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That’s a secret every athlete wants to solve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:52] Her iconic blonde and brown haloed hair, that smiley piercing she did herself, and the Bay Area confidence and charm that she brings to interviews and the Olympic rink, all this has made Alysa Liu a hometown hero for the old and young, like eight-year-old Joyce Ilangovan, who skates at the Oakland Ice Center where Alysa trains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joyce Ilangovan \u003c/strong>[00:01:20] Skaters aren’t as like positive as her on the ice and she’s always so fun and happy and she is never hiding herself and it feels really fun to watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:33] On Thursday, thousands gathered outside Oakland City Hall to celebrate Alysa Liu’s homecoming. So today, we’re gonna take you to that homecoming party in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:01:55] I’m here outside of Oakland City Hall where thousands of people have gathered to welcome Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu back to her hometown. Liu gave a press conference inside earlier this morning where she talked about how proud she is to be representing Oakland and the broader Bay Area and how grateful she is for the outpouring of support that she’s received. This event is really lively. According to city officials they put out about 5,000 tickets and they sold out. The sun is shining, it’s warm, the energy is and it’s really become a showcasing of Oakland talent and culture. Sway Calloway, a radio personality who’s from Oakland, is emceeing the event. There have also been performances from the Fremont High School drum line and from the Oakland School for the Arts, where Liu attended. And in the words of Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, the plaza is full, the energy is real, and the love for Oakland is loud. For KQED News in Oakland, I’m Juan Carlos Lara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>D Sharp \u003c/strong>[00:02:49] I want y’all to get loud for my big brother, Sway Calloway!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:02:55] Make some noise! Come on, come on, Come on! Come on Bay Area! Bay Area, Bay Area Bay Area When I say Oakland, you say pride, Oakland! Oakland! When I said Oakland, You say pride Oakland! Oakland! When I say town, you say business, town! Town, town, man give it up for Oakland, California, the best city on the planet. Come on man, roll up D-Sharp man. Now just to be clear, I’ma take my time up here today. I know it’s hot, but we got a lot of, we got lot of important people here today to celebrate Alysa Liu. She told me how to say her name correctly, Alysa Liu. Okay, so I wanted to make sure I said it correctly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon \u003c/strong>[00:04:00] Welcome to the stage, Barbara Lee, the mayor of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Barbara Lee \u003c/strong>[00:04:05] Oakland, California. Let me ask you something. Are we proud today or what? Just look around you. The plaza is full, the energy is real, and the love for Oakland is loud, because when Oakland celebrates one of our own, we show up. So now, it’s my honor to celebrate and to bring forward Alysa in a special way, and I’m presenting her today with a key to the city of Oakland. Key to the City of Oakland, all right? Champions come from Oakland welcome our gold medal champion our Olympic gold medal Champion Alysa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] Oh, what’s up, Oakland! Hello! Oh my god, thank you. This is for y’all, all right? Yeah, I don’t have a speech prepared, but I don t need one. I want to thank you all so much for showing up and showing out. This is crazy! Um, I see so many people, hi! I love Oakland. I’ve been here all my life. I literally walk through here every day to get to the city center for lunch from the rink over there. And I could not be more proud to represent Oakland out on the big stage at Olympics. And I wanna thank y’all for the support and the love. I feel it. So thank you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:06:10] That’s the key. The key to Oakland!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:06:13] Hold that key up. She owns the key to the city now. We’re about to party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:06:20] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Lee \u003c/strong>[00:06:31] Jennifer Lee, J-E-N-N I-F-E R. There’s my daughters, my mom, my cousin, my husband, my friends, his friends, his daughter, so it’s a whole big group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:06:42] Whose idea was it to get a big group of y’all together out here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Lee \u003c/strong>[00:06:45] Well, for my family, once we saw it posted, you know, I mean, the kids should probably technically be in school, but I thought it was just really, it’s a really powerful story for them of just not giving up and also pursuing what you love for the sake of what you love. So.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:07:02] And you said your mom was here. Do you mind if I ask mom a question? Mom, can I ask you a question. Can I ask you a question?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cynthia Lee \u003c/strong>[00:07:07] I’m so glad to be here. Yeah, because Alysa not just inspire her age, the young persons. She also inspire the parents age like me. Yeah, I hope I can be like her, have her overflow smiling, her confidence, her joy. Yeah, I really love them I was so inspired by her, yeah, so happy to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:07:45] One of these women that are coming to the stage today. I’ve known her for years, but I’ve know her record for decades. She represents California’s 12th congressional district, including Oakland, California. Please give it up for Congresswoman Lateefah Simon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon \u003c/strong>[00:08:06] Look at Oakland, California! It was an honor for me just one week ago to stand on the floor of the United States Congress to give love to Alysa Liu. And what I said there, I’ll say again, she is the hope of all that is good in a time. Where governments are dropping bombs on babies, in a time where young people are not being listened to, in a times where immigrants are being taken from their homes, we have a young sister who has showed us what it means to live life with excellence and beauty on her own terms. To all of us here 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.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:21] My name is Simon O’Brien.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gus Johansen \u003c/strong>[00:09:23] My name is Gus Johansen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:09:25] My name is Oliver Hayduk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:26] Well, we’re here for the Alysa Liu thing. She went to OSA, she was an OSA alumni, and all three of us go to OASA currently. And so it’s really exciting because, you know, one of our alumni, I mean, literally is the world champion in figure skating. So that’s really cool. That’s what brings us out today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:09:44] Are you not supposed to be in school right now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:46] Oh the whole school came. The whole school? Everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:09:49] Yeah, so it was kind of a special day for OSA, you know, cause she, she, like, she had educational, like she got education from OSA. The ice Center, which is right next door, which you go to for PE sometimes, it’s just kind of like a special moment for OSA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gus Johansen \u003c/strong>[00:10:02] She really inspires all, we have a lot of skaters at our school, almost everybody ice skates. We ice skate every Tuesday and Thursday and it’s just really awesome that we get to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:10:14] You know, it’s just cool to see all of Oakland come out with everything that’s been happening, filming, and then just all getting together, just like everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:10:24] Now, there were some people who couldn’t make it, but there were people who changed their schedule to be here today. She’s the first Asian-American to win the Winter Olympic gold, two-time world champion, 1992 Olympic gold medalist. I remember watching her and being so extremely proud. Give it up for Kristi Yamaguchi!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kristi Yamaguchi \u003c/strong>[00:10:48] So we want to celebrate and welcome our gold medal sister, someone who’s made us and the entire country so so so proud, Alysa Liu. She started skating right here in Oakland, just a block away, Oakland Ice, that way, that way. I know that rink well. And that was the foundation that carried her all the way to the Olympic stage. And as a fellow East Bay girl, all I can say is yes, represent!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:11:25] Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Randy Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:36] My name is Randy Kwan\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:38] Alexis A-L-E-X-I-S\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:11:43] What brings you out here today what made you want to come out to this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:46] I mean, it’s Alysa Liu. How could we not? She’s so cool. She’s a Bay Area baddie. My dad’s from Oakland. I grew up in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Randy Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:51] I grew up in Oakland. I’ve been here for a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:54] Yeah, but I mean between her, Zendaya, Kehlani, we got to support the Bay. It’s so cool to see everybody from the Bay on like a larger stage. And also her doing it at such a high level and having such a great mindset is absolutely amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:12:08] You know, I guess like, is there any lesson in that for you? Like, is that something you’ve thought about with yourself in terms of like, you know, how hard to push in a specific thing, how hard it’s too hard, and when to take a break and things like that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:12:21] Yeah, of course. I mean, I think that her story, as you said, is really inspiring and then just to like have that mindset of not overworking yourself and knowing when to take a break is just I feel like really groundbreaking, especially in sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] All right, all right. Alysa, you want to say anything in closing? One final word.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:12:45] It’s Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:12:48] TOWN BUSINESS!\u003c/p>\n\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Thursday, thousands of people gathered in Oakland to welcome home Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Alysa Liu, who won the women’s singles gold medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics last month. Liu, who was born in Richmond and grew up training in Oakland, is the first American woman to win gold in her sport since 2002.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC7295745346&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:00] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. On Thursday, Oakland celebrated and welcomed home Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Alysa Liu, the first American woman to win figure skating gold in 24 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Announcer \u003c/strong>[00:00:30] It is like she’s just playing on the ice, not even performing anymore. The joy, the passion, and she’s figured out how to compete without carrying the weight of it. She stays so loose and completely herself out there. That’s a secret every athlete wants to solve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:52] Her iconic blonde and brown haloed hair, that smiley piercing she did herself, and the Bay Area confidence and charm that she brings to interviews and the Olympic rink, all this has made Alysa Liu a hometown hero for the old and young, like eight-year-old Joyce Ilangovan, who skates at the Oakland Ice Center where Alysa trains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joyce Ilangovan \u003c/strong>[00:01:20] Skaters aren’t as like positive as her on the ice and she’s always so fun and happy and she is never hiding herself and it feels really fun to watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:33] On Thursday, thousands gathered outside Oakland City Hall to celebrate Alysa Liu’s homecoming. So today, we’re gonna take you to that homecoming party in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:01:55] I’m here outside of Oakland City Hall where thousands of people have gathered to welcome Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu back to her hometown. Liu gave a press conference inside earlier this morning where she talked about how proud she is to be representing Oakland and the broader Bay Area and how grateful she is for the outpouring of support that she’s received. This event is really lively. According to city officials they put out about 5,000 tickets and they sold out. The sun is shining, it’s warm, the energy is and it’s really become a showcasing of Oakland talent and culture. Sway Calloway, a radio personality who’s from Oakland, is emceeing the event. There have also been performances from the Fremont High School drum line and from the Oakland School for the Arts, where Liu attended. And in the words of Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, the plaza is full, the energy is real, and the love for Oakland is loud. For KQED News in Oakland, I’m Juan Carlos Lara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>D Sharp \u003c/strong>[00:02:49] I want y’all to get loud for my big brother, Sway Calloway!