Amber Glenn is attempting to reach the Olympic podium. Just like a prayer, she hopes Madonna will take her there.
The U.S. figure skating star, who will skate to Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” during her short program Tuesday while wearing a dress inspired by the singer, recently received a surprise video message from the “Queen of Pop” herself.
“Amber Glenn, I just watched you skate to my song ‘Like a Prayer,’ and I have to tell you, I was blown away by it,” Madonna said in a post shared by On Her Turf. “You are an incredible skater. So strong, so beautiful, so brave. I can’t imagine that you would not win. So, I just want to say good luck. Go get that gold.”
Glenn, while watching the video, looked as if her prayers had been answered.
“My queen, thank you so much,” she said after. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are beautiful, stunning, amazing, and you are an icon, a legend forever. And thank you for supporting athletes in their artistic ventures, and I hope I can do the song justice.”
Figure skater Amber Glenn says skating to Madonna at the Olympics reflects her evolution as an athlete, embracing a more “fierce” and dynamic style after coming out.
When Glenn last skated to “Like a Prayer,” she had a record-breaking performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships while winning a third consecutive title in January.
The 26-year-old from Texas, who helped Team USA win Olympic gold in the team event, competes in a sport where women are often judged on their grace and femininity. But Glenn, who in 2019 publicly came out as bisexual and pansexual, has openly expressed her desire to defy those traditions through her music and wardrobe selections.
“I’m not trying to be lady like,” she said on NBC Local’s “My New Favorite Olympian.” “I’m trying to enjoy my sport.”
Figure skater Amber Glenn once hid parts of herself to fit into a sport that prized perfection. Now, as an openly bisexual and pansexual athlete, she’s using her platform to push for visibility, inclusion, and mental health awareness on and off the ice.
Glenn and her choreographer Kaitlyn Weaver collaborated on the routine’s choreography with one of Madonna’s backup dancers, who also offered input on the costume design.
“They just wanted it to be sexy, mature, pushing it a little bit but not too much, and just really give the vibe of ‘Like a Prayer,’” said designer Lisa McKinnon, who outfitted all three U.S. women’s skaters competing in the individual events at the 2026 Olympics.
McKinnon began sketching a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress with a lace corset, replicating elements of Madonna’s look in the music video. She added frill around the wrists that Glenn had requested, giving the costume movement in that area when she did the prayer hand gesture, and a Madonna-like statement necklace.
“I don’t know how much skating Madonna watches, but I think she would love that dress,” McKinnon told NBC Local in an interview just before the start of the Olympics. “I hope that she would, and that she would feel honored that somebody wants to skate to her song, and that we did a good job representing her.”
Madonna first took notice of Glenn’s performance on social media and reacted to the skater’s Instagram Stories with a series of clapping and heart-eyes emojis.
“Ahhh thank you so much” Glenn responded to her in a direct message. “Can’t wait to skate to Like a Prayer at the Olympics!”
“I can’t wait to watch,” Madonna responded. “I’m so proud of you.”
U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn remembers the first time she skated after coming out.
