After soaring to Olympic gold and capturing the world's attention, Alysa Liu is coming home—and she's bringing the ice with her.
The Oakland native returns to the Bay Area this Sunday for the Stars on Ice tour at SAP Center in San Jose, marking a full-circle moment in her remarkable career. Liu, now an Olympic champion and cultural icon, sat down with ABC7 Eyewitness News to share her excitement about performing on home ice and reflect on how life has changed since her golden triumph.
"Being on tour has been really fun," Liu said. "The crowds have been insane already, and I just have a feeling it's just gonna be the craziest in San Jose. I'm really excited to see my friends and my family again. We've been on tour for like a month and a half now, so I'm excited to perform for them."
For Liu, show skating offers a refreshing change of pace from the high-pressure world of competition. The atmosphere is different—more celebratory, more free—and she's relishing every moment of it alongside her fellow Team USA athletes.
When asked about competition, Liu offered a perspective that speaks volumes about her character. "I don't see my competitors as competitors," she explained. "They're really just my friends, or other skaters—they've got their own stuff going on." In an era where sportsmanship can sometimes feel like an afterthought, Liu's approach is a refreshing reminder of what makes athletics truly special.
Life after Olympic gold has been nothing short of extraordinary. From a hometown celebration in Oakland to walking the red carpet at the Met Gala earlier this month, Liu is navigating a world of newfound glamour and attention. But despite the whirlwind, she's determined to stay grounded.
"I have yet to find out how crazy life will be because I haven't been home," she said with a laugh. "So I'm hoping it's not too different from pre-Olympics, but we'll see how I deal and how I manage."
With May marking AAPI Heritage Month, Liu also reflected on her identity as a half-Chinese American athlete and the responsibility she feels as a representative of her community. As she continues to inspire on and off the ice, one thing is clear: whether she's landing triple axels or walking red carpets, Alysa Liu is skating through life with grace, humility, and an infectious joy that makes her one of the most beloved figures in sports today.
For fans in the Bay Area, Sunday's show isn't just a chance to see an Olympic champion perform—it's a homecoming celebration for one of their own.