Amber Glenn, a figure skater representing Team USA in the Winter Olympics, has opened up about the ‘scary amount of threats’ she has received after publicly sharing her beliefs ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 games.
In a press conference before the games, Glenn, who identifies as pansexual, was questioned about her feelings on representing the LGBTQIA+ community in the Olympics.
During the conference on Wednesday, Glenn commented on the current climate in the US, stating: “It’s been a hard time for the community overall in this administration. It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights.
“And now, especially, it’s not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities. I think that we are able to support each other in a way that we didn’t have to before, and because of that, it’s made us a lot stronger.”
Glenn expressed her desire to use her Olympic platform to ‘encourage people to stay strong in these hard times’.
“I know that a lot of people say, ‘You’re just an athlete, like, stick to your job, shut up about politics,’ but politics affect us all,” she asserted to the media, emphasizing that it’s a subject she won’t ignore.
She concluded: “It is something that I will not just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives. So, of course, there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead of us.”
On Sunday (February 8), the 26-year-old secured a gold medal when her team triumphed in the women’s free skating event. However, her celebration was marred by the ‘threats’ she received after voicing her beliefs.
In an Instagram Story on Saturday (February 7), Glenn wrote: “When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans, I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice when asked about how I feel.”
She continued: “I did anticipate this, but I am disappointed by it.
“I couldn’t believe the outlandish backlash I received for just supporting people. Of course, I have people supporting me, and I’m not online right now because of it, but I’m gonna keep speaking my truth.
“I’m gonna keep representing what I believe in and what I think all Americans believe in, which is freedom and being able to love and do what you want. So, I just hope we can keep going forward and be positive.”
Glenn is not alone in her sentiments; fellow Team USA athlete Hunter Hess also shared ‘mixed emotions’ about representing the US in Italy.
Former President Donald Trump reacted to Hess’s comments, labeling the skier a ‘loser’.