Amber Glenn secures the first Grand Prix Final victory for U.S. women in 14 years.

GRENOBLE, France — Amber Glenn has reached the pinnacle of international figure skating, demonstrating her place with a groundbreaking triumph in the Grand Prix Final on Saturday.

Glenn made history as the first American woman to win the Grand Prix Final since Alissa Czisny took the title 14 years ago, while three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto finished in third place.

This victory marks an incredible breakout season for the Texas native at 25, remaining unbeaten in 2024-25 and capping off a year that started with her capturing the U.S. national title in January. Glenn expressed that adjusting to her new position atop the podium is quite challenging.

“I’m so tired,” she admitted. “This season has been a whirlwind, and I’ve been dealing with some imposter syndrome. Just thinking: ‘No, that’s not me winning.’ But I’m thrilled that my efforts are finally visible, and it’s a fantastic event; I’m privileged to be here.”

Performing last in the six-woman lineup against five Japanese competitors, there was hardly any indication of the discomfort Glenn experienced during Thursday’s short program.

She kicked off her routine with a bold triple axel and, despite a minor wobble midway through her free skate — opting for a double instead of a planned triple salchow and slightly under-rotating a triple flip — she finished strongly, amassing a total score of 212.07 for the victory.

Mone Chiba, who earned silver at both her Grand Prix outings this season, again took second place with a score of 208.85. World champion Sakamoto, after a lackluster short program, bounced back with a powerful free skate to the music of “Chicago,” capturing bronze with a score of 201.13.

The U.S. may claim two more titles later on Saturday, as Ilia Malinin leads the men’s competition going into the free skate, and Madison Chock and Evan Bates are in the lead for ice dance.