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.

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)

One Texas fan had two chances at a life-changing kick on ESPN’s “College GameDay” Saturday.

Corbin Cessna graduated from Texas in 2017. He said he majored in civil engineering but is now a lawyer and still has some debt from law school.

What was Cessna’s strategy for his big kick?

“Keep it easy, keep it smooth, it’s like a nice little 9-iron, you know, don’t over-kick it, that’s it,” Cessna said. 

The kick was originally going to be $200,000, but Pat McAfee volunteered his co-host Kirk Herbstreit to match the money he put up, making it a $400,000 kick. 

The problem? Cessna kicked it way too soft. The kick was a soft bloop that barely made it halfway towards the uprights sitting 33 yards away. 

The kick was so bad, McAfee blurted out, “This guy sucks” immediately after Cessna made contact.

“This guy is the worst of all-time,” McAfee said. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS PUZZLED OVER ESPN’S ‘COLLEGE GAMEDAY’ SPECIAL GUEST PICKER

Pat McAfee sits on the ESPN College Gameday set prior to the NCAA football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (IMAGN)

After peer pressure from the crowd, McAfee gave Cessna another chance to nail the field goal with the stakes greatly raised. 

McAfee volunteered Herbstreit for another $200,000 with McAfee matching, bringing the total up to an $800,000 kick. 

McAfee then asked special guest picker Timothée Chalamet whether he wanted to match as well, and the Hollywood movie star was all in, making it a $1.2 million kick. 

The levity of the moment then hit McAfee.

“Holy hell, everything just got very real all of a sudden. That first attempt was God-awful, but now you got a $1.2 million operation.”

Timothée Chalamet attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 7, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California.  (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Cessna’s second attempt he will probably think about for the rest of his life. He struck his second attempt much better, giving it the distance required, but he barely missed as the ball hooked left. 

Cessna doubled over in disbelief, missing out on $1.2 million by a matter of a few feet. 

While Cessna missed the kick, his no. 2-ranked Texas Longhorns are taking on the no. 5-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game at 4:00 p.m. ET Saturday with a lot at stake. 

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HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

