Madonna’s Video Boost and Amber Glenn’s Fall to 13th After Short Program Error
Updated (6 articles)
Madonna’s personal video reaches Glenn before her short program On February 18, 2026, pop icon Madonna recorded a video for U.S. skater Amber Glenn, praising her talent and urging her “to go get that gold” just minutes before the short program began [1][2]. Glenn responded publicly, calling Madonna “an icon and a legend forever” and expressed gratitude for the support [1][2]. The video added notable celebrity attention to the U.S. figure‑skating team.
Glenn’s triple axel followed by a doubled triple loop costs her a medal chance Glenn opened her short program to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” with a rare triple axel, but a doubled triple loop near the segment’s end was deemed an invalid element [1][2][3]. The error dropped her to 13th place overall after the short, ending any realistic gold‑medal prospects [1][2][3]. Her performance remained the only American triple axel in the segment.
Music‑rights disputes threaten programs, but free‑skate music clears Several skaters, including Glenn, faced last‑minute clearance problems for their short‑program music, a broader issue at the Games [1][2]. Glenn’s free‑skate track “The Return” by Seb McKinnon initially lacked permission, but a phone call resolved the dispute, and McKinnon praised the protection of artist rights [1][2]. The clearance allowed Glenn to keep her planned free‑skate music.
Blade Angels receive high‑profile promotion from other celebrities Teammates Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito, together with Glenn, are marketed as the “Blade Angels” in an NBC promotional spot voiced by Taylor Swift [1][2][3][4][5]. The trio’s branding aims to boost viewership and highlight the U.S. team’s star power. Their nickname echoes “Charlie’s Angels” while avoiding trademark conflicts.
Glenn’s activism and public profile noted amid competition WBNS highlighted Glenn’s status as a three‑time U.S. champion and outspoken LGBTQ+ activist, describing her as a polarizing figure at the Games [4]. This personal background adds context to the media attention surrounding her performance and Madonna’s endorsement.
Sources
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1.
WBNS:Madonna’s video boost and music‑rights drama surround U.S. skater Amber Glenn: Details Madonna’s video, Glenn’s short‑program error, teammate celebrity spots, and music‑rights disputes .
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2.
King5:Madonna wishes U.S. skater Amber Glenn luck before Olympic short program: Mirrors WBNS on the video, error, celebrity backing, and rights clearance .
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3.
King5:Blade Angels Shine in Tuesday’s Women’s Figure Skating Short Program: Provides scores, Glenn’s 12th‑place short‑program result, and “Blade Angels” branding .
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4.
WBNS:Team USA’s “Blade Angels” Compete in Women’s Figure Skating Short Program at Milan Cortina 2026: Announces program timing, describes Glenn’s activism, and outlines competition .
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5.
King5:Blade Angels to skate women’s short program at Milan‑Cortina Games: Confirms trio’s participation, Glenn’s activist profile, and broadcast details .
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6.
CNN:Alysa Liu Returns to the Ice Free of Her “Gilded Cage”: Covers Liu’s comeback, her role in the “Blade Angels,” and background on the U.S. team’s hopes .
Timeline
2020 – Alysa Liu wins the U.S. Figure Skating Nationals at age 13, becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history [1].
2021 – The FBI investigates a Chinese spy attempt to obtain Liu’s passport after her father, former Tiananmen Square protester Arthur Liu, is targeted, highlighting the geopolitical tension surrounding the Beijing Games [1].
Feb 2022 – Liu places seventh at the Beijing Winter Olympics, marking her Olympic debut and solidifying her status as a rising U.S. star [1].
Mar 2022 – Liu captures a historic bronze at the World Championships, the second American woman on the podium since 2006, raising expectations for U.S. women’s skating [1].
Mar 2025 – Liu wins gold at the World Championships in Milan, delivering the United States its first women’s world title in nearly two decades and fueling hype for the upcoming 2026 Games [1].
Late Mar 2025 – Liu retires two weeks after her world‑title win, stepping away to explore life beyond skating before staging a comeback [1].
Feb 16, 2026 – Liu re‑joins the U.S. team for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, emphasizing artistic control by selecting her music, co‑choreographing, and designing her own outfits [1].
Feb 16, 2026 – The U.S. women’s trio—Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito—is billed as the nation’s “best Olympic hopes in decades,” reflecting a resurgence in American figure skating [1].
Feb 17, 2026 – The “Blade Angels” short program airs at 12:45 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and the NBC Olympics app, marking the trio’s debut in the Olympic short‑program segment [3][6].
Feb 17, 2026 – NBC releases a promotional spot voiced by Taylor Swift that spotlights the Blade Angels, adding star power to the U.S. team’s media push [3].
Feb 17, 2026 – Madonna records a personal video for Amber Glenn, saying she is “blown away” by Glenn’s skating and urging her “to go get that gold” just before the short program [2][5].
Feb 17, 2026 – Glenn opens her short program with a triple axel to “Like a Prayer,” but later doubles a triple loop, creating an invalid element that drops her to 13th overall and ends her gold‑medal hopes [2][4][5].
Feb 17, 2026 – Liu posts the top U.S. short‑program score (76.59), landing the third‑hardest content and placing among the top five qualifiers [4]; Levito scores 70.84, securing a free‑skate spot [4].
Feb 17, 2026 – The team adopts the moniker “Blade Angels” to avoid trademark conflicts, positioning themselves as a new role‑model archetype for American girls [4].
Feb 17, 2026 – Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, Ami Nakai and neutral‑status Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian lead the short‑program scores, underscoring the stiff international competition [3][4].
Feb 17, 2026 – Snowboarding slopestyle and freestyle big‑air events run concurrently, highlighting the broader medal landscape on the same day [3].
Feb 18, 2026 – Music‑rights disputes surface across the figure‑skating field; Glenn’s free‑skate track “The Return” by Seb McKinnon initially lacks clearance but is resolved after a phone call, with McKinnon praising the protection of artist rights [2][5].
Feb 18, 2026 – Glenn thanks Madonna, calling her “an icon and a legend forever,” and says she would be excited to perform the piece even if Madonna objected [5].
Feb 18, 2026 – Glenn remains optimistic about music‑rights issues, stating she will “go get that gold” in spirit and looks forward to her free‑skate performance later in the Games [2][5].
Feb 18, 2026 – The free‑skate segment for the women’s competition is scheduled for the following day, setting the stage for the Blade Angels to chase podium spots [2][4].