Sports
Amber Glenn wins U.S. women’s figure skating’s biggest title in 14 years
American Amber Glenn won the women’s singles competition at figure skating’s Grand Prix Final on Saturday, ending a 14-year drought for U.S. women in the sport’s three biggest worldwide competitions.
Glenn led the field in Grenoble, France, after Thursday’s short program, thanks in part to being the only competitor to land a triple Axel — the jump that’s helped revitalize her career — and then landed another to start Saturday’s free skate, opening a solid routine to hold off Japan’s Mone Chiba for gold.
The Grand Prix Final is the culmination of figure skating’s annual Grand Prix series, inviting only the top six skaters or pairs in each discipline. It’s among the most prestigious worldwide titles in the sport, after the Olympics and the World Championships.
No American woman had won the singles gold at any of them since 2010, when Alissa Czisny won the Grand Prix Final. Sarah Hughes is the last American women’s singles Olympic champion, winning in Salt Lake City in 2002. The last American world champion in the event was Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Polina Edmunds was the last U.S. winner of the Four Continents Championships — which excludes Europe — in 2015.
Going against five Japanese skaters — including Kaori Sakamoto, three-time defending world champion and defending Grand Prix Final champion — Glenn struggled through Thursday’s short program, failing to land her triple Axel cleanly and injuring her back. Still, she finished in the lead, ahead of second-place Chiba by less than a point.
Amber Glenn leads the field after the #GPFigure Final women’s short program. 🫡
She could become the first U.S. woman to win the Grand Prix Final in 14 years. pic.twitter.com/k8UqISghXX
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) December 5, 2024
Then Saturday, Chiba posted a strong 139.52 in the free skate to make things difficult for Glenn, who responded with a 142.03. Glenn won gold with a 212.07 overall score. Chiba took silver with a 208.85. Sakamoto was third at 201.13.
As Glenn’s score flashed across the screen, Sakamoto, Chiba and fellow Japanese skater Wakaba Higuchi — waiting to the side as the others in potential medal position — all smiled and flashed No. 1 signs while mimicking Glenn’s finish position from her free skate.
At 25, Glenn is the oldest Grand Prix Final winner since Russia’s Irina Slutskaya won her fourth and final title in December 2004 at 26. It sets Glenn up as a top contender at worlds, which will be in Boston from March 23-30 — less than a year out to the 2026 Olympics.
It’s been an unorthodox rise for Glenn, who in 2014 was the U.S. national junior champion at 14 years old and looked like the future of the U.S. team. But she stepped away from the sport in 2015 for mental health reasons and, when she returned, struggled to find the same lofty form at the senior level.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and disrupted competitions around the world, Glenn resolved to add the triple Axel to her repertoire. The Axel is the sport’s most difficult jump, beginning with a forward takeoff and requiring an extra half-rotation. Before Glenn, only five other American women had landed the triple in competition.
Saturday’s win capped a breakout year for Amber Glenn, who has made herself a top contender just over a year out from the Olympics. (Oliver Chassignole / AFP via Getty Images)
Glenn landed it successfully for the first time late in 2023, and the move has helped her surge to the top of women’s figure skating. She won the 2024 U.S. Championships, landing a triple Axel in an otherwise error-prone free skate and then holding on to beat defending American champion Isabeau Levito, who fell three times. Glenn landed the jump twice in Grand Prix events this season to help win those and qualify for this weekend’s final.
In the eight seasons since 2013-14 when both tournaments have been held (COVID canceled one or the other for three straight years from 2020 to 2022), five of the eight Grand Prix Final winners have gone on to win gold at worlds.
It all puts Glenn in strong position to make her first Olympic team, along with Levito, the silver medalist at last year’s World Championships who withdrew from a Grand Prix event in November and was not eligible for this weekend’s final.
Glenn was selected as an alternate for the 2022 Games after withdrawing from the U.S. Championships that year after contracting COVID-19.
