American figure skater Amber Glenn has delivered a defiant response to her detractors after playing a pivotal role in securing a gold medal for Team USA in the team event at the Winter Olympics. The United States clinched the victory by a single point over Japan in an intensely close competition, marking the nation's second gold medal of the games.
Glenn's Crucial Performance and Social Media Return
Glenn participated in the women's single free skate segment of the team event, finishing in third place and contributing eight essential points to the overall score. This performance proved critical in the narrow victory. Following the win, Glenn made a notable return to social media after a brief hiatus, which she had taken due to hate comments received for her criticism of former President Donald Trump.
On TikTok, she shared photographs of herself and skating teammate Alysa Liu, who delivered a strong performance in the women's single skating portion, both wearing their newly won gold medals. The post was soundtracked with the 2016 rap song 'Hoes Mad' by Famous Dex and carried the caption: 'They hate to see two woke b*****s winning.'
Addressing the 'Woke' Label and LGBTQ+ Advocacy
When questioned about the term 'woke,' Glenn offered a clarification. 'If 'Woke' means people who use their platforms to advocate for marginalized communities in the country that they are actively representing …… Then yeah sure?' she stated. Glenn, who identifies as both bisexual and pansexual, holds the distinction of being the first publicly 'out' American figure skater to compete at the Olympic Games.
In a pre-Olympics press conference last week, Glenn spoke candidly about the challenges faced by herself and the broader LGBTQ+ community during the Trump administration. 'It's been a hard time for the (LGBTQ) community overall in this administration,' she explained via USA Today. 'It isn't the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights.'
She emphasized the growing solidarity among affected groups. 'And now especially, it's not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities, and 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.'
Navigating Backlash and Protecting Mental Health
Despite her commitment to speaking out, Glenn acknowledged that the backlash she received was significant enough to impact her mental health during the competition. She temporarily limited her social media presence as a protective measure. In a since-expired Instagram story post, she 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 expressed disappointment but remained resolute. 'I did anticipate this but I am disappointed by it. I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now but I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.' Glenn is one of several American Olympians who have publicly criticized the Trump administration.
Future Competitions and Ongoing Impact
With the team gold medal now secured, Glenn is set to compete in the upcoming women's single skating competition at the Winter Olympics in Milan. She will be joined by teammates Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. Her journey continues to highlight the intersection of athletic excellence and social advocacy on the global stage.
