US figure skating star Amber Glenn has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy after a music artist publicly claimed that one of their songs was used in her Winter Olympics routine without permission.
Glenn competed on February 8, 2026, in the women’s free skate segment of the Olympic figure skating team event at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, helping Team USA secure the gold medal. In her Olympic debut, the three-time US champion scored 138.62 points and placed third in the segment, contributing eight crucial points toward the United States’ in the team competition.
Her performance, which included attempts at technically demanding elements like the triple Axel, was broadcast around the world and drew widespread attention, including the now-controversial musical selection.
The dispute erupted after the artist, named Seb McKinnon, took to X to express shock that his music had been featured on one of the world’s biggest stages, apparently without prior authorization. He accused Glenn of using his music in her routine without permission.
“So just found out an Olympic figure skater used one of my songs without permission for their routine. It aired all over the world… what? Is that usual practice for the olympics?” the artist wrote.
The message prompted backlash toward Glenn, with fans and followers questioning how a high-profile Olympic performance could feature music that had not been properly licensed. Glenn hasn’t yet publicly commented on the music rights dispute, and no other official statement has been released by the authorities.
Amber Glenn Opened Up About How She Felt After Securing Third Position in The Team Event at The Winter Olympics
During her performance in the women’s free skate portion of the team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 8, she did not make a smooth start. She was seen unbalanced on her first elements, which included a triple Axel and the triple flip-triple toe loop combination.
Even though she picked up momentum later, she secured the third position after Kaori Sakamoto and Anastasiia Gubanova. Following this, she spoke to the media and revealed that she didn’t feel her best during the performance. Highlighting the need for rest and recovery, she said:
“I just did not feel wonderful, like even in the warm ups. My leg was just sore, and it’s not an injury, it’s nothing that we need to worry about. It’s just something that I need that rest and recovery time,” said Amber Glenn.
She further showcased dismay over her own performance, saying:
“I feel guilty. My team has done so well, and my performance was lackluster. I scored lower than my median and what they were counting on, and I placed lower than what would have been expected.”
With Amber Glenn ending up in third place, the pressure fell on Ilian Malinin, who competed in the men’s free skate. To win the gold medal for Team USA, he had to deliver his best. The latter did not fall short in doing the same, as he scored 200.03 points, leading his team to gold.
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