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:02:55] Make some noise! Come on, come on, Come on! Come on Bay Area! Bay Area, Bay Area Bay Area When I say Oakland, you say pride, Oakland! Oakland! When I said Oakland, You say pride Oakland! Oakland! When I say town, you say business, town! Town, town, man give it up for Oakland, California, the best city on the planet. Come on man, roll up D-Sharp man. Now just to be clear, I’ma take my time up here today. I know it’s hot, but we got a lot of, we got lot of important people here today to celebrate Alysa Liu. She told me how to say her name correctly, Alysa Liu. Okay, so I wanted to make sure I said it correctly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon \u003c/strong>[00:04:00] Welcome to the stage, Barbara Lee, the mayor of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Barbara Lee \u003c/strong>[00:04:05] Oakland, California. Let me ask you something. Are we proud today or what? Just look around you. The plaza is full, the energy is real, and the love for Oakland is loud, because when Oakland celebrates one of our own, we show up. So now, it’s my honor to celebrate and to bring forward Alysa in a special way, and I’m presenting her today with a key to the city of Oakland. Key to the City of Oakland, all right? Champions come from Oakland welcome our gold medal champion our Olympic gold medal Champion Alysa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] Oh, what’s up, Oakland! Hello! Oh my god, thank you. This is for y’all, all right? Yeah, I don’t have a speech prepared, but I don t need one. I want to thank you all so much for showing up and showing out. This is crazy! Um, I see so many people, hi! I love Oakland. I’ve been here all my life. I literally walk through here every day to get to the city center for lunch from the rink over there. And I could not be more proud to represent Oakland out on the big stage at Olympics. And I wanna thank y’all for the support and the love. I feel it. So thank you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:06:10] That’s the key. The key to Oakland!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:06:13] Hold that key up. She owns the key to the city now. We’re about to party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:06:20] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Lee \u003c/strong>[00:06:31] Jennifer Lee, J-E-N-N I-F-E R. There’s my daughters, my mom, my cousin, my husband, my friends, his friends, his daughter, so it’s a whole big group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:06:42] Whose idea was it to get a big group of y’all together out here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Lee \u003c/strong>[00:06:45] Well, for my family, once we saw it posted, you know, I mean, the kids should probably technically be in school, but I thought it was just really, it’s a really powerful story for them of just not giving up and also pursuing what you love for the sake of what you love. So.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:07:02] And you said your mom was here. Do you mind if I ask mom a question? Mom, can I ask you a question. Can I ask you a question?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cynthia Lee \u003c/strong>[00:07:07] I’m so glad to be here. Yeah, because Alysa not just inspire her age, the young persons. She also inspire the parents age like me. Yeah, I hope I can be like her, have her overflow smiling, her confidence, her joy. Yeah, I really love them I was so inspired by her, yeah, so happy to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:07:45] One of these women that are coming to the stage today. I’ve known her for years, but I’ve know her record for decades. She represents California’s 12th congressional district, including Oakland, California. Please give it up for Congresswoman Lateefah Simon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon \u003c/strong>[00:08:06] Look at Oakland, California! It was an honor for me just one week ago to stand on the floor of the United States Congress to give love to Alysa Liu. And what I said there, I’ll say again, she is the hope of all that is good in a time. Where governments are dropping bombs on babies, in a time where young people are not being listened to, in a times where immigrants are being taken from their homes, we have a young sister who has showed us what it means to live life with excellence and beauty on her own terms. To all of us here 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.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:21] My name is Simon O’Brien.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gus Johansen \u003c/strong>[00:09:23] My name is Gus Johansen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:09:25] My name is Oliver Hayduk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:26] Well, we’re here for the Alysa Liu thing. She went to OSA, she was an OSA alumni, and all three of us go to OASA currently. And so it’s really exciting because, you know, one of our alumni, I mean, literally is the world champion in figure skating. So that’s really cool. That’s what brings us out today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:09:44] Are you not supposed to be in school right now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Simon O’Brien \u003c/strong>[00:09:46] Oh the whole school came. The whole school? Everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:09:49] Yeah, so it was kind of a special day for OSA, you know, cause she, she, like, she had educational, like she got education from OSA. The ice Center, which is right next door, which you go to for PE sometimes, it’s just kind of like a special moment for OSA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gus Johansen \u003c/strong>[00:10:02] She really inspires all, we have a lot of skaters at our school, almost everybody ice skates. We ice skate every Tuesday and Thursday and it’s just really awesome that we get to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oliver Hajduk \u003c/strong>[00:10:14] You know, it’s just cool to see all of Oakland come out with everything that’s been happening, filming, and then just all getting together, just like everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:10:24] Now, there were some people who couldn’t make it, but there were people who changed their schedule to be here today. She’s the first Asian-American to win the Winter Olympic gold, two-time world champion, 1992 Olympic gold medalist. I remember watching her and being so extremely proud. Give it up for Kristi Yamaguchi!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kristi Yamaguchi \u003c/strong>[00:10:48] So we want to celebrate and welcome our gold medal sister, someone who’s made us and the entire country so so so proud, Alysa Liu. She started skating right here in Oakland, just a block away, Oakland Ice, that way, that way. I know that rink well. And that was the foundation that carried her all the way to the Olympic stage. And as a fellow East Bay girl, all I can say is yes, represent!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:11:25] Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Randy Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:36] My name is Randy Kwan\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:38] Alexis A-L-E-X-I-S\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:11:43] What brings you out here today what made you want to come out to this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:46] I mean, it’s Alysa Liu. How could we not? She’s so cool. She’s a Bay Area baddie. My dad’s from Oakland. I grew up in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Randy Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:51] I grew up in Oakland. I’ve been here for a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:11:54] Yeah, but I mean between her, Zendaya, Kehlani, we got to support the Bay. It’s so cool to see everybody from the Bay on like a larger stage. And also her doing it at such a high level and having such a great mindset is absolutely amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Juan Carlos Lara \u003c/strong>[00:12:08] You know, I guess like, is there any lesson in that for you? Like, is that something you’ve thought about with yourself in terms of like, you know, how hard to push in a specific thing, how hard it’s too hard, and when to take a break and things like that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alexis Kuan \u003c/strong>[00:12:21] Yeah, of course. I mean, I think that her story, as you said, is really inspiring and then just to like have that mindset of not overworking yourself and knowing when to take a break is just I feel like really groundbreaking, especially in sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] All right, all right. Alysa, you want to say anything in closing? One final word.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu \u003c/strong>[00:12:45] It’s Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sway Calloway \u003c/strong>[00:12:48] TOWN BUSINESS!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987402/alysa-liu-party-homecoming-oakland\">highly-anticipated homecoming\u003c/a> is finally here, and the Town is ready to party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thousands flooded sunny downtown Oakland for a sold-out rally Thursday. The event was emceed by local radio personality Sway Calloway, and featured performances from the Fremont High School drumline, speeches from local athletes like Steph Curry and a rendition of Liu’s free skate song, “MacArthur Park,” by a student from Liu’s alma mater, Oakland School of the Arts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fans erupted in cheers when Liu took the stage just after noon, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee presented the figure skater with an oversized key to the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I could not be more proud to represent Oakland,” Liu told the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is for y’all,” she said, holding up her gold medal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075740/at-her-home-rink-gold-medalist-alysa-liu-inspires-oakland-fans-to-pick-up-skates\">revered by Bay Area skaters for years\u003c/a>, but shot to global fame during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where she scored two gold medals, and won the U.S. its first in individual women’s figure skating since 2002.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076357\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076357\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kehlani, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, mayor Barbara Lee, Sway Calloway stand on stage during a celebration in Liu’s honor at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to her clean triple jumps, Liu captivated fans with her bubbly, relaxed demeanor, both on and off the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope I can be like her, have her overflow smiling, her confidence, her joy,” said Cynthia Lee, who was at the sold-out rally with her daughter, granddaughters and extended family on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, who was born in Richmond and grew up training at the Oakland Ice Center, competed on the national stage at just seven years old. She became the youngest woman to land a triple Axel in international competition, and the first ever to combine it with another of the sport’s most elite moves — a quadruple jump.[aside postID=news_12075740 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_006-KQED.jpg']The skater made her Olympic debut at 16, and after placing seventh in the individual competition in Beijing in 2022, and third in the world championship later that year, announced her retirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That hiatus was short-lived, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I took a whole new life path. I gained a lot of clarity and sense of self,” Liu said of the two-year period during a press conference inside Oakland City Hall Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She re-emerged in 2024, and skated to a world championship win in 2025 with a new approach, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076055/alysa-lius-figure-skating-coach-from-san-francisco-says-her-next-lesson-is-fame\">focused on\u003c/a> sharing her artistry, rather than on the rigidity and rules often associated with the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa showed the world what it means to compete with heart,” Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who trained at the same rink as Liu, said at the celebration. “She stepped out onto the ice with such confidence, joy and, most importantly, with her true self.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Glenn Martin, the general manager at Oakland Ice Center, said Liu’s approach brought out a different side of other skaters, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You wouldn’t normally see them smiling and relaxing … Alysa just brings that out of everyone,” he told KQED earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076351\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Liu also gave a shoutout to Oakland, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Bay Area celebrated her success\u003c/a>. Oakland ice cream shop Fentons Creamery started scooping “Alysa’s Gold.” BART gave the “rider and local legend” a shoutout on social media and Lee praised her as a “hometown hero.