"Every time she stepped on the ice, she carried the spirit of Oakland with her, mayor Barbara Lee said, presenting Liu a key to the city. To all of us in Oakland, we know that she is our hero, but what I will tell you, brothers and sisters and siblings, she is an American hero, said the representative Lateefah Simon."
"Liu's family moved around the Bay Area a lot, but she says she represents Oakland. She briefly attended Oakland School for the Arts and trained at the Oakland Ice Center, both walking distance from city hall. Liu was the youngest US women's figure-skating champion at 13 years-old, placed sixth at the Beijing Olympics and then quit figure skating when she was 16."
"Years later, she decided to step back on the ice and won the 2025 world championships, setting her up for her Olympic victories at 20 years old. She's the first US woman to win the individual figure-skating gold medal in 24 years. The two years I spent away helped me as a person, she told a group of journalists Thursday morning."
Nearly 5,000 people gathered in Oakland to celebrate two-time Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at a free ticketed event that sold out quickly. Mayor Barbara Lee presented Liu with the key to the city, while local luminaries and representatives honored her achievements. Liu, who trained at Oakland Ice Center and briefly attended Oakland School for the Arts, is the first US woman to win individual figure-skating gold in 24 years. She became the youngest US women's figure-skating champion at 13, quit the sport at 16, and returned years later to win the 2025 world championships before her Olympic victories at age 20. Liu expressed gratitude to Oakland, stating the city represents her identity and spirit.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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