Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu returned to the Bay Area after a performance that captured the world, and the City of Oakland can’t wait to celebrate her achievement.
The City of Oakland and Mayor Barbara Lee announced late Tuesday night that the city is planning a community-wide celebration for Liu.
Advertisement
Liu is the first American woman to win an individual gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
“Alysa represents the heart, grit, resilience, and joy of Oakland,” reads the city’s post. “Her achievement has filled our city with pride, and we are coordinating with her team now to finalize a date so the community can celebrate her together,” the
The city has not released details on when the event and celebration will be held, but they are expected to do so soon.
Advertisement
Regardless, Oakland residents were excited to hear that the City of Oakland, Liu’s hometown, had attempted to organize a grassroots celebration through Reddit.
Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Alysa Liu of the United States celebrates with the gold medal in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Well, it’s unclear how the city plans to celebrate Liu; some folks on Reddit and Facebook have provided their ideas to show their appreciation for the city’s newest legend.
“She should get a parade drawn by gold and black horses, in the same pattern as her hair, in a manner reminiscent of a Roman triumph,” one commenter said on social media.
Advertisement
Liu won the world’s attention by being unapologetically herself
1 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
1 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
2 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
3 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
4 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
5 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
USA’s Alysa Liu competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
6 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
7 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
8 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
9 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
10 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
11 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States reacts while competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
12 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
13 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of the United States reacts after competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
14 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States reacts after competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
15 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of Team United States reacts after competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
16 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of Team United States reacts after competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
17 / 17
See Alysa Liu’s incredible Gold medal free skate performance
Alysa Liu of United States reacts after competing in the Women’s figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
For fans of figure skating, Liu’s final performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics truly defined her as a one-of-a-kind person and one-of-a-kind skater.
This year’s Winter Olympics marked Liu’s true return to the sport after she let go of her ties to figure skating following a lackluster showing at the 2022 Winter Games, where she finished sixth.
Gold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for women’s single skating on Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Since she was 5 years old, Liu had trained as a figure skater at her father’s behest. She eventually won her first national title at 13, walked away from the sport at 16, returned at 18, became a world champion at 19, and is now an Olympic gold medalist at 20.
Advertisement
“It was basically his business. It wasn’t really mine,” Alysa Liu said to CBS.
Upon her return to the sport, Liu wanted to ensure that her training and performance would stem from her own decisions. This philosophy changed her view of skating, from competitive ambition to an artistic perspective.
“I learned that I really just want to make art and also look at other people’s art and appreciate art honestly,” Liu told USA TODAY Sports. “I learned what I like, what I don’t like.”
Advertisement
U.S. Olympian Alysa Liu attends Team USA: Managing Victory at the Winter House on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
But beyond her time on the ice, Liu’s style and personality have turned her into an American icon across the internet.
Fans across the country have adopted her iconic halo design hair, which features blonde and brunette stripes. The “raccoon” two-toned style was especially popular in the 2000s during the Myspace and emo era.
Liu has become an American icon in more than one manner. A legend in the world of figure skating and as an image of how one can succeed while being true to themself.
Advertisement
Read about how Liu is: Unapologetically herself, Alysa Liu’s Olympic comeback is golden
USA Today reporter Jordan Mendoza contributed to this article.
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oakland announces celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu