> At a Glance
> – Amber Glenn, 26, is chasing her first Olympic berth at the January qualifier for Milan 2026
> – The 2025 U.S. national champion overcame anxiety, depression, an eating disorder and two career-threatening concussions
> – She could become the oldest U.S. women’s singles skater at the Games in 98 years
> – Why it matters: Her journey shows elite athletes can return stronger after stepping away for mental-health treatment
Amber Glenn’s calendar is a blur of competitions, photo shoots and commercials as the January qualifier nears. The 26-year-old Texan, fresh off a flu bout, calls herself a “mess” yet radiates determination to land on the Olympic team for the first time.
Early Promise and Family Sacrifice
Glenn laced up at 5 after her mom, Cathlene, steered her toward a mall rink to escape the Texas heat. Within a year she landed her first single axel-rare for age 6.
Her parents financed the sport any way they could:
- Dad Richard took side jobs while working as a police officer
- Mom worked at the rink and nannied for the coach to cut lesson costs
- Family held on until Glenn started earning funding
At 14 she captured the U.S. junior national title and looked Olympic-bound.
A Career-Altering Crisis
The next year a mental-health crisis sidelined her. A friend alerted her parents, and Glenn entered a treatment facility. Doctors diagnosed anxiety, depression and an eating disorder; ADHD was added later.
> “I thought life was done for,” she says. “There was eventually a spark that kept me going, that grew from the support around me and seeking help.”
She came out as pansexual in 2019, bracing for backlash from judges. Instead, she felt “a weight was lifted” and embraced skating free of the “pretty princess” mold.
Setbacks and Comebacks
Glenn’s route to 2026 included fresh detours:
- Positive COVID test knocked her out of 2022 Olympic contention
- Severe concussion and broken orbital bones in 2023
- A second concussion that left lingering brain damage
- Panic attack so intense she couldn’t breathe, calmed by coach Damon Allen
Despite the injuries, she started collecting gold medals again in 2023 and reclaimed a “more passionate, performative” style.
Signature Skill and Milestone Within Reach
Glenn can land multiple triple axels, the sport’s most elusive women’s jump. If she qualifies in January she would be:
- The only current U.S. woman over 25 at the Games
- The oldest American ladies’ singles Olympian since 1928
Off-ice she unwinds with dog Uki, anime marathons and Magic: The Gathering. Death Note inspired her bold competition makeup that fans copy on social media.
Key Takeaways
- Amber Glenn aims to become the oldest U.S. women’s singles skater at an Olympics in 98 years
- She returned to elite competition after inpatient treatment for mental-health disorders
- Two concussions and COVID couldn’t end her podium streak that restarted in 2023
- Coming out publicly brought unexpected support and freed her to skate authentically
As nationals and the qualifier approach, Glenn sums up her story simply: “My story is one of resilience and getting to live my life-not perfectly, but as me.”