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three weeks later, that joy is still palpable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We watched [Alysa’s performance] probably three times in a row,” Cynthia’s daughter, Jennifer, said from Thursday’s rally. She told KQED she and her five- and eight-year-old daughters teared up during the program. “My family, my girls, all of us have been really, really inspired and encouraged by what Alysa has done and her story. And so we just want to come out and support her and celebrate her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday’s lineup, which featured local high school student speakers, Oakland-born \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932887/turf-dancing-oakland-street-dance\">turf dancing\u003c/a> and dragon dancers from U.S. Shaolin Kung Fu, based\u003ca href=\"https://www.usshaolinkungfu.com/\"> in the city’s Chinatown\u003c/a>, didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076354\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Shaolin Kung Fu Traditional dragon dancers from Oakland Chinatown during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076358\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076358\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu holds a key to the City of Oakland during a celebration in her honor at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Oakland School of the Arts eighth grader Oliver Hajduck told KQED “the whole school came,” to the celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a lot of skaters at our school, almost everybody ice skates,” said fellow student Gus Johansen. “We ice skate every Tuesday and Thursday, and it’s just really awesome that we get to be here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stephen and Karen Ng came out to the event from the East Bay community of Alamo. They said as immigrants from Hong Kong, who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago, they connected with Liu’s story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know that her father is an immigrant here, we are also immigrants here,” Karen said. Liu’s father Arthur immigrated to the U.S. from China’s Sichuan Province at 25. And, she added, her “son also [went] through sports and I was the mother traveling with him, going to different cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s important for young people to learn from her example, just be yourself, know what you’re all about and try to pursue your dream,” Stephen added. “I think this is America, this is an American dream.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also among the crowd was Sam McCollister, who brought his two daughters to the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really important for young girls to be able to see a positive role model,” he told KQED. McCollister said he hopes his daughters’ takeaway will be that you “can be a positive influencer in your community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oakland is a city of artists, a city of creators,” he continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I could not be more proud to represent Oakland,” Liu told the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is for y’all,” she said, holding up her gold medal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075740/at-her-home-rink-gold-medalist-alysa-liu-inspires-oakland-fans-to-pick-up-skates\">revered by Bay Area skaters for years\u003c/a>, but shot to global fame during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where she scored two gold medals, and won the U.S. its first in individual women’s figure skating since 2002.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076357\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076357\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kehlani, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, mayor Barbara Lee, Sway Calloway stand on stage during a celebration in Liu’s honor at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to her clean triple jumps, Liu captivated fans with her bubbly, relaxed demeanor, both on and off the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope I can be like her, have her overflow smiling, her confidence, her joy,” said Cynthia Lee, who was at the sold-out rally with her daughter, granddaughters and extended family on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, who was born in Richmond and grew up training at the Oakland Ice Center, competed on the national stage at just seven years old. She became the youngest woman to land a triple Axel in international competition, and the first ever to combine it with another of the sport’s most elite moves — a quadruple jump.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The skater made her Olympic debut at 16, and after placing seventh in the individual competition in Beijing in 2022, and third in the world championship later that year, announced her retirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That hiatus was short-lived, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I took a whole new life path. I gained a lot of clarity and sense of self,” Liu said of the two-year period during a press conference inside Oakland City Hall Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She re-emerged in 2024, and skated to a world championship win in 2025 with a new approach, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076055/alysa-lius-figure-skating-coach-from-san-francisco-says-her-next-lesson-is-fame\">focused on\u003c/a> sharing her artistry, rather than on the rigidity and rules often associated with the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa showed the world what it means to compete with heart,” Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who trained at the same rink as Liu, said at the celebration. “She stepped out onto the ice with such confidence, joy and, most importantly, with her true self.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Glenn Martin, the general manager at Oakland Ice Center, said Liu’s approach brought out a different side of other skaters, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You wouldn’t normally see them smiling and relaxing … Alysa just brings that out of everyone,” he told KQED earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076351\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Liu also gave a shoutout to Oakland, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Bay Area celebrated her success\u003c/a>. Oakland ice cream shop Fentons Creamery started scooping “Alysa’s Gold.” BART gave the “rider and local legend” a shoutout on social media and Lee praised her as a “hometown hero.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three weeks later, that joy is still palpable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We watched [Alysa’s performance] probably three times in a row,” Cynthia’s daughter, Jennifer, said from Thursday’s rally. She told KQED she and her five- and eight-year-old daughters teared up during the program. “My family, my girls, all of us have been really, really inspired and encouraged by what Alysa has done and her story. And so we just want to come out and support her and celebrate her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday’s lineup, which featured local high school student speakers, Oakland-born \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932887/turf-dancing-oakland-street-dance\">turf dancing\u003c/a> and dragon dancers from U.S. Shaolin Kung Fu, based\u003ca href=\"https://www.usshaolinkungfu.com/\"> in the city’s Chinatown\u003c/a>, didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076354\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-28-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Shaolin Kung Fu Traditional dragon dancers from Oakland Chinatown during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076358\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076358\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu holds a key to the City of Oakland during a celebration in her honor at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Oakland School of the Arts eighth grader Oliver Hajduck told KQED “the whole school came,” to the celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a lot of skaters at our school, almost everybody ice skates,” said fellow student Gus Johansen. “We ice skate every Tuesday and Thursday, and it’s just really awesome that we get to be here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stephen and Karen Ng came out to the event from the East Bay community of Alamo. They said as immigrants from Hong Kong, who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago, they connected with Liu’s story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know that her father is an immigrant here, we are also immigrants here,” Karen said. Liu’s father Arthur immigrated to the U.S. from China’s Sichuan Province at 25. And, she added, her “son also [went] through sports and I was the mother traveling with him, going to different cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260312-ALYSALIURALLY-17-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during a celebration for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland on March 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s important for young people to learn from her example, just be yourself, know what you’re all about and try to pursue your dream,” Stephen added. “I think this is America, this is an American dream.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also among the crowd was Sam McCollister, who brought his two daughters to the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really important for young girls to be able to see a positive role model,” he told KQED. McCollister said he hopes his daughters’ takeaway will be that you “can be a positive influencer in your community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oakland is a city of artists, a city of creators,” he continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Alysa Liu’s Figure Skating Coach From San Francisco Says Her Next Lesson … Is Fame?",
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"content": "\u003cp>Longtime \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> figure skating coach Phillip DiGuglielmo recalled the day when his former athlete, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Alysa Liu\u003c/a>, asked to FaceTime. He said she asked him about getting back on the ice, two years after she had announced her retirement from the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DiGuglielmo said he tried to talk her out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My heart sank a little bit because I knew what it means for an athlete who is at that level to come back,” he told KQED. “I was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to succeed and do something even better than that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, the youngest woman to land a triple axel in international competition and the first woman to combine a quadruple jump with a triple axel, came out of retirement in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In collaboration with coach DiGuglielmo and choreographer Massimo Scali, the team charted a star-making course at the 2026 Milan Winter Games that helped the 20-year-old, who grew up in Richmond and trained in Oakland, become the first U.S. woman to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">win an Olympic gold in her sport\u003c/a> in the last 24 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa has that rare confluence of hard work, excellent jump technique, excellent performance ability and an ability to not see competition as this make-or-break moment for her, [rather] that competition is an opportunity to share her art with the audience,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076106\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Phillip DiGuglielmo watches Haya Marie Hayes practice on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>DiGuglielmo talked about the rise of Liu’s stardom with KQED morning host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/bwatt\">Brian Watt\u003c/a>, as the city of Oakland gears up for a Thursday \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075928/alysa-liu-celebration-oakland-city-hall-free-tickets-sold-out-parking-bag-policy-no-parade\">pep rally\u003c/a> to celebrate Liu. Their conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brian Watt:\u003c/strong> In what way did you notice a difference in Alysa Liu between pre- and post-retirement?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Phillip DiGuglielmo:\u003c/strong> Before she retired, she was your little model athlete. She did exactly what every coach ever asked her to. She tried as hard as she could. She succeeded at almost everything she tried. But I don’t think that we ever got to see who Alysa Liu was.[aside postID=arts_13987431 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/alysia-liu.png']Now, when she’s come back, the magic about her is that you get to see who she is as the athlete. There were around 13,000 people in the [Milano Ice Skating Arena].\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those are the people she was performing for, but she was also performing for her family and for the millions of people watching on TV or Instagram or wherever they consume their media. She feels like she just wants to show her art, and it comes across in a different way than the other athletes that we have in our sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What is it about her style? She’s called the queen of the triple axels, but what else is she doing?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because she’s taken ownership of her sport, of her performances, of her training, it just comes from inside of her. It’s not about the coaches and not the training facility. It’s only about Alysa trying to do the best that she can, and all of our whole team supporting her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Take us back to the Winter Olympics in Milan. What moment stands out to you?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alyssa in this crazy gold sequined dress that looks like she just walked out of Studio 54 in 1978. Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” is playing, and the whole crowd gets into that vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s like she is skating around, floating on the ice, doing these difficult triple combinations. The spins, the step sequences and the split jumps are all perfectly on the music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg0h9iZ1ZAg\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The audience feels like they are part of it. At the end, she grabs her foot and pulls it above her head, and it turns into like a disco ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She ends in this pose with her right arm up with her finger pointing straight up to the sky, No.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Now that that has all happened, what are you hearing from her? She’s become a star known around the world. And I imagine that there’s more joy that comes with that, but also a lot of pressure.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She is worried for these next few months. Being recognized on the street, everywhere she goes. She’ll be able to handle it with time, but it’s going to be a challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s very busy, and she’s bringing a lot of attention to figure skating. Alysa has some new lessons to learn — how to balance this kind of attention. I don’t want to say “fame,” but maybe it is fame.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Clarification: Alysa Liu has \u003c/i>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVWjM5VEl1_/?img_index=2&igsh=ZjNiYTJpdjc3M28y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said on social media\u003c/a>\u003c/i>\u003ci> that her family moved around a lot to various places, including Richmond. Liu has said she spent most of her life in Oakland.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Longtime \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> figure skating coach Phillip DiGuglielmo recalled the day when his former athlete, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Alysa Liu\u003c/a>, asked to FaceTime. He said she asked him about getting back on the ice, two years after she had announced her retirement from the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DiGuglielmo said he tried to talk her out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My heart sank a little bit because I knew what it means for an athlete who is at that level to come back,” he told KQED. “I was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to succeed and do something even better than that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, the youngest woman to land a triple axel in international competition and the first woman to combine a quadruple jump with a triple axel, came out of retirement in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In collaboration with coach DiGuglielmo and choreographer Massimo Scali, the team charted a star-making course at the 2026 Milan Winter Games that helped the 20-year-old, who grew up in Richmond and trained in Oakland, become the first U.S. woman to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">win an Olympic gold in her sport\u003c/a> in the last 24 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa has that rare confluence of hard work, excellent jump technique, excellent performance ability and an ability to not see competition as this make-or-break moment for her, [rather] that competition is an opportunity to share her art with the audience,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076106\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Phillip DiGuglielmo watches Haya Marie Hayes practice on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>DiGuglielmo talked about the rise of Liu’s stardom with KQED morning host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/bwatt\">Brian Watt\u003c/a>, as the city of Oakland gears up for a Thursday \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075928/alysa-liu-celebration-oakland-city-hall-free-tickets-sold-out-parking-bag-policy-no-parade\">pep rally\u003c/a> to celebrate Liu. Their conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brian Watt:\u003c/strong> In what way did you notice a difference in Alysa Liu between pre- and post-retirement?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Phillip DiGuglielmo:\u003c/strong> Before she retired, she was your little model athlete. She did exactly what every coach ever asked her to. She tried as hard as she could. She succeeded at almost everything she tried. But I don’t think that we ever got to see who Alysa Liu was.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Now, when she’s come back, the magic about her is that you get to see who she is as the athlete. There were around 13,000 people in the [Milano Ice Skating Arena].\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those are the people she was performing for, but she was also performing for her family and for the millions of people watching on TV or Instagram or wherever they consume their media. She feels like she just wants to show her art, and it comes across in a different way than the other athletes that we have in our sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What is it about her style? She’s called the queen of the triple axels, but what else is she doing?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because she’s taken ownership of her sport, of her performances, of her training, it just comes from inside of her. It’s not about the coaches and not the training facility. It’s only about Alysa trying to do the best that she can, and all of our whole team supporting her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Take us back to the Winter Olympics in Milan. What moment stands out to you?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alyssa in this crazy gold sequined dress that looks like she just walked out of Studio 54 in 1978. Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” is playing, and the whole crowd gets into that vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s like she is skating around, floating on the ice, doing these difficult triple combinations. The spins, the step sequences and the split jumps are all perfectly on the music.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/Dg0h9iZ1ZAg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/Dg0h9iZ1ZAg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>The audience feels like they are part of it. At the end, she grabs her foot and pulls it above her head, and it turns into like a disco ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She ends in this pose with her right arm up with her finger pointing straight up to the sky, No.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Now that that has all happened, what are you hearing from her? She’s become a star known around the world. And I imagine that there’s more joy that comes with that, but also a lot of pressure.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She is worried for these next few months. Being recognized on the street, everywhere she goes. She’ll be able to handle it with time, but it’s going to be a challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s very busy, and she’s bringing a lot of attention to figure skating. Alysa has some new lessons to learn — how to balance this kind of attention. I don’t want to say “fame,” but maybe it is fame.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Clarification: Alysa Liu has \u003c/i>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVWjM5VEl1_/?img_index=2&igsh=ZjNiYTJpdjc3M28y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said on social media\u003c/a>\u003c/i>\u003ci> that her family moved around a lot to various places, including Richmond. Liu has said she spent most of her life in Oakland.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>On Tuesday afternoon, Mia Pace laced up her skates at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> Ice Center. The 11-year-old figure skater was antsy to get on the ice and run her program to the Barbie version of \u003cem>Perfect Day\u003c/em> by Hoku.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace said she’s working on perfecting her salchow, a jump from the back of one foot to the other, as she prepares for her first competition this summer. She’s been taking lessons multiple times a week at the East Bay rink for about a year and a half, ever since she was introduced to videos of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s\u003c/a> figure skating performances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Somebody told me about Alysa Liu and how she skates, and I was just amazed by it,” she said. “I started watching all of her performances, and I was like, ‘I need to do this.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace said she wanted to take lessons at Oakland Ice Center because of Liu. It has been the Olympic star’s home rink and main training ground since she first enrolled in its “Learn to Skate” group lessons more than 15 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace also started taking group lessons through the same program and was quickly hooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I get on the ice, I feel like all my problems are gone for the day and I just am out there in my own world,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076107\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076107\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Memorabilia celebrating Olympic champion Alysa Liu hangs inside the Oakland Ice Center on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just inside the rink’s front doors in downtown Oakland, columns leading to the front desk and skate rental booths are plastered with Liu’s photo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Larger-than-life printouts of her face pop out from porthole windows around the lobby, and a series of banners highlighting milestones of her career are draped from the ceiling above the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Oakland is preparing to celebrate Liu’s homecoming from the Olympics, where she rose to global fame after earning the first gold in individual women’s skating for the U.S. since 2002, with a citywide rally expecting a turnout of 7,000 people. For the young skaters at Oakland Ice Center, though, she’s been a hometown hero for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa really inspires me,” said Haya Hayes, who has been taking lessons since she was four-and-a-half.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076106\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Phillip DiGuglielmo watches Haya Marie Hayes practice on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hayes trains with Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, through St. Moritz Ice Skating Club, which has been in the East Bay for almost a century, and has been based at Oakland Ice Center since 2006. Olympic and world champion Kristi Yamaguchi also rose through the club’s ranks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayes said she wanted to start skating after her mom showed her videos of Liu, including her favorite: “Her program when she was eight years old,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last spring, when she was also eight, Hayes said she got first place in her own competition, performing to \u003cem>Fix You \u003c/em>by Coldplay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since Liu skyrocketed to stardom in Milan earlier this year, making headlines with her bubbly demeanor, unique style and fun music choices, her influence has had ripples in the Bay Area’s ice skating community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076103\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076103\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glenn Martin, general manager of the Oakland Ice Center, sits in his office on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. Martin oversees the rink where Olympic champion Alysa Liu trained as a child and continues to practice today. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pace said more people have been coming to skate at Oakland Ice Center, and the rink’s general manager, Glenn Martin, told KQED that there have been lots of fresh faces around, hoping to learn to skate or just catch a glimpse of Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just been fully excitement,” he said from his office, where the windowsill is lined with more blown-up printouts of Liu’s face, along with framed photos of her as a young skater and other memorabilia from her career.