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Amber Glenn shared that making the Olympic team was never her childhood dream, but something she began aiming for later in life when she started realizing her potential. Glenn will head to her debut Olympics in Milan in February, having qualified for it at the US National Championships.
Glenn not only topped the women’s short program and free skate, winning her third consecutive title, but also broke the record in the former event.
Amber Glenn Reveals that the Olympics Weren’t Her Childhood Dream
The Plano native began skating at age five, drawing inspiration from Sarah Hughes’ Olympic feat in 2002. A passionate skater, she often struggled with perfectionism, but over time, she mastered all her jumps except the axel. Success followed in the 2014–15 season, when she won the Grand Prix and Junior National titles.
Continuing her momentum, she won her third straight national title this year, the first back-to-back-to-back national champ since Michelle Kwan triumphed in 2005.
Glenn will head to the Games as the oldest women’s singles skater since 1928, but her recent interview revealed that the top-most global event was never on her bucket list. Instead, she thought about it when she started working towards reaching her full potential.
“I didn’t even dream of that as a kid because I was like, ah, no. Only so many people make it. Like that’s not going to happen. So, it only became like a goal of mine a couple of years ago. But I’ve been working so hard to reach my potential, and I knew that one day my potential could be making an Olympic team, and to finally do that is so satisfying,” she said.
Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito will join Glenn on the women’s side. The Olympic figure skating events will begin on February 9.
READ MORE: Amber Glenn Breaks Down After Historic Short Program at U.S. Figure Skating Championships 2026
The 26-year-old came off a fourth-place finish at the 2025/26 Grand Prix when she graced the skating rink at the Nationals. Nervousness peaked as it also served as the gateway to the Olympics. In a post-win interview, she revealed that she was suffering from an upset stomach and couldn’t control her nausea.
However, as soon as she graced the stage, her experience came into effect. As a result, she was able to manage her mental and physical stress and perform at her highest level.
In another press conference, the six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist shared that she felt her late grandmother’s presence during the competition, which ultimately helped her soothe her nerves. The latter, who was a constant supporter of the skier, passed away in 2025.
