MILAN — Amber Glenn and other Olympic figure skaters perform dizzying spins without losing balance through years of specialized training. During her short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Glenn will execute more than two dozen spins, each requiring precise control to prevent the nausea most people would experience.

Neurologists explain that skaters develop a less reactive vestibular system through repetition. Dr. Lindsay J. Agostinelli from the University of Pennsylvania notes that research shows figure skaters feel less motion sickness than non-skaters when exposed to spinning simulations. The training process involves both mental toughness and physical desensitization.

Skaters initially focus on a single spot while spinning, then quickly relocate that point to stabilize themselves. However, on ice where they rotate five or six times per second, this technique alone proves insufficient. Only through extensive practice can skaters overcome their natural dizziness response, breaking down their traditional reaction to spinning motion.