I wouldn’t call myself an avid Olympics viewer, but after hearing the stories of figure skaters Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn, I simply had to tune in.
If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m always late to the party. Ironically, I hadn’t realized that I was following Amber Glenn on TikTok. I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, she’s a great figure skater!” I was clearly living under a rock because that was the Amber Glenn who was going to represent Team USA.
As for why her story moved me: In the past, Glenn stepped away from the ice to focus on her mental health, and she has been vocal about her challenges—both physical and mental. I think one of the hardest things a person can do is admit that they’re not okay, and I applaud anyone who uses their platform to do so. Glenn is the human embodiment of bouncing back. At the Olympics, she made a mistake that cost her seven points, dropping her to 13th place, but she ended up finishing fifth. To me, that’s a winner, because there’s no better reward than perseverance.
Alysa Liu has been in a league of her own since she was a child, but skating led to burnout and a desire for personal autonomy. Burnout is one of the hardest challenges anyone can face. The thing you once had drive and passion for can easily swing to the opposite end of the pendulum: hatred. For Alysa, she rediscovered her love for skating and came back stronger than ever—most importantly, on her own terms. The Olympics became something “fun” for Liu, and that joy turned into a gold medal.
Both Glenn and Liu managed to cultivate their own sunshine by finding their light, and I will cheer them on every step of the way.