Amber Glenn Addresses Controversial Viral Clip from Winter Olympics Free Skate
Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn has publicly explained the context behind a viral video clip that showed her smiling during fellow Olympian Adeliia Petrosian's fall in the women's free skate event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The incident occurred during the second part of the individual women's figure skating competition on Thursday, sparking widespread discussion on social media platforms.
The Viral Moment and Immediate Backlash
Following her own free skate performance, Glenn was seated in the kiss-and-cry area after temporarily assuming first place. As cameras focused on Petrosian - who had stumbled during a challenging quad toeloop attempt - they panned to capture Glenn's reaction. The brief footage showed Glenn smiling, which many viewers interpreted as pleasure at her competitor's misfortune during critical moments of the routine.
The video rapidly gained traction across social media channels, with numerous commentators assuming Glenn was expressing satisfaction at Petrosian's technical difficulties. This interpretation created significant controversy around the American skater's sportsmanship and emotional response to a fellow athlete's performance.
Glenn's Public Response and Clarification
Amber Glenn directly addressed the situation on social media platform X, responding to a user who had shared the controversial clip. "I saw I was on camera and tried to smile but was uncomfortable because I knew that the people next to me were upset," Glenn wrote in her explanation. "What was I supposed to do?"
In subsequent interviews, Glenn described the moment as particularly awkward and emphasized that her smile was not intended as commentary on Petrosian's performance. She clarified that she was attempting to maintain composure while being unexpectedly filmed during an emotionally charged situation.
Competition Context and Results
Adeliia Petrosian, who competed as an "individual neutral athlete" due to Russia's exclusion from the 2026 Olympics following the invasion of Ukraine, ultimately finished in sixth place. The Russian skater expressed disappointment with her performance, telling reporters afterward that returning home would be "mentally hard" given the circumstances.
"Right now I'm just a bit ashamed for myself, the federation, the coaches, the spectators that it turned out like that," Petrosian stated regarding her final placement in the competition.
Meanwhile, Amber Glenn delivered a remarkable recovery performance, climbing from 13th place after the short program to finish fifth overall in the free skate event. Her teammate Alysa Liu secured the gold medal, ending a twenty-year drought for Team USA women in individual figure skating at the Winter Olympics.
Glenn's Reflections on Her Olympic Performance
Speaking with journalists after the competition concluded, Glenn expressed pride in her free skate performance despite missing the podium. "There's of course a lot going through my mind of just, 'Oh my gosh, what if,' but overall I'm happy with what I did today," Glenn told reporters.
"Of course there were some small mistakes, but I felt I handled myself really well," she continued. "There were many, many things that I was having to struggle with to get to where I am today in that performance. I'm really happy with the way I was able to conclude this Olympics."
Future Plans and Potential Retirement
When questioned about her future in competitive figure skating, Glenn hinted that she might not participate in the next Winter Olympics scheduled for 2030 in the French Alps. "I don't know how long I have left [skating]," she revealed. "So I'll be kind of helping on the sidelines."
This statement suggests Glenn may be considering transitioning from active competition to supporting roles within the sport, potentially as a coach, mentor, or commentator in coming years.
