Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Women Single Skating - Short Program - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 17, 2026. Amber Glenn of United States reacts after her performance during the Short Program REUTERS/Yara Nardi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
(Milan, Italy) – U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn is at the center of a social media firestorm after an emotional performance at the Winter Olympics ended in heartbreak — and political backlash.
Glenn, who had previously criticized the Trump administration in blunt terms on social media, struggled during her Olympic skate and ultimately finished 13th. Cameras captured the visibly shaken athlete breaking down in tears on the ice following her routine. The moment quickly spread online, with clips circulating across X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Critics were quick to tie her performance to her past political comments, resurfacing posts in which Glenn sharply attacked former President Donald Trump and his administration. Supporters, however, pushed back against what they called unfair politicization of an athlete’s performance under immense Olympic pressure.
The emotional scene — Glenn kneeling on the ice, hand over her chest before covering her face in tears — has become one of the most talked-about moments of the Games. While some viewers framed it as karma, others described it as a raw example of the crushing pressure Olympians face on the world stage.