[aside postID=news_12074589 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty3.jpg']The enthusiasm isn’t unusual, he said. Every Olympic cycle, the center sees a boost of a couple of hundred people enrolling in its programs, from hockey and curling to ice skating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We did watch parties while she was there, and we had a room full of people watching it live on TV. It was a great time and that energy has just carried right on through,” he said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just after 5 p.m., the center geared up for its first Learn to Skate classes of the evening. The rink transformed from a quiet bustle of regulars taking private lessons and free skating to a lively flood of young athletes crowded around the lobby’s benches and floors, lacing up bright white skates and pulling on ear muffs and gloves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kids hobbled around on thin blades, greeting friends and impatiently clutching the walls of the rink, watching the Zamboni machine smooth over the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Figure skating definitely grows after the Olympics, because I feel that there’s people that get inspired after watching,” said Laura Lipetsky, who has been coaching group and private lessons at Oakland Ice Center since 1995. She taught Liu’s first group lessons in 2010 and worked with her in private lessons for a decade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076105\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076105\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Banners celebrating Olympic champion Alysa Liu hang above the rink on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Liu, she said, “has been inspiring a lot of kids [to think] ‘Wow, it’s possible, and it’s someone that came from the Bay Area, the Oakland Ice Center.’” She said she’s had young students come to her and say, “I want to be a champion, too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Joyce Elangovan, 8, began skating two years ago in the same group lessons. Her mom had been a skater growing up in Minnesota, but said she had tried to keep that under wraps until Joyce started watching the sport on TV, and begged to take classes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just figured I’d let her give it a shot and see if she liked it. And she has,” Kristen \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odegaard\u003c/span> told KQED. “She’s really driven it herself. Like, despite my love for it, she really loves it herself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076102\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076102\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of the Oakland Ice Center on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. The rink is where Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu trained for years as a young skater. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Now, \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elangovan\u003c/span> also takes private lessons with Liu’s coach, DiGuglielmo, and has caught the competitive bug. Joyce grinned, remembering her last competition, when she ended her routine with a two-foot spin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It felt really good,” she said, to see her coaches and family excited for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elangovan\u003c/span> also loves getting to watch other skaters practicing at the rink — especially Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Most skaters aren’t as positive as her on the ice,” she said. “She’s always so fun and happy, and she is never hiding herself. It feels really fun to watch.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Tuesday afternoon, Mia Pace laced up her skates at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> Ice Center. The 11-year-old figure skater was antsy to get on the ice and run her program to the Barbie version of \u003cem>Perfect Day\u003c/em> by Hoku.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace said she’s working on perfecting her salchow, a jump from the back of one foot to the other, as she prepares for her first competition this summer. She’s been taking lessons multiple times a week at the East Bay rink for about a year and a half, ever since she was introduced to videos of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s\u003c/a> figure skating performances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Somebody told me about Alysa Liu and how she skates, and I was just amazed by it,” she said. “I started watching all of her performances, and I was like, ‘I need to do this.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace said she wanted to take lessons at Oakland Ice Center because of Liu. It has been the Olympic star’s home rink and main training ground since she first enrolled in its “Learn to Skate” group lessons more than 15 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pace also started taking group lessons through the same program and was quickly hooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I get on the ice, I feel like all my problems are gone for the day and I just am out there in my own world,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076107\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076107\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Memorabilia celebrating Olympic champion Alysa Liu hangs inside the Oakland Ice Center on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just inside the rink’s front doors in downtown Oakland, columns leading to the front desk and skate rental booths are plastered with Liu’s photo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Larger-than-life printouts of her face pop out from porthole windows around the lobby, and a series of banners highlighting milestones of her career are draped from the ceiling above the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Oakland is preparing to celebrate Liu’s homecoming from the Olympics, where she rose to global fame after earning the first gold in individual women’s skating for the U.S. since 2002, with a citywide rally expecting a turnout of 7,000 people. For the young skaters at Oakland Ice Center, though, she’s been a hometown hero for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa really inspires me,” said Haya Hayes, who has been taking lessons since she was four-and-a-half.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076106\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Phillip DiGuglielmo watches Haya Marie Hayes practice on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hayes trains with Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, through St. Moritz Ice Skating Club, which has been in the East Bay for almost a century, and has been based at Oakland Ice Center since 2006. Olympic and world champion Kristi Yamaguchi also rose through the club’s ranks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayes said she wanted to start skating after her mom showed her videos of Liu, including her favorite: “Her program when she was eight years old,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last spring, when she was also eight, Hayes said she got first place in her own competition, performing to \u003cem>Fix You \u003c/em>by Coldplay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since Liu skyrocketed to stardom in Milan earlier this year, making headlines with her bubbly demeanor, unique style and fun music choices, her influence has had ripples in the Bay Area’s ice skating community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076103\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076103\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glenn Martin, general manager of the Oakland Ice Center, sits in his office on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. Martin oversees the rink where Olympic champion Alysa Liu trained as a child and continues to practice today. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pace said more people have been coming to skate at Oakland Ice Center, and the rink’s general manager, Glenn Martin, told KQED that there have been lots of fresh faces around, hoping to learn to skate or just catch a glimpse of Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just been fully excitement,” he said from his office, where the windowsill is lined with more blown-up printouts of Liu’s face, along with framed photos of her as a young skater and other memorabilia from her career.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The enthusiasm isn’t unusual, he said. Every Olympic cycle, the center sees a boost of a couple of hundred people enrolling in its programs, from hockey and curling to ice skating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We did watch parties while she was there, and we had a room full of people watching it live on TV. It was a great time and that energy has just carried right on through,” he said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just after 5 p.m., the center geared up for its first Learn to Skate classes of the evening. The rink transformed from a quiet bustle of regulars taking private lessons and free skating to a lively flood of young athletes crowded around the lobby’s benches and floors, lacing up bright white skates and pulling on ear muffs and gloves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kids hobbled around on thin blades, greeting friends and impatiently clutching the walls of the rink, watching the Zamboni machine smooth over the ice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Figure skating definitely grows after the Olympics, because I feel that there’s people that get inspired after watching,” said Laura Lipetsky, who has been coaching group and private lessons at Oakland Ice Center since 1995. She taught Liu’s first group lessons in 2010 and worked with her in private lessons for a decade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076105\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076105\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Banners celebrating Olympic champion Alysa Liu hang above the rink on March 10, 2026, at the Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Liu, she said, “has been inspiring a lot of kids [to think] ‘Wow, it’s possible, and it’s someone that came from the Bay Area, the Oakland Ice Center.’” She said she’s had young students come to her and say, “I want to be a champion, too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Joyce Elangovan, 8, began skating two years ago in the same group lessons. Her mom had been a skater growing up in Minnesota, but said she had tried to keep that under wraps until Joyce started watching the sport on TV, and begged to take classes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just figured I’d let her give it a shot and see if she liked it. And she has,” Kristen \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odegaard\u003c/span> told KQED. “She’s really driven it herself. Like, despite my love for it, she really loves it herself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076102\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076102\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031026_ALYSA-LIU-OAKLAND-ICE-_GH_001-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of the Oakland Ice Center on March 10, 2026, in Oakland. The rink is where Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu trained for years as a young skater. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Now, \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elangovan\u003c/span> also takes private lessons with Liu’s coach, DiGuglielmo, and has caught the competitive bug. Joyce grinned, remembering her last competition, when she ended her routine with a two-foot spin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It felt really good,” she said, to see her coaches and family excited for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elangovan\u003c/span> also loves getting to watch other skaters practicing at the rink — especially Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Most skaters aren’t as positive as her on the ice,” she said. “She’s always so fun and happy, and she is never hiding herself. It feels really fun to watch.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "alysa-liu-celebration-oakland-city-hall-free-tickets-sold-out-parking-bag-policy-no-parade",
"title": "Oakland’s Alysa Liu Celebration: From Tickets to Parking, What to Know About Attending",
