American figure skating star Alysa Liu received a warm and emotional welcome in her hometown after her big moment at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 20-year-old returned home as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and thousands of people gathered in Oakland to celebrate her historic achievement. Last month, Liu delivered one of the most memorable performances of the Games. She won the women’s singles figure skating title, becoming the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the event since 2002. She also helped Team USA win gold in the figure skating team competition. Her strong performance in the women’s segment earned nine points for the team during the qualifying round. The celebration in Oakland quickly turned into something special. Fans packed the area outside City Hall to cheer for Liu, who grew up in the Bay Area. During the ceremony, messages from Bay Area sports legends were played on stage, including one from Stephen Curry and another from Steve Kerr. Both basketball icons congratulated Liu and praised her for representing Oakland and the Bay Area on the global stage. Their words made the moment even more meaningful for the Olympic champion. At the ceremony, Liu greeted the crowd with excitement and gratitude. Speaking into the microphone, she told the fans, “What’s up, Oakland! This is for y’all.” The crowd responded with loud cheers as the hometown hero soaked in the moment.
Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr send powerful message to Alysa Liu after Olympic gold as Oakland celebrates hometown champion
In a recorded message shown at the event, Stephen Curry shared his excitement about Liu’s achievement. The Golden State Warriors star said he was proud to see another Bay Area athlete win gold on the world stage.Stephen Curry said, “Alysa, congratulations on your gold medal achievement representing not only the United States but the Bay Area, Oakland. Super proud. Congratulations, you did that. From one gold medal winner to another, I just want to say keep doing your thing, keep representing The Bay, and we love you. Peace.”Stephen Curry knows what it feels like to shine for Team USA. At the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, he played a key role in helping the United States win gold in men’s basketball.In the semifinal against Serbia, Curry scored 36 points while shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 9-of-14 from three-point range. Then in the gold medal game against France, he added 24 points and hit eight three-pointers. Three of those shots came in the final two minutes, helping the United States secure a 98-87 victory.Steve Kerr also shared his appreciation for Alysa Liu’s performance. Kerr said in his message, “Alysa, I just want to say congratulations. That was so incredible to watch.”Back on the ice in Italy, Alysa Liu had delivered a nearly perfect performance. In the short program, she landed three triple jumps and one double to score 76.59 points. Then in the free skate, performed to MacArthur Park, she completed seven triple jumps and four doubles. Her free skate score of 150.20 was the highest of the competition, sealing the gold medal.For Oakland fans, it was a chance to welcome home a local athlete who made history on the Olympic stage.
