Listen: this has been a dream season for Amber Glenn.
Gold at 2024 Lombardia Trophy, ahead of reigning World champion Kaori Sakamoto, gold at 2024 Grand Prix de France, ahead of 2018 World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi, gold at 2024 Cup of China, ahead of Four Continents champion Mone Chiba, then qualifying for the first Grand Prix Final of her career, and winning it in a field of five Japanese skaters, each master of their craft.
It felt surreal for the most part of it, Amber shared: “It has been a whirlwind of a season. I kind of struggled with this imposter syndrome: Oh, no, no, I’m not winning, that’s not me. I’m just happy my hard work is finally showing”.
And we are too, thrilled that Amber conquered her doubts and proved herself. And what an incredible journey this has been for the incredible athlete that Amber Glenn is, thoroughly deserving all the good things happening to her.
We all knew she could do it – and now Amber knows it too.
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In Grenoble, at 2024 Grand Prix Final, Amber Glenn was followed by GP Final debutante Mone Chiba (silver) and three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto (bronze).
Wakaba Higuchi finished her second Grand Prix Final on the 4th place, after a thrilling, rewarding GP season, Hana Yoshida with her always intriguing set of programs was 5th, and the cloud that Rino Matsuike is ended her first Grand Prix Final on the 6th place.
And what an event this was – and how excited we are to relive it with you.

Amber Glenn: short program to “This Time”, choreo. by Kaitlyn Weaver and Randi Strond

Triple Axel Queen

Amber Glenn: free skate to “I Will Find You”, “The Return”, choreo. by Katherine Hill

Mone Chiba: short program to “Last Dance”, choreo. by Kaitlyn Weaver. And if you feel like dancing while watching Mone, you’re not the only one, this program is contagious

Mone Chiba: free skate to Ariana Concerto No. 1, choreo. by Lori Nichol

Exquisiteness

Kaori Sakamoto: short program to Ástor Piazzolla medley, choreo. by Rohene Ward. And power has the colour red

Kaori Sakamoto: free skate to “All That Jazz”, choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil

Gravity? What gravity?

We’re still not over it: how is this edge even possible?

Wakaba Higuchi: short program to music from “Dune”, choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle. A program that is rich, is detailed, and already a trademark program for Wakaba

Eyes on the season, eyes on the prize: Wakaba Higuchi skating her long program to “Nature Boy” and “Running up That Hill”, choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne

Is this photo a work of art or what? Essence of Wakaba Higuchi: giving it all, wanting it all

Hana Yoshida: short program to “Temen Oblak” (Dark Clouds), choreo. by Benoît Richaud

Hana Yoshida: free skate to “S.O.S. d’un terrien en détresse”, choreo. by Lori Nichol

A terrien / native of the Earth exuding joy

Rino Matsuike: short program to “One Day I’ll Fly Away”, choreo. by Noriko Sato

Rino Matsuike: free skate to “Lux Aeterna”, choreo. by Lori Nichol. And we’re in love with this program – and we’re in love with the skater that Rino Matsuike is
Gold: Amber Glenn, United States of America
Silver: Mone Chiba, Japan
Bronze: Kaori Sakamoto, Japan
4th place: Wakaba Higuchi, Japan
5th place: Hana Yoshida, Japan
6th place: Rino Matsuike, Japan
[All photos by Alberto Ponti, Grenoble]
Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin: Grand Prix Final dominance.
Finding one’s style: Ilia Malinin in Grenoble & other photo-stories
Madison Chock and Evan Bates: a journey through the history of dance