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"headTitle": "Oakland’s Alysa Liu Celebration: From Tickets to Parking, What to Know About Attending | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>On Thursday, Oakland is throwing a celebration in honor of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">hometown hero Alysa Liu\u003c/a>: the first American to win gold in women’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics in 24 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after just a few days, the event’s free tickets are \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/visitoakland/p/DVrwPeJD4ft/\">already sold out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The love for Alysa is real,” commented \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/visitoakland/p/DVrwPeJD4ft/\">the official Instagram accoun\u003c/a>t for the city of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu — who gained global attention for her bright, carefree skating performance, distinct style and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocIOHZF-888\">love for the Bay\u003c/a> — will be present at what Oakland is calling the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally, where she’s expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">speak to the crowd at the event\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075985\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-27 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 10, 2026, in Paris, France. \u003ccite>(Marc Piasecki via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This homecoming party is expected to be packed. So if you were lucky enough to reserve a spot at the much-anticipated event on Thursday, here’s what to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IstherenearbyparkingfortheAlysaLiuCelebrationRally\">Is there nearby parking for the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatstheeventsbagpolicy\">What’s the event’s bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is it too late to get a ticket for the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, yes. Anyone without a registration will not be able to attend the event as it is “at capacity and no more admission is available,” according to a spokesperson from the city of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When and where is the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event is on Thursday, at 12 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza near Oakland’s City Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland, on a cloudy day. \u003ccite>(Sundry Photography via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/#registration\">City of Oakland’s website\u003c/a> recommends people arrive early in order to secure a good viewing spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event starts at 12 p.m. and will end around 1:30 p.m., according to the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What kind of venue is Frank Ogawa Plaza?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Frank Ogawa Plaza is \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/1+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8051952,-122.2718616,3a,75y,353.95h,81.08t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICEpo3MVQ!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgpms-cs-s%2FAFfmt2ZDEjojPMq212H8pCK46AdRBoW3XNJ408HuVTI3Tv9MfU141M1tXngu6vm8TCR_J1elp9ZNeacEvER1iaJJ_cUyG8XZvAAa3htWd2RurJ8yGpXshzWIGUDhN0FGRKCgEENLtz_4%3Dw900-h600-k-no-pi8.917626792195747-ya353.9535816203126-ro0-fo100!7i7776!8i3888!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x808f80b1a03e0eb1:0x894fdebeffb22522!2s1+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612!3b1!8m2!3d37.8050974!4d-122.2718614!16s%2Fg%2F1q2whdnpx!3m5!1s0x808f80b1a03e0eb1:0x894fdebeffb22522!8m2!3d37.8050974!4d-122.2718614!16s%2Fg%2F1q2whdnpx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">an open-air venue\u003c/a>, similar to an amphitheater, which is right \u003ca href=\"http://outdoors.it\">outside\u003c/a> City Hall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland weather forecast predicts \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=37.7518&textField2=-122.232\">a sunny, bright day on Thursday afternoon\u003c/a>, so be sure to bring water to drink and wear sunscreen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Are children welcome at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes: the city is characterizing the rally as a“family-friendly community celebration welcoming fans of all ages.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children under 5 years old don’t need their own ticket to attend the event, but must be accompanied by an adult with a registered ticket.[aside postID=arts_13987431 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/alysia-liu.png']Strollers are allowed at the event but will be subjected to a security search (see below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatstheeventsbagpolicy\">\u003c/a>Is there a bag policy at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">security screening\u003c/a> for all entrants to Frank Ogawa Plaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items you cannot bring to the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Weapons like firearms, batons and pepper spray\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bladed items like pocket knives and scissors\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Explosives like fireworks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Drones or professional camera and recording gear (excluding cell phones)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser pointers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs and banners larger than 11″ x 17″ or attached to a pole/stick.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noisemakers like airhorns, whistles or megaphones\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bikes, scooters or skateboards (ADA-approved mobility devices \u003cem>are\u003c/em> allowed.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Alcohol or cannabis(and alcoholic beverages will not be sold during the event).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The city recommends that attendees bring clear bags, as they would to a concert venue, to speed up security screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any bag you bring \u003cem>cannot\u003c/em> be bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Hard-sided containers like coolers, liquids, unsealed beverages and glass bottles (excluding medical needs and infant needs) are also not allowed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How can I get to Frank Ogawa Plaza using public transportation?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Guests are \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">encouraged by the city\u003c/a> to use public transportation to reachthe homecoming celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take a BART Yellow, Orange, or Red line train and exit at 12th Street/Oakland City Center Station. After that, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/1245+Broadway,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8044928,-122.2741517,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b14f89b71b:0x541031277707a792!2m2!1d-122.2718896!2d37.8036801!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a quick 2-3 minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11986231\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11986231\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A BART train above two streets intersecting\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A BART train runs along the tracks at 59th Street and Martin Luther King Jr Way in Oakland on May 14, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re coming from a Blue or Green line train, you would need to transfer at the Lake Merritt Station and jump on an Orange Line train. You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> to customize your route.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>AC Transit \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following lines will take you right to downtown Oakland: Tempo 1T, 6, 12, 14, 18, 19, 22, 30, 40, 51A, 72, 72L, 72M, 88, and 96.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://tp.actransit.org/\">AC Transit’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> to map out your route.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IstherenearbyparkingfortheAlysaLiuCelebrationRally\">\u003c/a>Is there parking available near Frank Ogawa Plaza?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you would rather drive to the plaza, you can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1ElmaDUHqu3FLC8KMotBbQUD9x_U&%3Bll=37.806342649331874%2C-122.25653192906495&%3Bz=14&ll=37.789794246857674%2C-122.22610495&z=13\">this Google Map of parking structures in downtown Oakland\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City-run parking garages include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dalziel Garage, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Dalziel+Garage,+250+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8058819,-122.2745508,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b195180967:0xa07553e6ad4ae813!2m2!1d-122.2724138!2d37.8061888!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">2-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Franklin Plaza Garage, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Franklin+Plaza+Parking,+19th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8064408,-122.2712547,18z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b258a4016b:0x5c7fc904f48e3a0c!2m2!1d-122.2683746!2d37.8074235!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">6-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>City Center West Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/City+Center+West+Garage,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8049461,-122.2762241,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b063f85ac9:0x72b5aadec3787c93!2m2!1d-122.2756908!2d37.804547!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 7-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Franklin 88 Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Franklin+Plaza+Parking,+19th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8064408,-122.2712547,18z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b258a4016b:0x5c7fc904f48e3a0c!2m2!1d-122.2683746!2d37.8074235!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">an 8-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>1200 Harrison Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Harrison+Garage,+278+12th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.8034184,-122.2724868,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b506d7a26b:0x589d8ab3d003ec9b!2m2!1d-122.2680143!2d37.8015196!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 10-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pacific Renaissance Plaza Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Pacific+Renaissance+Plaza+Parking+Garage,+388+9th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.8029408,-122.2736874,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f815c2eeb2e09:0xa2db5cfb4b878c89!2m2!1d-122.2705972!2d37.8008528!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 10-minute walk to the plaza.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Expect these garages to fill up quickly ahead of the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will also be street parking, but it will likely be difficult during the celebration due to the number of people attending the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will there be food at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, there will be food trucks and nonalcoholic beverages sold at the event. Remember: bringing your own alcohol into the venue is not permitted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/events/annual-events/restaurant-week/\">Oakland Restaurant Week\u003c/a>, if you’d rather get something to eat after the event and take advantage of the special deals in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "On Thursday, Oakland City Hall is hosting a homecoming party for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu — and if you were lucky enough to snag tickets before they sold out, here’s what to know.",
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"title": "Oakland’s Alysa Liu Celebration: From Tickets to Parking, What to Know About Attending | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Thursday, Oakland is throwing a celebration in honor of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">hometown hero Alysa Liu\u003c/a>: the first American to win gold in women’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics in 24 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after just a few days, the event’s free tickets are \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/visitoakland/p/DVrwPeJD4ft/\">already sold out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The love for Alysa is real,” commented \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/visitoakland/p/DVrwPeJD4ft/\">the official Instagram accoun\u003c/a>t for the city of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu — who gained global attention for her bright, carefree skating performance, distinct style and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocIOHZF-888\">love for the Bay\u003c/a> — will be present at what Oakland is calling the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally, where she’s expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">speak to the crowd at the event\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075985\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265776474-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-27 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 10, 2026, in Paris, France. \u003ccite>(Marc Piasecki via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This homecoming party is expected to be packed. So if you were lucky enough to reserve a spot at the much-anticipated event on Thursday, here’s what to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IstherenearbyparkingfortheAlysaLiuCelebrationRally\">Is there nearby parking for the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatstheeventsbagpolicy\">What’s the event’s bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is it too late to get a ticket for the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, yes. Anyone without a registration will not be able to attend the event as it is “at capacity and no more admission is available,” according to a spokesperson from the city of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When and where is the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event is on Thursday, at 12 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza near Oakland’s City Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-1091535112-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland, on a cloudy day. \u003ccite>(Sundry Photography via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/#registration\">City of Oakland’s website\u003c/a> recommends people arrive early in order to secure a good viewing spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event starts at 12 p.m. and will end around 1:30 p.m., according to the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What kind of venue is Frank Ogawa Plaza?