Figure Skating – Cup of China 2025: Amber Glenn Overtakes Alysa Liu to Retain Women’s Crown
Amber Glenn courageously defended her title at the women’s Cup of China, scoring an impressive 214.78 after the free skating event on Saturday, October 25. The reigning Grand Prix Final champion pushed herself from third place in the short program to clinch the top position in Chongqing, demonstrating phenomenal skill and resilience.
Glenn, known for her remarkable proficiency with the triple Axel, achieved a long program score of 141.74, coming remarkably close to her personal best. She narrowly outperformed her fellow teammate and initial leader, Alysa Liu, who finished the night with a score of 137.46, totaling 212.07.
World champion Liu maintained strong performance but slipped to second after leading the short program. Meanwhile, Japan’s Watanabe Rinka secured third overall with a score of 198.63, edging out Anastasiia Gubanova from Georgia by a fraction of a point, owing to her solid short program.
Last season saw Glenn kickstart her campaign at this competition with victory, replicating that success once again in 2025. Despite facing discomfort in her neck — a challenge she encountered during practice — Glenn maintained her composure and opened her Olympic Grand Prix campaign on a victorious note.
“Today was not too bad, but it was a bit hard for me. I did something to my neck in practice, so it’s all bruised and feels weird,” Glenn remarked to Golden Skate. “I was worried about that during my performance, but in the end, I stayed mentally strong.”
As the dust settles from this exciting event, Amber Glenn’s bravery amid physical challenges speaks volumes, while Alysa Liu’s early lead involves a compelling narrative for the season. With both skaters within striking distance of one another, fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming competitions in this thrilling figure skating series.
