Marshawn Lynch’s message to Alysa Liu before her gold medal skate highlighted their shared Oakland roots.

Did Marshawn Lynch’s hype message for Alysa Liu propel the figure skater to gold? Probably not, but we love it nonetheless. 

The former Seahawks running back shared that message for Liu ahead of her final skate on Thursday.

“Go out there and win some gold,” Lynch said in the video posted to social media. “Bring that **** back to the town. Town business — show ’em what you talking about it.”

Liu delivering a stunning free skate and finished in first place, securing the first gold medal for the U.S. women’s figure skating team in 24 years. 

In his message, Lynch is referring to Oakland, California — a place both he and Liu call home. 

@nbcsports

The NFL x Olympic crossover you didn’t know you needed. 😂

♬ original sound – NBC Sports

Liu was born in Clovis, California, but spent most of her childhood in Oakland, and started skating at the Oakland Ice Center when she was just 5 years old. 

Lynch also grew up in the East Bay, attending Oakland Technical High School before going on to play football at the University of California Berkley. 

The pair of sports super stars have made names for themselves with high performance, but also for their willingness to do things differently. 

Liu, who retired from figure skating in 2022, skates with striped hair and a mouth piercing in a sport that emphasizes appearance. When she returned to the sport, it was with full creative control of her programs and her outfits. Her joy and passion were evident throughout the 2026 Olympics as she capped her stellar comeback, which also included a 2025 World title.

Lynch, known for his punishing and powerful running style on the field, made a name for himself during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl run in the 2014 season when he refused interviews and avoided press availabilities. 

“I’m just here so I won’t get fined,” became his tagline during Super Bowl media day, as he made an appearance to meet the league’s requirements. 

He also made headlines when he played with the Raiders for sitting during the anthem in 2017, a year after Colin Kaepernick drew national attention for sitting then kneeling. 

Lynch is still closely connected to the Oakland community, where his Fam 1st Family Foundation provides after school care, food and Christmas gifts for underserved people. 

Liu still trains in the East Bay.Â