For American figure skater Amber Glenn, winning gold was within reach going into the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. But then she experienced a devastating result in the performance of her short program routine during the first portion of the women’s individual competition on February 17, 2026.
While skating her short program, the 26-year-old first fell on the ice and then performed a double loop jump instead of the required triple loop jump – which resulted in an invalid element and a dream-shattering penalty. Yet, the Olympics have congratulated Glenn on making history in the same routine that also likely took her out of medal contention. Here’s what The Olympic Games official X account had to say to Amber Glenn after her short program heartbreak.
The Olympics Wrote an Uplifting Message of Support for Amber Glenn After Her Short Program Routine
GettyTeam USA’s Amber Glenn cries after receiving a penalty during the women’s short program figure skating event at the Winter Olympics
Just a brief time after Amber Glenn skated her short program routine and was met with the fate of falling out of contention for the gold medal she’d been hoping for, the Olympics wrote a congratulatory and supportive message to Glenn about her successful history-making triple axel jump during the women’s figure skating competition.
Welcome to the triple Axel at the Olympics club, Nakai Ami and Amber Glenn! š#FigureSkating #MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/Rkn6xGTtl9
ā The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 17, 2026
In the message posted to X, the official account for The Olympic Games celebrated Glenn’s success alongside fellow figure skater Nakai Ami of Japan by saying, “Welcome to the triple Axel at the Olympics club”. Both female figure skaters became some of the first of their generation to perform successful triple axel jumps during their Olympic routines.
A triple axel is an advanced figure skating skill which requires athletes to begin the jump facing forward, complete three and a half airborne rotations, and then land backwards on the ice. Despite failing to complete her planned triple loop jump during the women’s short program, Amber Glenn did land her triple axel jump with exact precision and made history for it!
The Congratulatory Message Comes in the Wake of Glenn Receiving a Devastating Penalty
Glenn earned a spot to compete in the upcoming women’s free skate event, but she is likely out of medal contention now after she received a penalty score of zero points for failing to complete her final jump in her short program routine. This is because female figure skaters must complete a series of requirements in the Olympic short program, including one double or triple axel jump and one standalone triple jump.
Glenn successfully met the requirement for the axel jump when she landed the history-making triple axel on Olympic ice, but her standalone triple jump was meant to be her intended triple loop jump. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old Glenn completed a double loop jump instead and was given an “Invalid Element” penalty by the judges and ultimately zero points for the heavily-weighted portion of her short program routine.
The Olympics Congratulate Amber Glenn For Making History Amid Heartbreak