Acaciawood 69, Magnolia Science Academy 55
AGBU 59, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 54
Aliso Niguel 73, Upland 52
Alliance Ted K. Tajima 62, Aspire Ollin 39
Aquinas 68, Carter 63
Arcadia 78, Maranatha 56
Artesia 67, Marquez 40
Baldwin Park 67, Mountain View 50
Banning 65, Tahquitz 46
Bell 43, L.A. Roosevelt 42
Bellflower 54, El Segundo 41
Bernstein 94, Mendez 15
Beverly Hills 76, L.A. Hamilton 50
Bishop Alemany 63, Sun Valley Poly 54
Bishop Amat 54, L.A. Wilson 50
Bishop Diego 73, Nordhoff 33
Blair 74, Aveson Global Leadership 48
Bloomington 36, Granite Hills 28
California 71, Irvine University 67
California Lutheran 76, Bethel Christian 53
Cajon 52, West Torrance 41
Camarillo 70, Rio Mesa 32
CAMS 52, Harbor Teacher 35
Canyon Country Canyon 65, West Ranch 62
Canyon Springs 88, Vista del Lago 56
Capistrano Valley Christian 76, San Dimas 62
Carpinteria 65, Cate 64
Cerritos 83, Servite 81
Chaffey 55, Ontario 25
Channel Islands 87, Malibu 49
Chino Hills 66, Walnut 51
Clovis East 63, Thousand Oaks 60
Clovis North 83, Santa Barbara 58
Coastal Christian 77, Coast Union 32
Colton 69, Rubidoux 66
Corona del Mar 57, Irvine 56
Corona Santiago 66, Arlington 60
Crescenta Valley 83, Canoga Park 22
Cypress 86, Indian Springs 71
Desert Christian 69, Immanuel Christian 32
Desert Mirage 40, Palm Valley 24
Dorsey 55, Los Angeles 52
Eastside 57, Highland 43
East Valley 49, Fremont 42
Etiwanda 64, Summit 44
Flintridge Prep 93, EF Academy 14
Foothill Tech 53, Santa Clara 44
Foshay 61, Middle College 55
Fresno Christian 76, Simi Valley 68
Fullerton 52, Brea Olinda 41
Garden Grove Pacifica 36, Godinez Fundamental 31
Garey 64, Eastside Christian 23
Gateway 58, Corona 47
Glendora 71, San Marino 54
Granada Hills 50, Granada Hills Kennedy 42
Great Oak 74, Apple Valley 42
Hacienda Heights Wilson 62, Western 48
Hawthorne 72, Lennox Academy 51
Hemet 67, Elsinore 61
Heritage 51, Redlands 49
Highland 67, Crossroads 55
Hoover 71, Northridge Academy 27
Huntington Beach 67, Incline (Nevada) 22
International School of LA 56, Southwestern Academy 50
JSerra 63, Millennium (Arizona) 61
Knight 82, Highland 51
La Costa Canyon 52, Linfield Christian 43
La Habra 68, Churchie (Australia) 64
L.A. Jordan 98, Hawkins 17
Lakewood 79, San Pedro 75
L.A. Leadership Academy 30, School of Los Angeles 20
Lancaster 83, Palmdale Academy Charter 37
L.A. Lincoln 66, Torres 27
La Palma Kennedy 52, Oxford Academy 41
Legacy Christian Academy 74, Lynwood 40
Liberty 70, Paloma Valley 40
Locke 51, Port of L.A. 43
Loyola 90, Los Altos 71
Los Alamitos 67, Corona Centennial 65
Los Amigos 55, Downey 54
Lucerne Valley 55, Trona 18
Manual Arts 77, USC Hybrid 22
Maricopa 43, Cuyama Valley 11
Marina 76, South Torrance 64
Mary Star of the Sea 52, Wilmington Banning 35
Math & Science College Prep 85, Horace Mann UCLA 26
Mesrobian 51, San Gabriel 41
Millikan 60, Palos Verdes 57
Mira Costa 78, Culver City 63
Newport Harbor 57, Warren 43
Newport Park Adventist 51, Grace 48
Norco 73, Eisenhower 55
Norton Science & Language Academy 44, Grove School 37
Orange County Pacifica Christian 61, Spanish Springs (Nevada) 52
Orange Vista 68, Grand Terrace 54
Orthopaedic 52, Gertz-Ressler 27
Oxnard 63, Buchanan 60
Palmdale Aerospace Academy 75, Lone Pine 46
Palm Desert 64, Northview 37
Pasadena 49, Chula Vista Mater Dei 44
Pasadena Poly 60, Sierra Vista 57
Patriot 75, Jurupa Hills 64
Peninsula 50, Chadwick 40
Pioneer 69, Duarte 43
Placentia Valencia 86, Anaheim 49
Point Loma 78, Dos Pueblos 47
Providence 83, Compton Centennial 11
Quartz Hill 62, Temple City 40
Rancho Christian 85, La Jolla Country Day 56
Rancho Cucamonga 71, Redlands East Valley 44
Rancho Mirage 66, Hillcrest Christian 54
Redlands Adventist Academy 57, Nuview Bridge 37
Riverside King 75, Ramona 59
Riverside Notre Dame 61, San Jacinto 57
Riverside Poly 62, Damien 54
Riverside Prep 65, University Prep 26
Riviera Prep (Florida) 68, Southern California Academy 57
RFK Community 87, Belmont 47
Royal 62, Sanger 58
San Clemente 71, Woodbridge 24
San Jacinto Valley Academy 56, California Military Institute 48
Santa Margarita 68, Sage Creek 49
Santa Rosa Academy 86, St. Jean de Lestonnac 47
Savanna 62, Saddleback 56
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 75, Village Christian 65
Silver Valley 53, Academy for Academic Excellence 31
South East 55, Huntington Park 46
South Gate 60, Legacy 51
St. Bernard 56, Rolling Hills Prep 48
St. Bonaventure 75, Galena 47
St. Francis 56, Renton (Washington) 44
Taft 98, Compton 60
Temecula Prep 66, Lakeside 54
Tesoro 55, Edison 54
Thousand Oaks 67, River City 45
Torrance 79, Santa Fe 43
Trabuco Hills 66, Chaparral 62
Tustin 40, Sunny Hills 38
VAAS 88, Central City Value 41
Valencia 58, Saugus 55
Valley Christian Academy 62, San Luis Obispo Classical 34
Valley View 60, Yucca Valley 27
Villa Park 90, Konawaena (Hawaii) 62
Vistamar 67, New Roads 43
Vista Murrieta 59, Hillcrest 47
Webb 58, Mesa Grande Academy 39
West Adams 67, Maywood CES 34
Whittier 69, Montebello 35
Woodcrest Christian 78, Jurupa Valley 45
Workman 61, Katella 38
Yorba Linda 57, Bonita 46
Yucaipa 64, Silverado 57