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Frank Ogawa Plaza is \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/1+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8051952,-122.2718616,3a,75y,353.95h,81.08t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICEpo3MVQ!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgpms-cs-s%2FAFfmt2ZDEjojPMq212H8pCK46AdRBoW3XNJ408HuVTI3Tv9MfU141M1tXngu6vm8TCR_J1elp9ZNeacEvER1iaJJ_cUyG8XZvAAa3htWd2RurJ8yGpXshzWIGUDhN0FGRKCgEENLtz_4%3Dw900-h600-k-no-pi8.917626792195747-ya353.9535816203126-ro0-fo100!7i7776!8i3888!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x808f80b1a03e0eb1:0x894fdebeffb22522!2s1+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612!3b1!8m2!3d37.8050974!4d-122.2718614!16s%2Fg%2F1q2whdnpx!3m5!1s0x808f80b1a03e0eb1:0x894fdebeffb22522!8m2!3d37.8050974!4d-122.2718614!16s%2Fg%2F1q2whdnpx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">an open-air venue\u003c/a>, similar to an amphitheater, which is right \u003ca href=\"http://outdoors.it\">outside\u003c/a> City Hall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland weather forecast predicts \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=37.7518&textField2=-122.232\">a sunny, bright day on Thursday afternoon\u003c/a>, so be sure to bring water to drink and wear sunscreen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Are children welcome at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes: the city is characterizing the rally as a“family-friendly community celebration welcoming fans of all ages.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children under 5 years old don’t need their own ticket to attend the event, but must be accompanied by an adult with a registered ticket.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Strollers are allowed at the event but will be subjected to a security search (see below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatstheeventsbagpolicy\">\u003c/a>Is there a bag policy at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">security screening\u003c/a> for all entrants to Frank Ogawa Plaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items you cannot bring to the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Weapons like firearms, batons and pepper spray\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bladed items like pocket knives and scissors\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Explosives like fireworks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Drones or professional camera and recording gear (excluding cell phones)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser pointers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs and banners larger than 11″ x 17″ or attached to a pole/stick.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noisemakers like airhorns, whistles or megaphones\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bikes, scooters or skateboards (ADA-approved mobility devices \u003cem>are\u003c/em> allowed.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Alcohol or cannabis(and alcoholic beverages will not be sold during the event).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The city recommends that attendees bring clear bags, as they would to a concert venue, to speed up security screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any bag you bring \u003cem>cannot\u003c/em> be bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Hard-sided containers like coolers, liquids, unsealed beverages and glass bottles (excluding medical needs and infant needs) are also not allowed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How can I get to Frank Ogawa Plaza using public transportation?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Guests are \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/alysa-liu/\">encouraged by the city\u003c/a> to use public transportation to reachthe homecoming celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take a BART Yellow, Orange, or Red line train and exit at 12th Street/Oakland City Center Station. After that, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/1245+Broadway,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8044928,-122.2741517,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b14f89b71b:0x541031277707a792!2m2!1d-122.2718896!2d37.8036801!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a quick 2-3 minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11986231\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11986231\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A BART train above two streets intersecting\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240514-EMINENTDOMAIN-25-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A BART train runs along the tracks at 59th Street and Martin Luther King Jr Way in Oakland on May 14, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re coming from a Blue or Green line train, you would need to transfer at the Lake Merritt Station and jump on an Orange Line train. You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> to customize your route.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>AC Transit \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following lines will take you right to downtown Oakland: Tempo 1T, 6, 12, 14, 18, 19, 22, 30, 40, 51A, 72, 72L, 72M, 88, and 96.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://tp.actransit.org/\">AC Transit’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> to map out your route.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IstherenearbyparkingfortheAlysaLiuCelebrationRally\">\u003c/a>Is there parking available near Frank Ogawa Plaza?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you would rather drive to the plaza, you can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1ElmaDUHqu3FLC8KMotBbQUD9x_U&%3Bll=37.806342649331874%2C-122.25653192906495&%3Bz=14&ll=37.789794246857674%2C-122.22610495&z=13\">this Google Map of parking structures in downtown Oakland\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City-run parking garages include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dalziel Garage, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Dalziel+Garage,+250+Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8058819,-122.2745508,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b195180967:0xa07553e6ad4ae813!2m2!1d-122.2724138!2d37.8061888!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">2-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Franklin Plaza Garage, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Franklin+Plaza+Parking,+19th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8064408,-122.2712547,18z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b258a4016b:0x5c7fc904f48e3a0c!2m2!1d-122.2683746!2d37.8074235!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">6-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>City Center West Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/City+Center+West+Garage,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8049461,-122.2762241,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b063f85ac9:0x72b5aadec3787c93!2m2!1d-122.2756908!2d37.804547!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 7-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Franklin 88 Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Franklin+Plaza+Parking,+19th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94612/@37.8064408,-122.2712547,18z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b258a4016b:0x5c7fc904f48e3a0c!2m2!1d-122.2683746!2d37.8074235!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">an 8-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>1200 Harrison Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Harrison+Garage,+278+12th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.8034184,-122.2724868,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b506d7a26b:0x589d8ab3d003ec9b!2m2!1d-122.2680143!2d37.8015196!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 10-minute walk to the plaza\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pacific Renaissance Plaza Garage, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Frank+H.+Ogawa+Plaza,+Oakland,+CA+94612/Pacific+Renaissance+Plaza+Parking+Garage,+388+9th+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.8029408,-122.2736874,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x808f80b678e8f087:0x514764d491c0e31c!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f80b177970b73:0x6c6eff125046238c!2m2!1d-122.2715946!2d37.8053433!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f815c2eeb2e09:0xa2db5cfb4b878c89!2m2!1d-122.2705972!2d37.8008528!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">a 10-minute walk to the plaza.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Expect these garages to fill up quickly ahead of the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will also be street parking, but it will likely be difficult during the celebration due to the number of people attending the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will there be food at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, there will be food trucks and nonalcoholic beverages sold at the event. Remember: bringing your own alcohol into the venue is not permitted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/events/annual-events/restaurant-week/\">Oakland Restaurant Week\u003c/a>, if you’d rather get something to eat after the event and take advantage of the special deals in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "macklin-celebrini-19-year-old-olympian-catapults-the-sharks-into-the-spotlight",
"title": "Macklin Celebrini, 19-year-old Olympian, Catapults the Sharks Into the Spotlight",
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"headTitle": "Macklin Celebrini, 19-year-old Olympian, Catapults the Sharks Into the Spotlight | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After his first practice with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose-sharks\">San José Sharks\u003c/a> since the Winter Olympics ended, 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini seemed taken aback by the number of cameras there to watch him play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the most media we have ever had. Ever,” he said Wednesday afternoon with a slight smile and a cut on his cheek from the international games still apparent. “It’s starting to feel like a Canadian market.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The teenage hockey player has become a breakout star for his impressive run in Milan, and his performance has made the Bay Area hyped for his return to the Sharks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the team’s chief marketing officer, Doug Bentz, individual game ticket sales for the Sharks are up 56% over last year, and Celebrini’s Team Canada jerseys sold out in less than an hour. Four of the six home games after the Olympics are almost or already sold out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would tell people, ‘If you want to come see Macklin live, get tickets as soon as possible,’” Bentz said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/real_max_miller/status/2027218208667914508?s=46&t=7BBzFwo6eYLzJIVfAlumEQ\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with being one of the youngest players in men’s ice hockey on the global stage, Celebrini led \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-celebrini-back-with-san-jose-sharks-learned-a-lot-at-olympics-in-milan\">the Olympic tournament with five goals in six games\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Jackie_Redmond/status/2024951958952370547\">a surprisingly large amount of playing time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celebrini even had American fans rooting for him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was amazing. He was playing like crazy out there,” said J’lah Johnson of Modesto, a fan of both men’s and women’s ice hockey. “I’m Canadian at heart for Celebrini!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/leavetowns/status/2027222292061999414?s=46&t=7BBzFwo6eYLzJIVfAlumEQ\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Sharks lost their first game after the Olympics on Thursday night, the excitement around Celebrini has fans starting to rank him among the Bay’s notable stars like the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and fellow Olympians \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Alysa Liu\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7355691/eileen-gu-interview-2026-olympics/\">Eileen Gu\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that energy [from Milan] still translates for us back home,” Johnson said. “Prior to the Olympics, none of my friends could name a player. But a few of them have asked me — since they know I’m really into it — ‘Oh, do you know Celebrini?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, here we go.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New attention\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Bentz, Celebrini has “exploded both locally and outside of the market.