For U.S. skating champion Amber Glenn, the Finlandia Trophy was a rollercoaster of emotions. One day, she was untouchable. The next, a few small mistakes turned the tide, leaving her with a hard-earned silver medal after a dramatic finish in the women’s event at the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki.
In figure skating, the road to the podium is never easy. Glenn’s weekend was a reminder.
Friday: A Performance to Remember
With the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics just around the corner, every competition matters, and Glenn made this one count. Skating to Madonna’s iconic hit “Like a Prayer,” she delivered a performance that was both technically impressive.
She opened with a breathtaking triple axle, her trademark high-risk, high-reward element, earning 9.60 points right out of the gate. This bold start set the tone for the rest of her near-flawless routine. The rest of her program was just as strong, featuring three Level 4 spins and a Level 4 step sequence. Glenn’s precision paid off with a season-best score of 75.72.
Saturday: The Pressure is On
Saturday: One Error is Costly
By Saturday, it all came down to the free skate. Japan’s Mone Chiba, sitting in second, delivered a strong “Romeo and Juliet” routine. Despite a couple of early mistakes, her overall score of 217.22 put her in the lead, and the pressure on Glenn was intense as she took the ice.
Glenn’s free skate started off strong, but then things began to unravel. A planned triple lutz turned into a double, and she missed a critical combination. She fought hard to finish on a high note, but the small errors added up. Her final score of 213.41 left her just short of Chiba, securing her silver instead of gold.
It was a bittersweet moment for Glenn. After such a stellar performance on Friday, coming in second was tough to swallow. Meanwhile, Chiba celebrated her second Grand Prix victory of the season.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, Glenn’s weekend had its bright spots. Her performances earned her a place in the prestigious Grand Prix Final where she’ll compete again against Chiba and others. It’s another chance for Glenn to prove she’s one of the best in the sport and that she is a contender for gold at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
