Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn called out some of her American detractors who were quite loud after her mistake in the short program on Tuesday.
Glenn has not been shy about sharing her opinions, drawing a good amount of supporters as a leader for the American skating community, but she has also drawn a good deal of ire from viewers.
When Glenn experienced a low on Tuesday, after she did a double loop rather than a triple, her critics were quick to jump on her.
While she bounced back on Thursday with a magical skating performance, Glenn did not earn a medal.
She came out with a sense of pride and self-belief, while also knowing exactly what needs to be fixed regarding the handling of female athletes.
“I really hope that going forward we can find ways to better support athletes, especially when it comes to online spaces. There have been some really disturbing things said online about the three of us as female athletes,” Glenn said after the fact.
“It’s hard not to see that. I hope we can work toward creating a safer space for athletes, especially for young people like Isabeau. It’s really disappointing.”
Amber Glenn’s message to other figure skaters
Throughout her career, Glenn has battled mental health struggles and dealt with being a spokesperson in the LGBTQ+ community as a member of the community herself.
Those challenges have positioned her to offer advice and help others, making a meaningful impact on the sport and the Olympics at large.
“To Isabeau, I told her she looked so beautiful and had such determination and fight, and that I was so proud of her. And to Alysa, I said that this is going to change the future of figure skating, and I really hope that the three of us can work toward that together.
“Alysa and Isabeau are so young. They have many more years in figure skating if they choose to keep going. I don’t know how long I have left, so I might be helping more from the sidelines.
“But I’m just really proud and happy about the legacy they’re leaving on the sport — especially Alysa, with her story of stepping back for her mental health. I think that really shows you never know what the journey to success is going to look like. I hope that message reaches the skating community — that it’s okay if it takes time.”
