> At a Glance
> – Amber Glenn scored 83.05 to set a new U.S. short-program record on Jan. 7
> – The mark eclipsed Alysa Liu’s fresh record of 81.11 at the 2026 Nationals
> – Olympic team selection will be announced Sunday, Jan. 11
> – Why it matters: Glenn, 26, is now the front-runner to secure one of the coveted U.S. women’s singles spots at the Milan 2026 Winter Games
Amber Glenn’s flawless triple axel and combination spin at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships didn’t just win the short program-it rewrote the record books and thrust her to the top of the Olympic selection list.
History-Making Performance
Competing at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Glenn landed every element to clock 83.05 points, the highest ever for a U.S. woman in the short program. The score stunned even the two-time defending champion, who buried her face in her hands as the numbers flashed.
She later said:
> “I knew that I came here to do my job… I felt a responsibility to keep it going better and better.”
The New Pecking Order
The standings after the short program:
| Skater | Score |
|---|---|
| Amber Glenn | 83.05 |
| Alysa Liu | 81.11 |
| Isabeau Levito | 75.72 |
Road to Milan
Glenn was an alternate for Beijing 2022 after COVID-19 forced her withdrawal from Nationals. A podium finish this weekend would check off her lifelong goal of becoming an Olympian.
Off the ice, Glenn has spoken openly about:
- Battling a mental-health crisis as a teen
- Coming out as pansexual in 2019 and feeling “a weight lifted”
- Racking up gold medals since 2023 despite setbacks
Key Takeaways
- Glenn, 26, could be the oldest U.S. women’s singles Olympian in 98 years
- She’s the only American woman consistently landing multiple triple axels
- U.S. Figure Skating officials will finalize the 2026 Olympic team after Sunday’s free skate
With Nationals concluding this weekend, all eyes are on whether Glenn can maintain her momentum and punch her ticket to Milan.