GIRLS

Alliance Ted K. Tajima 26, Aspire Ollin 24
Anza Hamilton 37, Marlborough 33
Apple Valley 52, Don Lugo 15
Arleta 47, Glendale 39
Arrowhead Christian 52, California Lutheran 14
Arroyo 42, Mountain View 12
Arroyo Grande 45, Corona del Mar 27
Bell 47, L.A. Roosevelt 4
Bishop Amat 60, Colony 47
Calvary Baptist 25, Pomona Catholic 23
Campbell Hall 67, Oak Park 29
Canoga Park 60, VAAS 13
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 40, Fountain Valley 35
Canyon Country Canyon 71, West Ranch 21
Carter 77, Pacific 13
Castaic 46, Golden Valley 43
Corona Centennial 62, Orange County Pacifica Christian 40
Century 33, Capistrano Valley Christian 24
Chaffey 32, Webb 17
Charter Oak 59, Edgewood 29
Clovis 66, Birmingham 54
Coastal Christian 68, Coast Union 8
Cobalt Institute of Math & Science 37, Rancho Mirage 10
Crescenta Valley 56, Granada Hills 43
Cypress 51, La Serna 48
Diego Rivera 52, Elizabeth 24
Dos Pueblos 69, Oaks Christian 64
Eagle Rock 63, Muir 43
Eastvale Roosevelt 66, Beaumont 62
Edison 45, Mayfair 39
Esperanza 82, Brea Olinda 47
Fillmore 31, Cate 10
Fontana 46, Montclair 30
Glendora 66, Compton Centennial 33
Godinez Fundamental 48, Irvine 36
Granada Hills Kennedy 51, Grant 20
Grove School 42, Norton Science & Language 8
Harbor Teacher 50, Fremont 14
Harvard-Westlake 45, Westlake 31
Hawkins 69, L.A. Jordan 33
Hawthorne 42, Lennox Academy 14
Heritage 54, Corona 52
Hollywood 46, Contreras 20
Holy Martyrs 63, Bishop Diego 29
Hoover 43, Northridge Academy 34
Huntington Beach 45, Whittier 44
Huntington Park 36, South East 32
Inglewood 51, Compton 33
Jurupa Hills 37, Kaiser 27
Jurupa Valley 31, Bloomington 30
La Canada 35, Village Christian 32
Lakewood 62, Torrance 35
Lakewood St. Joseph 68, El Segundo 54
La Salle 59, Oakwood 43
Lawndale 56, Valley Christian 45
Legacy 76, South Gate 16
Linfield Christian 63, Lakeside 26
Locke 22, Port of LA 16
Lompoc Cabrillo 37, Taft Union 20
Long Beach Cabrillo 59, CAMS 34
Long Beach Jordan 54, Gardena 30
Lucerne Valley 42, Trona 14
Manual Arts 33, USC-MAE 16
Maranatha 35, Simi Valley 30
Marina 57, McFarland 24
Math & Science College Prep 59, Horace Mann UCLA 9
Mira Costa 65, South Pasadena 50
Murrieta Mesa 35, Mission Vista 19
Newbury Park 62, Santa Paula 27
Oak Park 67, Campbell Hall 29
Ontario 37, Alta Loma 33
Ontario Christian 79, Fairmont Prep 62
Orange 37, Fullerton 36
Orcutt Academy 49, San Marcos 28
Oxford Academy 31, La Mirada 24
Palisades 56, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 51
Palm Springs 31, Marymount 28
Paramount 72, Garfield 41
Pasadena 66, Blair 12
Pasadena Poly 74, Azusa 15
Providence 36, Westridge 24
Quartz Hill 69, Victor Valley 38
Rancho Christian 66, Francis Parker 57
Rancho Verde 47, Yucca Valley 43
Redondo 63, Pioneer 54
RFK Community 49, Belmont 12
Riverside King 63, San Clemente 47
Riverside Poly 61, Serrano 28
Riverside Prep 55, University Prep 46
Sage Hill 60, JSerra 52
San Jacinto 58, Eisenhower 36
San Jacinto Valley Academy 46, California Military Institute 26
Santa Ana Mater Dei 57, Moreno Valley 42
Santa Maria 50, Paraclete 27
Santa Maria St. Joseph 55, Oxnard 30
Santa Monica 47, Notre Dame Academy 35
Santa Ynez 51, Santa Barbara 28
School of Los Angeles 19, L.A. Leadership Academy 12
Segerstrom 67, Mission Bay 33
Shadow Hills 75, Chaparral 30
Sherman Oaks CES 64, Reseda 37
Silver Valley 47, Academy for Academic Excellence 34
South Hills 49, West Covina 43
St. Margaret’s 53, Long Beach Poly 33
Taft 40, Van Nuys 35
Tahquitz 81, Colton 74
Temecula Prep 58, Garey 28
Trinity Classical Academy 55, Santa Clarita Christian 14
Upland 53, Silverado 50
Valencia 55, Saugus 43
Venice 49, Lakeview Charter 24
Ventura 60, Camarillo 52
Villa Park 46, San Juan Hills 36
Vistamar 57, New Roads 9
Westminster 67, Avalon 24
Whitney 55, Gregori 35
Woodbridge 43, Garden Grove 19