Related reading
(Top photo of Amber Glenn during Saturday’s free skate: Jurij Kodrun / International Skating Union via Getty Images)
Sports
After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town
It’s time to reveal memories, laughs and crazy times from Randy Rosenbloom’s 55 years as a TV/radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He’s hopping in a car next Sunday with his wife, saying goodbye to a North Hollywood house that’s been in his family since 1952 and driving 3,300 miles to his new home in Greenville, S.C.
“When I walk out, I’ll probably break down,” he said.
He graduated from North Hollywood High in 1969. He got his first paid job in 1971 calling Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall for $10 a game. It began an adventure of a lifetime.
“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.
Randy Rosenbloom (left) used to work with former UCLA coach John Wooden for TV games.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian and Jim Harrick were among his expert commentators when he did play by play for college basketball games. He called volleyball at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for NBC and rowing in 2004. He’s worked more than 100 championship high school events. He did play by play for the first and only Reebok Bowl at Angel Stadium in 1994 won by Bishop Amat over Sylmar, 35-14.
“There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”
He conducted interviews with NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas and boxing greats Robert Duran, Thomas Hearn and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s worked with baseball greats Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces. He called games with former USC coach Rod Dedeaux. He was in the radio booth for Bret Saberhagen’s 1982 no-hitter in the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium. He was a nightly sportscaster for KADY in Ventura.
Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
He was the voice of Fresno State football and basketball. He also did Nevada Las Vegas football and basketball games. He called bowl games and Little League games. He was a public address announcer for basketball at the 1984 Olympic Games with Michael Jordan the star and did the P.A. for Toluca Little League.
Nothing was too small or too big for him.
“I loved everything,” he said.
He called at least 10 East L.A. Classic football games between Garfield and Roosevelt. He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.
Probably his most notable tale came when he was doing radio play-by-play at a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Ala.
“I look down and a giant tarantula is crawling up my pants,” he said. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat.”
Did Rosenbloom tell the audience what was happening?
“I stayed calm,” he said.
Then there was the time he was in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium and a bat flew in and attached itself to the wooden press box right next to him before flying away after he said, “UNLV wins.”
Recently, he’s been putting together high school TV packages for LA36 and calling travel ball basketball games. He’ll still keep doing a radio gambling show from his new home, but he’s cutting ties to Los Angeles to move closer to grandchildren.
“I’m retiring from Los Angeles. I’m leaving the market,” he said.
Hopefully he’ll continue via Zoom to do a weekly podcast with me for The Times.
He’s a true professional who’s versatility and work ethic made him a reliable hire from the age of 18 through his current age of 74.
He’s a member of the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He once threw the shot put 51 feet, 7 1/2 inches, which is his claim to fame at North Hollywood High.
One time an ESPN graphic before a show spelled his name “Rosenbloom” then changed it to “Rosenblum” for postgame. It was worth a good laugh.
He always adjusts, improvises and ad-libs. He expects to enjoy his time in South Carolina, but he better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like him.
Sports
Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.
Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.
Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.
Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.
Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.
WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’
AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.
Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.
Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.
Sports
Letters to Sports: Clippers were oh so close, yet so far
The Clippers’ season has come to an end but better than anyone expected. No consolation but a great job by head coach Tyronn Lue for guiding the Clippers from a disastrous 6-21 start and finishing with more than 40 wins.
Coach Lue led the team, overcoming major obstacles throughout the season with a player investigation, injuries, internal strife and major roster changes at the trade deadline. As usual for Clipper fans, wait till next year.
Wayne Muramatsu
Cerritos
The Clippers are the NBA’s version of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Yes, they have had 15 straight seasons of playing .500 or better, and owner Steve Ballmer has brought them respectability, but for their entire 56-year existence — which has contained many clowns and jokers — they still have never [attained] their goal of winning (or even reaching) the NBA Finals.
Ken Feldman
Tarzana
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