Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn both had very successful stints in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Both figure skating stars returned home to the United States with gold medals around their necks following a memorable Winter Games.
Liu and Glenn combined to help lead Team USA to a gold medal in the team event. They also competed in the singles event, with Liu securing her second gold medal with awe-inspiring routines in the short program and the free skate. Glenn finished a very respectable fifth.
Both ice skaters cemented their status as icons of the sport after the Olympics.
Jeff Le-Imagn Images
Milan Cortina was Liu’s second trip to the Olympics. She made her debut in 2022 in Beijing at just 16. Glenn, on the other hand, missed the Beijing Games because of COVID-19. At 26, the 2026 Olympics may very well have been Glenn’s first and last Winter Games appearance.
Glenn hasn’t been shy about facing the reality that she is now at the tail end of her career. In fact, when asked about potentially competing in the 2030 Olympics, the three-time U.S. national champion laughed off the prospect.
Glenn’s previous statement about her retirement recently surfaced. In it, the Plano, Texas, native expressed her confidence that Liu (and fellow Olympian Isabeau Levito) would carry the torch once Glenn is done.
“The sport is safe with them when I retire, and I’m just so proud,” Glenn said.
Liu had a blunt reaction to Glenn’s retirement statement. The reigning World Figure Skating champion shut down Glenn’s message.
“Well, she’s not going to retire … so, we’re not talking about that,” Liu responded.
Liu and Glenn may be competitors, but they are also close friends. Liu just isn’t ready to see Glenn walk away from the sport just yet.
These two American icons will face off on the ice again soon. The World Figure Skating Championships are scheduled for March 24 to 29 in Prague, Czech Republic, and both skaters have been confirmed as competitors.
Glenn has not won the Worlds in her career. Liu, on the other hand, is set to defend her title after winning the competition in 2025.
