Oakland Celebrates Hometown Hero Alysa Liu's Olympic Gold Medals

The city is hosting a rally on Thursday to honor the figure skater's historic wins.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:05am

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The city of Oakland, California, is hosting a celebration rally on Thursday to honor Alysa Liu, the local figure skater who won two gold medals at the Milan Olympics. The free event at Frank Ogawa Plaza near City Hall has already sold out, and Mayor Barbara Lee is asking those without tickets to stay away for security reasons.

Why it matters

Alysa Liu's Olympic success has made her a hometown hero in Oakland, where she grew up training. The city is eager to celebrate her historic achievement of becoming the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002.

The details

The Alysa Liu Celebration Rally will begin around 12 p.m. PST on Thursday, with gates opening at 9 a.m. Liu won a team event gold medal and an individual gold medal in women's figure skating at the Milan Olympics, making her the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the sport since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

  • The Alysa Liu Celebration Rally will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • Alysa Liu won two gold medals at the Milan Olympics in 2026.

The players

Alysa Liu

A figure skater from Oakland, California, who won two gold medals at the 2026 Milan Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002.

Barbara Lee

The mayor of Oakland, California, who is hosting the celebration rally for Alysa Liu's Olympic success.

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What they’re saying

“This rally is a celebration not just of an extraordinary champion, but of everything our community represents: grit, excellence, and the belief that Oakland always punches above its weight. Come out and celebrate one of our own.”

— Barbara Lee, Mayor of Oakland (ABC 7 San Francisco)

What’s next

Local news outlets KTVU and ABC 7 San Francisco will be live-streaming the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally on Thursday.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's Olympic triumph has made her a source of immense pride for the city of Oakland, which is eager to celebrate her historic achievement and the values of grit and excellence that she represents for the community.