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SCREEN CAPTURE / KRON Oakland's hometown hero Olympic champion Alysa Liu yells, "This is for y'all." |
Alysa Liu didn't want a parade. She wanted a party and that's what she got as thousands of Oaklanders flooded Frank Ogawa Plaza Thursday to give a hero's welcome to their homegrown champion, Alysa Liu.
“What’s up, Oakland!” Liu said. “This is for y’all,” she added, holding the gold medals around her neck as the crowd cheered.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist stood before a sea of nearly 7,000 fans who turned out for a massive homecoming rally that felt more like a family reunion than a formal ceremony.
“She’s our hero,” said US Rep Lateefah Simon . “She’s an American hero. She brought that gold to Broadway. If you want something done, have a young woman of color do it.”
In a move that felt uniquely Oakland, the event skipped the traditional parade in favor of a community-focused celebration at Liu’s own request. The stage was a showcase of local greatness, with emcee Sway Calloway keeping the crowd hyped while Kehlani and G-Eazy performed for their fellow native daughter.
The honors didn't stop at the key; the city officially declared March 12 as "Alysa Liu Day." Figure skating icon Olympic gold medalists figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and boxer Andre Ward shared the stage. Bay Area legends including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr shared heartfelt messages to congratulate the young star who has captured the world's attention.
While Liu recently made the tough call to withdraw from this month’s World Championships to catch her breath after the "crazy" whirlwind of Olympic success, she isn't going anywhere. She has already confirmed she has no plans to leave the ice and is fully committed to the 2026–2027 competitive season. Fans won't have to wait long to see her back in action, as she is set to headline the Stars on Ice tour starting this April in Japan before bringing the show across the United States.
Beyond the rink, Liu is looking to flex her creative muscles in the fashion world, hinting at new design projects and a fresh vision for her upcoming programs. As she signed off on her latest update with a promise to see everyone next season, it’s clear that while she’s taking a well-deserved moment for herself right now, the reigning queen of the ice is just getting started.
At the end of the sold-out celebration there was an appearance from another Oakland School for the Arts alum: Oakland's own Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kehlani, Liu’s favorite artist. Her performance had Liu and Mayor Lee dancing to her performance.
It’s a rare thing to see an athlete with this much perspective at such a young age, especially one who could still be at the top of her game for years to come.
“She’s our hero,” said US Rep Lateefah Simon . “She’s an American hero. She brought that gold to Broadway. If you want something done, have a young woman of color do it.”
At just 20 years old, Liu has already etched her name into the history books as the first American woman in 24 years to take home individual Olympic gold in figure skating, but today was all about the Town.
The energy in downtown was electric as Mayor Barbara Lee handed Liu the Key to the City, acknowledging the skater's historic double-gold performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The plaza is just a few blocks from the skating rink where Liu trained and Oakland School of the Arts which she attended.
In a move that felt uniquely Oakland, the event skipped the traditional parade in favor of a community-focused celebration at Liu’s own request. The stage was a showcase of local greatness, with emcee Sway Calloway keeping the crowd hyped while Kehlani and G-Eazy performed for their fellow native daughter.
The honors didn't stop at the key; the city officially declared March 12 as "Alysa Liu Day." Figure skating icon Olympic gold medalists figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and boxer Andre Ward shared the stage. Bay Area legends including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr shared heartfelt messages to congratulate the young star who has captured the world's attention.
While Liu recently made the tough call to withdraw from this month’s World Championships to catch her breath after the "crazy" whirlwind of Olympic success, she isn't going anywhere. She has already confirmed she has no plans to leave the ice and is fully committed to the 2026–2027 competitive season. Fans won't have to wait long to see her back in action, as she is set to headline the Stars on Ice tour starting this April in Japan before bringing the show across the United States.
Beyond the rink, Liu is looking to flex her creative muscles in the fashion world, hinting at new design projects and a fresh vision for her upcoming programs. As she signed off on her latest update with a promise to see everyone next season, it’s clear that while she’s taking a well-deserved moment for herself right now, the reigning queen of the ice is just getting started.
At the end of the sold-out celebration there was an appearance from another Oakland School for the Arts alum: Oakland's own Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kehlani, Liu’s favorite artist. Her performance had Liu and Mayor Lee dancing to her performance.
It’s a rare thing to see an athlete with this much perspective at such a young age, especially one who could still be at the top of her game for years to come.
“Representation matters so much,” she said during a press conference ahead of the main event. “We don’t really realize it. Having one person is sometimes all you need and I’m honored and grateful that I can be that for some people.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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