible one,\u201d Amber says, reflecting on her experience in the Olympic village. The athlete likened the atmosphere to a college dorm \u2014 one where every student was chasing Olympic glory.<\/p>\n
The Olympic reality was foreign, exciting, and daunting. Once an athlete leaves the ice, slopes, or bobsled track, \u201cthere\u2019s a sense of: ‘I\u2019ve done it, I\u2019ve made it here\u2026 but now what?’\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the ups and downs in northern Italy, the 26-year-old discovered a newfound understanding of herself, her sport, and her definition of success.<\/p>\n
Mindfulness in Milan-Cortina<\/p>\n
The first-time Olympian experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in Milan. While Glenn helped Team USA win gold in the team event, a fluke error dashed her hopes of an individual medal in the short program. The result was heart-wrenching.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t even describe how devastating [the short program mistake] was,” Glenn reflects, shaking her head. The mistake also came after weeks of online harassment stemming from a pre-Olympic press conference. <\/p>\n
Glenn had rarely struggled with the physical aspect of her sport. In Milan-Cortina, she became the first American woman to land three triple axels in a single Olympic campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely the mental side that has been a struggle in my career,\u201d Glenn reflects. Throughout her 20-year skating journey, she struggled to balance the technical and emotional aspects of the sport. It\u2019s \u201cstill a struggle\u201d in 2026, Glenn tells me. \u201cBut with time, I feel like they’ve gotten more interconnected.\u201d <\/p>\n
ForbesMadison Chock And Evan Bates Talk Olympics, Their Pets And Their Future On IceBy Caroline Price<\/a><\/p>\n In an individual discipline where an athlete performs on an exposed, illuminated, icy podium \u2013 often in front of thousands \u2013 that balance is crucial. Thus, returning to Olympic ice after a major error can be indescribably \u201cisolating.\u201d <\/p>\n Instead of succumbing to the isolation, Glenn leaned into the supportive crowd, the individuals in her corner, and her undeniable technical ability. While she sometimes feels \u201calone\u201d on the ice, she felt supported during her final skate.<\/p>\n The result? A truly \u2018Olympic\u2019 skate. <\/p>\n MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 19: Amber Glenn of Team United States reacts after competing in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Glenn \u201claid it down,\u201d delivering her best ISU free skate score of the season to jump eight spots in the standings. After weeks of heartache, she finally had her Olympic moment. Though she left the individual competition without a medal, she also left with newfound wisdom: she fully understood the value of her village. <\/p>\n \u201cIn Milan, I got a better understanding of that balance and how I can show up for myself and others in a more sustainable, long-term way.” Months later in Prague, Glenn redeemed her Milan short program to win her first small medal at a world championship, a bronze. <\/p>\n Handling Online Hate<\/p>\n Though Amber departed Milan-Cortina with numerous goals accomplished, the online harassment followed her back to the United States, to Prague, and beyond. It was \u201coverwhelming\u201d at times, she recalls.<\/p>\n In a subjective sport with strict, often controversial judging practices, the added scrutiny of millions can feel suffocating. After nervy skates in the team competition and women\u2019s short program in Milan-Cortina, disgruntled online commenters flocked to Glenn\u2019s social media pages, eager to pile on the skater. <\/p>\n Many warn athletes to \u2018put down the phone\u2019 and separate themselves from the barrage of online detractors. Amber declined. Though Glenn has worked to set boundaries for her own social media use, the Olympics were a whole new beast. During the Olympic Games, figure skating \u2018goes mainstream\u2019 for American media. <\/p>\n ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JANUARY 09: Amber Glenn poses for a photo during the Victory Ceremony after competing in the Women’s Free Skating during the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on January 09, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when the spotlight is on you,” she recounts. Glenn\u2019s social media following grew by 39% during the games (Sportico<\/a>), and currently sits at 1.5 million followers on Instagram and 2.4 million on TikTok. \u201cWhatever message you want to spread, that\u2019s the time to do it. But it\u2019s also when you\u2019re going to get the most negativity,\u201d Amber adds. <\/p>\n As the first openly queer female athlete in U.S. figure skating history and a vocal advocate for mental health, Glenn had long defended the causes she represented. She wasn\u2019t going to stop in Milan. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve used [social media] for connection for so many years,\u201d Glenn reflects. \u201cI knew that I had a platform. It wasn\u2019t a big one, but I had a platform, and I had people who looked up to me.\u201d<\/p>\n While her popularity skyrocketed over the years and her schedule was packed with international assignments, Glenn has remained steadfastly committed to her causes and fans. She often received messages from supporters, crediting her advocacy with helping them through a mental crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cThey felt seen,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Though hate-filled messages often came in tidal waves, Glenn has learned to focus on the messages that matter. \u201cPeople are going to judge you either way, but making a difference in someone\u2019s life is more important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n