Bay Area's Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Olympic Gold In Women's Figure Skating In Decades

OAKLAND, CA — Bay Area skating sensation Alysa Liu has made history, capturing the United States’ first Olympic gold in women’s figure skating in 24 years at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. The 20-year-old Oakland-trained star also became the first American woman in two decades to win any singles figure skating medal, cementing her status as Team USA’s new standard-bearer on the ice.

Liu entered Thursday’s free skate in third place but soared to the top with a sparkling, high-difficulty program skated to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” drawing roars from the Milan crowd and emotional celebrations rinkside. Social media lit up as U.S. Figure Skating hailed her as “our golden girl” and the U.S. Olympic Team called the performance “a comeback for the ages.”

A fan favorite for her distinctive style and joyful presence, Liu first appeared at the Olympics in 2022, retired after taking world bronze, then launched a stunning comeback in 2024 that has now delivered the sport’s ultimate prize. Bay Area institutions, from BART to the Oakland Zoo, joined in congratulating the hometown champion.