Fans Love How Much Amber Glenn Loves Magic: The Gathering

USA figure skaters Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito won hearts and minds during the 2026 Winter Olympics with their exceptional performances, punk charm, and internet-friendly antics. They were branded the “Blade Angels” and Glenn closed out the Team USA’s campaign on the ice by doing something no athlete has ever done before in the history of the games: platforming Magic: The Gathering.

With lights flashing and music blaring, Glenn stood surrounded by her peers in the cold and started ripping a Lorwyn Eclipsed collector booster pack. She took fifth place in the women’s free skate and won gold for the team skating event. She celebrated by fanning her new MTG cards for the camera during the closing ceremony. Her haul included a rare foil Bloom Tender. No Bitterbloom Bearer, the most sought after card in the current set, though maybe Hasbro will send her a complimentary one once she gets back.

Glenn’s MTG obsession first came to light in her Olympics profile video. “It is a battle-based game that has to do with different planes of existence and realms, and you usually play against a couple other people,” she says in the video. “I go to local game stores and play. I know it’s nerdy, but it’s my hobby and I enjoy it.” Earlier in the video, she pulls chunks of cards out of her pockets and waves them in front of the camera.

“My skating and mental health journey are an ever-continuing path,” she says. “Prioritizing my mental health outside of the sport is crucial—and not forgetting that I’m a whole person. I have hobbies. I have people I love outside of the sport.” Her pet dog is even named Uki after Ukkima, Stalking Shadow.

Glenn being a huge nerd has been an ongoing theme for weeks now. A video published of her daily routine shows her combining workouts with spending a bunch of money on Avatar: The Last Airbender packs at her local game store. Another video shows her teaching fellow Blade Angel Alysa Liu how to play Commander, MTG‘s popular group format.

And no, Glenn’s side hustles don’t stop at trading cards. She’s also a huge anime fan. Not surprisingly, Yuri on Ice was her gateway into the medium, though Death Note remains an all-time favorite, too. And when it comes to comic books, she’s more of a DC fan than a Marvel one.

Considering MTG made Hasbro $1.7 billion last year, I don’t think it needs any help popularizing the once-denigrated pastime. But fans are still eager to see Wizards of the Coast capitalize on Glenn’s fandom and make her an ambassador for the game, especially to players who might otherwise think it’s not for them.