Amber Glenn made history this weekend by being the first out woman to win the US women’s figure skating title.
The emotion says it all. ❤️
The moment Amber Glenn became a U.S. national champion for the first time in her career. #PrevagenUSChamps pic.twitter.com/U3YPYXdvEa
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 27, 2024
Glenn came out as bisexual/pansexual in 2019. She previously won medals and titles, but never the gold. To honor this milestone and her community, she proudly waved a Progress Pride flag on the podium.
“Being the first openly queer women’s champion is incredible. When I originally came out, I was terrified and scared it would affect my scores or something, but I didn’t care. It was worth it to see, over the last couple of years, the amount of young people that feel more comfortable in their environments at the rink,” she said on Instagram.
In a separate interview with Dallas Voice, she said “The fear of not being accepted is a huge struggle for me. Being perceived as ‘just a phase’ or ‘indecisive’ is a common thing for bisexual/pansexual women. I don’t want to shove my sexuality in people’s faces, but I also don’t want to hide who I am.”
Glenn struggled during her performance, but she still managed to come out on top, beating defending champion Isabeau Levito. “It wasn’t exactly how I wanted to get my first national title,” Glenn said. “It was a mix of being extremely grateful for the results but also knowing I can do so much better.”
She told NBC Sports, “I know that both Isabeau and I are capable of so much more, but just the shock that all my hard work has paid off and the realization of what more I can do.”
Glenn’s win is a triumphant end to a particularly difficult season. At the start of her season, she sustained a concussion and broken bone around her eye after colliding with another skater during practice. Congrats to Amber Glenn!
What Do You Think?