U.S. Figure Skating Championships: Amber Glenn Makes History as First Openly LGBTQ+ Women’s Champion
Columbus, Ohio – January 28, 2024
In a landmark moment for the sport, Amber Glenn has become the first openly LGBTQ+ skater to capture the U.S. women’s figure skating title. With a commanding overall score of 210.46, Glenn secured the gold medal at the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
Glenn’s victory marks a significant milestone in the sport, as she is the first openly LGBTQ+ skater to achieve this honor. Her triumph underscores the growing acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes in figure skating and beyond.
A Trailblazing Champion
Glenn’s journey to the top of the podium has been marked by perseverance and resilience. She has consistently finished on the podium at nationals in the past, including a third-place finish last year. Her unwavering dedication and determination have finally paid off, culminating in her historic victory.
“Being the first openly queer women’s champion is incredible,” Glenn said. “When I came out originally, I was terrified and I was scared it would affect my scores or something, but I didn’t care. It was worth it to see, over the last couple of years, the amount of young people that feel more comfortable in their environments at the rink.”
A Closely Contested Women’s Competition
The women’s competition at the U.S. Championships was fiercely contested, with several skaters vying for the top spot. Josephine Lee claimed the silver medal with a total score of 204.13, while Isabeau Levito, the reigning champion, finished in third place with a score of 202.69.
Levito had been neck-and-neck with Glenn following Thursday’s short programs, but both skaters encountered challenges in their free skate performances. Glenn executed a triple axel early in her program but made a few costly errors later on. Levito, who was skating last, struggled from the start and suffered a couple of falls, leading to a deduction of four points.
Mia Kalin Makes History with Quad Jump
In another historic moment, 15-year-old Mia Kalin became the first woman to cleanly land a quadruple jump (a skill with four turns, also known as a “quad”) at the U.S. Championships. Although she didn’t finish on the podium, Kalin’s achievement is a significant step forward for women’s figure skating.
Ilia Malinin Dominates Men’s Short Program
In the men’s competition, Ilia Malinin asserted his dominance in the short program, scoring a commanding 108.57 points. He finished almost 20 points ahead of the second-place skater, Maxim Naumov, who totaled 89.72 points.
Malinin, known as the “quad god,” lived up to his reputation by executing two other quad skills in his program, although he did not attempt the quad axel, the move that put him in the record books in 2022.
Jason Brown, the former Olympian and 2015 U.S. champion, finished in third place in the men’s short program despite a fall. The veteran skater remained positive after his performance, expressing his love for the U.S. Championships and his appreciation for the fans.
Ice Dance and Pairs Competitions to Conclude the Event
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships will continue on Saturday with the long programs for ice dance and pairs. These events promise to deliver more exciting performances and potentially more history-making moments.