Oakland Celebrates Olympic Champion Alysa Liu with Hometown Hero’s Welcome

Oakland erupted in celebration Thursday as nearly 5,000 residents gathered to honor figure skating sensation Alysa Liu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The event, held in front of City Hall, marked a triumphant homecoming for the athlete who proudly shouted out her Bay Area roots after her short program in Milan last month.

A City’s Pride

The free, ticketed event quickly sold out, drawing enthusiastic fans eager to show their support. Attendees demonstrated their affection for Liu with creative displays, including striped wigs mirroring her signature hair color and handmade signs proclaiming their pride.

Key to the City and Hometown Recognition

The celebration featured tributes from local leaders, recognizing Liu’s impact both on and off the ice. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee presented Liu with a key to the city, stating, Every time she stepped on the ice, she carried the spirit of Oakland with her.

Representative Lateefah Simon added, To all of us in Oakland, we know that she is our hero, but what I will advise you, brothers and sisters and siblings, she is an American hero.

Liu’s Connection to Oakland

Despite her family’s movements throughout the Bay Area, Liu consistently identifies with Oakland. She briefly attended Oakland School for the Arts and honed her skills at the Oakland Ice Center, both conveniently located near City Hall.

An Inspiring Journey

Liu’s path to Olympic glory was marked by both early success and a period of self-discovery. She became the youngest US women’s figure-skating champion at just 13 years old, placed sixth at the Beijing Olympics, and then surprisingly stepped away from the sport at 16. She later returned to competition, winning the 2025 World Championships before achieving her Olympic victories at the age of 20, becoming the first US woman to win the individual figure-skating gold medal in 24 years.

Reflecting on her time away from the ice, Liu shared, The two years I spent away helped me as a person. I got to go to school, hang out with my friends, I got to take my siblings to and from school, run errands … I feel like had I not quit and stepped back, I would not have experienced all that. I’m really glad that I listened to myself.

A Champion’s Perspective

Liu has captivated audiences not only with her athletic prowess but also with her grounded personality and unique outlook on life. Her coach, Phillip DiGuglielmo, noted, She relishes in the journey, every day. Whether it’s a good day, whether it’s a not-so-good-day.

Liu has also demonstrated a pragmatic approach to managing the increased attention, actively curating her social media feed by filtering out content about herself. My feed is not of me, so I feel normal, she explained with a laugh.

A Celebration of Oakland Culture

At Liu’s request, the event prioritized showcasing local talent over a traditional parade. Performances included Fremont High School’s drumline, a lion dance troupe from US Shaolin Kung Fu, and a rendition of MacArthur Park – the song Liu skated to during her Olympic free skate – by Abayomi Lewis, a student from Oakland School for the Arts and contestant on American Idol. Liu herself joined the renowned street dance group Turfinc onstage, captivating the crowd.

The celebration also drew support from other Bay Area sports legends, including video messages from Warriors coach Steve Kerr, NBA star Stephen Curry, and figure skater Brian Boitano. The Valkyries, Oakland Roots, and Oakland Ballers presented Liu with custom jerseys, a jacket, and a championship ring.

The event culminated in a performance by Grammy-award-winning R&B singer Kehlani, also an alumna of Oakland School for the Arts.

Attendee and musician ClayDough remarked, It’s been truly amazing to notice how she’s position Oakland onto a global stage. We get a lot of negative stuff in the news. Some of that is valid, but this makes me really happy to see us shown positively.

Looking Ahead

Liu recently withdrew from the upcoming World Championships due to scheduling conflicts and insufficient training time, stating, There’s always next season. She expressed contentment with her Olympic achievements.

Alysa Liu’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, self-awareness, and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. Her homecoming celebration was a fitting tribute to a true hometown hero.