Oakland Plans Parade for Gold Medalist Alysa Liu

The cheers at Oakland Ice Center this week weren't just loud. They were 24 years in the making.

Alysa Liu, who trained at the Oakland rink since childhood, just won gold in women's singles figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She's the first American woman to claim that title since 2002, joining Bay Area legends Kristi Yamaguchi and Peggy Fleming in the record books.

The 20-year-old from Richmond executed a flawless routine in Milan, Italy that left more than 100 fans at her home rink jumping to their feet. Now the City of Oakland is planning a community-wide celebration to honor their homegrown champion.

"Alysa represents the heart, grit, resilience, and joy of Oakland," the city announced on Instagram this week. Officials are working directly with Liu's team to finalize dates for what promises to be a championship-style victory parade.

Liu landed back in the Bay Area late Monday night, likely still recovering from the whirlwind of becoming an Olympic champion. The celebrations can wait a few more days while she catches her breath and processes what she's accomplished.

The Ripple Effect

Liu's gold medal win came with a bonus. She also helped Team USA capture gold in the team skating event, giving her two medals to bring home from Italy.

Her success is already inspiring the next generation of skaters at Oakland Ice Center, where young athletes now have a hometown hero who proved that Olympic dreams born on local ice can become reality. The rink where she spent countless hours perfecting her jumps and spins is now a symbol of what's possible with dedication and community support.

Oakland gets to celebrate one of its own reaching the pinnacle of her sport, and Liu gets to share her triumph with the people who cheered her on from the beginning. That's a win worth waiting 24 years for.