American figure skater Amber Glenn entered the women’s short program as a favorite to compete for gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
But after a jump that earned her zero points, Glenn notched a disappointing 13th-place finish in the event.
Glenn landed her first triple axel, followed by a successful triple flip and triple toe loop. But on her next triple loop attempt, the 26-year-old skater bailed on the jump and completed only a double loop.
Glenn’s short program routine required her final jump to be a triple loop, so her double was immediately ruled an “invalid element” by the Olympic judges. This costly mistake resulted in a score of 67.39.
Retired Russian figure skater Adelina Sotnikova, who won gold at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, shared her immediate reaction to Glenn’s blunder.
“Yes, it’s unfortunate. But we can’t be too sorry because we know… it works in our favor.” Sotnikova said alongside commentator Lina Fedorova during an Okko broadcast, as translated by FS Gossips.
Russian teenager Adeliia Petrosian, competing at Milano Cortina as a neutral athlete, earned fifth-place position with a score of 72.89.
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Sotnikova is taking some serious heat from figure skating fans over this comment about Glenn’s mistake.
“I’m sorry but her of all people using the words ‘it works in our favor’ in any context, I have no words,” one fan wrote.
“She’s so annoying, can she go away??? she didn’t deserve that gold medal in Sochi, she needs to give it to Yuna (the rightful winner),” another said.
“Had to look her up. most forgettable olympic champion ever,” another added.
“Everything works in your favor when you dope and have your federation steal gold medals,” another said.
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While Glenn faltered in her short program routine, her teammate and close friend Alysa Liu earned a score of 76.59 — enough for third place behind Japanese skaters Ami Nakai (78.71) and Kaori Sakamoto (77.23). The third member of the American “Blade Angels,” Isabeau Levito, claimed eighth place with a 70.84 in her Olympic debut.
