American figure skater Amber Glenn placed sixth at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague last week. The Plano, Texas native was aiming for her first title at the event.
Glenn entered the free skate in bronze-medal position after a strong short program that showcased her signature triple Axel. However, she struggled to maintain that momentum during the final segment.
Several errors disrupted her free skate. Halfway through the program, she struggled with a planned triple loop, finishing it with just one rotation. This mistake and some minor errors had a significant impact on her technical score. As a result, Glenn slipped from third after the short program to finish sixth overall.
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
In a recent interview, Glenn revealed that she gave up major financial opportunities to compete in the World Championships. Her recent performance in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympicsdrew widespread attention and opened the door to more career opportunities.
"There was a thought of, I had to turn down so many career opportunities that I was thinking about,” Glenn said. “Of, 'I could make this money, or I could be on this public stage, or I can attend this premiere, but I need to be responsible and train for worlds.'
"I'm so grateful that I have these, and hopefully we'll continue to have opportunities like this because of the Olympics.”
According to the American figure skating star, juggling these professional responsibilities was a first for her.
"It was something that I haven't had to manage before, because I hadn't been to the Olympics before, so it was very different,” Glenn continued.
Glenn’s experience in Prague offered a striking contrast to her debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan earlier this year. She struggled with an early mistake in the individual women’s short program that placed her 13th. However, she bounced back in the free skate, finishing fifth overall.
Although she lost individually, the 26-year-old still left Italy with a gold medal for helping Team USA win the team competition.
After finishing the season without a World Championship medal, rumors about Glenn’s potential retirement continue to linger. Unlike many skaters her age, she has stayed competitive despite injuries and setbacks, keeping the door open for a return next season. Her plans, however, remain uncertain.
