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)

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Sometimes an athlete’s greatest impact on their sport isn’t 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.

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 – above all, the value of mental health.

“It was a really, really intense environment… but an incredible one,” Amber says, reflecting on her experience in the Olympic village. The athlete likened the atmosphere to a college dorm — one where every student was chasing Olympic glory.

The Olympic reality was foreign, exciting, and daunting. Once an athlete leaves the ice, slopes, or bobsled track, “there’s a sense of: 'I’ve done it, I’ve made it here… but now what?'”

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.

Mindfulness in Milan-Cortina

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.

“I can’t 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.

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.

“It was definitely the mental side that has been a struggle in my career,” Glenn reflects. Throughout her 20-year skating journey, she struggled to balance the technical and emotional aspects of the sport. It’s “still a struggle” in 2026, Glenn tells me. “But with time, I feel like they've gotten more interconnected.”

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In an individual discipline where an athlete performs on an exposed, illuminated, icy podium – often in front of thousands – that balance is crucial. Thus, returning to Olympic ice after a major error can be indescribably “isolating.”

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 “alone” on the ice, she felt supported during her final skate.

The result? A truly ‘Olympic’ skate.

Glenn “laid it down,” 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.

“In 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.

Handling Online Hate

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 “overwhelming” at times, she recalls.

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’s short program in Milan-Cortina, disgruntled online commenters flocked to Glenn’s social media pages, eager to pile on the skater.

Many warn athletes to ‘put down the phone’ 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 ‘goes mainstream’ for American media.

“That’s when the spotlight is on you," she recounts. Glenn’s social media following grew by 39% during the games (Sportico), and currently sits at 1.5 million followers on Instagram and 2.4 million on TikTok. “Whatever message you want to spread, that’s the time to do it. But it’s also when you’re going to get the most negativity,” Amber adds.

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’t going to stop in Milan.

“I’ve used [social media] for connection for so many years,” Glenn reflects. “I knew that I had a platform. It wasn’t a big one, but I had a platform, and I had people who looked up to me.”

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.

“They felt seen,” she says.

Though hate-filled messages often came in tidal waves, Glenn has learned to focus on the messages that matter. “People are going to judge you either way, but making a difference in someone’s life is more important to me.”

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Partnership with CorePower Yoga

Unsurprisingly, her newfound partnership with CorePower Yoga’s Mental Health Awareness Month was a “natural fit.” Yoga practice has been part of Glenn’s training since age 11. For a young skater accustomed to grueling technical and physical training, Glenn seized the opportunity to just breathe.

"Sometimes I can just shut my brain off," she laughs. Instead, she focuses on muscle activation, intentionally flowing between poses and movements. The sensation directly mirrors her movement across the ice.

Though Glenn loves any opportunity to continue her yoga practice, she is especially enamored with the chance to make mental health resources more accessible. CorePower is offering free yoga and meditation classes for students all month long.

The mindfulness movement has worked wonders for the triple-axel jumping phenom, but non-Olympians don’t have to land the jump to benefit. “CorePower is really trying to make this accessible to as many people as possible,” Amber says. “This initiative is really helping and making it easier for people to try something new and build those habits.”

Taking the first step – or axel jump – is hard. But Amber’s done it time and time again under the brightest lights. Elite athlete or not, she wants everyone to reap the benefits of mindfulness and mental health awareness. “Taking that first step is really difficult. CorePower is really trying to help get the ball rolling.”

What’s Next For Amber Glenn

With another figure skating season behind her, Amber’s laces remain tied for the Stars on Ice U.S. tour. The tour is a nonstop grind, traversing more than 25 stops in under a month. At the time of this interview, Amber is in Springfield, Massachusetts. By the time of posting, she is already in Chicago.

Though she has had little time to ruminate since Milan-Cortina, the skater is trying her best to put pen to paper. One thing’s for certain – she has achieved her two primary goals: land a triple axel, compete in the Olympics.

Countless jumps and an Olympic gold medal later, the 26-year-old is left wondering: “What now?” Glenn turns 27 in July and would be 30 years old at the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps. “I’m no spring chicken,” she laughs.

Though age is definitely a factor, the skater is already hungry for what’s next.

“I have to be very mindful about how my body is doing and how I can be sustainable with my athletic career," she insists. While she intends to weigh her options, Amber foresees a future with more competitive skating.

"I am looking very positively on what my future is, and I do think that includes skating for sure… I’m not finished with this.”