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you look over basically one year, the average daily mentions for Macklin versus his average during the Olympics” saw about a 420% increase in articles and social media posts, Bentz said. The Sharks’ own social media engagement went up as well, despite not posting as much during the Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States blocks a shot by Macklin Celebrini #17 of Team Canada during the Men’s Gold Medal match on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. \u003ccite>(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Devoted Sharks fans seemed shocked by the newfound attention and by the fact that Sharks in-jokes have \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/dewties/status/2026104664668639461?s=46&t=7BBzFwo6eYLzJIVfAlumEQ\">“breached containment.”\u003c/a> A major example: A team-sponsored fundraiser where fellow player Will Smith \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJ_Xj7EhJ9/\">seemingly volunteered Celebrini\u003c/a> for an \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Frost_Cupcake/status/2026354390924407265?s=20\">“elevated cupcake experience”\u003c/a> at a San José bakery right after Canada’s loss to the U.S. in the gold medal game has become a meme-worthy moment, with posts about it attracting over \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@butterflybridgers/video/7609885938067574029\">259,000 likes on TikTok\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New fans\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hockey has seen an uptick of interest among the American mainstream audience, especially after the success of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5637480\">the television series \u003cem>Heated Rivalry\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, the Olympics and gold from both U.S. men’s and women’s teams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the American men’s ice hockey team is also facing some backlash after players celebrated their win \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/02/25/nx-s1-5724942/fbi-directors-leadership-questioned-after-partying-with-the-us-mens-hockey-team\">with FBI Director Kash Patel \u003c/a>and laughed at a comment made by President Donald Trump that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/25/sport/hilary-knight-president-trump-distasteful-joke\">slighted the women’s team\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074937\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left to right) Silver medalists Bo Horvat #14, Macklin Celebrini #17 and Thomas Harley #20 of Team Canada react during the medal ceremony following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When thinking about new fans who are just getting into hockey, Johnson said that “this is still one of the most conservative sports and has not always been super open.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She recommended that fans “find your community within the community,” and noted that there is a growing number of LGBTQ+ fans and fans of color, “so our voices are a little bit more heard, whether it’s on social media or in person.”[aside postID=news_12074589 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty3.jpg']Old and new fans alike are waiting to see if the Sharks, with their talented young roster, have what it takes to make it to the playoffs this year — something \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-sharks-celebrini-askarov-nedeljkovic-playoffs/\">they haven’t done since 2019.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation has also added pressure on the teen player, which made some fans worried for him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For his part, Celebrini said on Wednesday he is “excited to start playing again” with the Sharks and bring the mindset he’s learned from some of the best players at the Olympics to San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’ll be hoping for a turnaround after Canada’s silver-medal finish, a feeling that he said will stick with him forever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of those guys I looked up to my whole childhood, and it was an honor to play with them and be around them every single day,” the Vancouver-born athlete said. “But it sucks. It’s a little sour that you look back at it and just didn’t get the job done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "Macklin Celebrini, 19-year-old Olympian, Catapults the Sharks Into the Spotlight | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After his first practice with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose-sharks\">San José Sharks\u003c/a> since the Winter Olympics ended, 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini seemed taken aback by the number of cameras there to watch him play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the most media we have ever had. Ever,” he said Wednesday afternoon with a slight smile and a cut on his cheek from the international games still apparent. “It’s starting to feel like a Canadian market.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The teenage hockey player has become a breakout star for his impressive run in Milan, and his performance has made the Bay Area hyped for his return to the Sharks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the team’s chief marketing officer, Doug Bentz, individual game ticket sales for the Sharks are up 56% over last year, and Celebrini’s Team Canada jerseys sold out in less than an hour. Four of the six home games after the Olympics are almost or already sold out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would tell people, ‘If you want to come see Macklin live, get tickets as soon as possible,’” Bentz said.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Along with being one of the youngest players in men’s ice hockey on the global stage, Celebrini led \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-celebrini-back-with-san-jose-sharks-learned-a-lot-at-olympics-in-milan\">the Olympic tournament with five goals in six games\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Jackie_Redmond/status/2024951958952370547\">a surprisingly large amount of playing time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celebrini even had American fans rooting for him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was amazing. He was playing like crazy out there,” said J’lah Johnson of Modesto, a fan of both men’s and women’s ice hockey. “I’m Canadian at heart for Celebrini!”\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>While the Sharks lost their first game after the Olympics on Thursday night, the excitement around Celebrini has fans starting to rank him among the Bay’s notable stars like the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and fellow Olympians \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074589/olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate\">Alysa Liu\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7355691/eileen-gu-interview-2026-olympics/\">Eileen Gu\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that energy [from Milan] still translates for us back home,” Johnson said. “Prior to the Olympics, none of my friends could name a player. But a few of them have asked me — since they know I’m really into it — ‘Oh, do you know Celebrini?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, here we go.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New attention\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Bentz, Celebrini has “exploded both locally and outside of the market.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you look over basically one year, the average daily mentions for Macklin versus his average during the Olympics” saw about a 420% increase in articles and social media posts, Bentz said. The Sharks’ own social media engagement went up as well, despite not posting as much during the Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-2-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States blocks a shot by Macklin Celebrini #17 of Team Canada during the Men’s Gold Medal match on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. \u003ccite>(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Devoted Sharks fans seemed shocked by the newfound attention and by the fact that Sharks in-jokes have \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/dewties/status/2026104664668639461?s=46&t=7BBzFwo6eYLzJIVfAlumEQ\">“breached containment.”\u003c/a> A major example: A team-sponsored fundraiser where fellow player Will Smith \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJ_Xj7EhJ9/\">seemingly volunteered Celebrini\u003c/a> for an \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Frost_Cupcake/status/2026354390924407265?s=20\">“elevated cupcake experience”\u003c/a> at a San José bakery right after Canada’s loss to the U.S. in the gold medal game has become a meme-worthy moment, with posts about it attracting over \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@butterflybridgers/video/7609885938067574029\">259,000 likes on TikTok\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>New fans\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hockey has seen an uptick of interest among the American mainstream audience, especially after the success of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5637480\">the television series \u003cem>Heated Rivalry\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, the Olympics and gold from both U.S. men’s and women’s teams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the American men’s ice hockey team is also facing some backlash after players celebrated their win \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/02/25/nx-s1-5724942/fbi-directors-leadership-questioned-after-partying-with-the-us-mens-hockey-team\">with FBI Director Kash Patel \u003c/a>and laughed at a comment made by President Donald Trump that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/25/sport/hilary-knight-president-trump-distasteful-joke\">slighted the women’s team\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074937\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/Macklin-Celebrini-Getty-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left to right) Silver medalists Bo Horvat #14, Macklin Celebrini #17 and Thomas Harley #20 of Team Canada react during the medal ceremony following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When thinking about new fans who are just getting into hockey, Johnson said that “this is still one of the most conservative sports and has not always been super open.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She recommended that fans “find your community within the community,” and noted that there is a growing number of LGBTQ+ fans and fans of color, “so our voices are a little bit more heard, whether it’s on social media or in person.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Old and new fans alike are waiting to see if the Sharks, with their talented young roster, have what it takes to make it to the playoffs this year — something \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-sharks-celebrini-askarov-nedeljkovic-playoffs/\">they haven’t done since 2019.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation has also added pressure on the teen player, which made some fans worried for him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For his part, Celebrini said on Wednesday he is “excited to start playing again” with the Sharks and bring the mindset he’s learned from some of the best players at the Olympics to San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’ll be hoping for a turnaround after Canada’s silver-medal finish, a feeling that he said will stick with him forever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of those guys I looked up to my whole childhood, and it was an honor to play with them and be around them every single day,” the Vancouver-born athlete said. “But it sucks. It’s a little sour that you look back at it and just didn’t get the job done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "olympic-star-alysa-liu-is-back-in-the-bay-and-oakland-is-ready-to-celebrate",
"title": "Olympic Star Alysa Liu Is Back in the Bay, and Oakland Is Ready to Celebrate",
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"headTitle": "Olympic Star Alysa Liu Is Back in the Bay, and Oakland Is Ready to Celebrate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>With \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu\u003c/a> headed back to Oakland after a historic run in Milan, the Town is ready to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city of Oakland announced Tuesday that it will host a community-wide celebration, joining a flood of Bay Area locals celebrating the 20-year-old figure skater’s childhood roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, who grew up in Richmond and has trained in Oakland throughout her career, won the U.S.’s first gold medal in women’s singles skating in more than 20 years and helped the U.S. team to another with her short program performance last week. With the wins, she’s also secured a third title: “Oakland’s hometown hero,” the city crowned her in an Instagram post on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa represents the heart, grit, resilience, and joy of Oakland,” the post said, which promised that the city is coordinating with Liu’s team to set a date for the celebration. “Her achievement has filled our city with pride.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last week, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee told KQED that Liu is an inspiration to the city’s youth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re so excited about this historic win and excited for her,” Lee said. “She is a wonderful young lady who has a very promising future. And once again, she is an example of Oakland and our town and what we do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040970\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12040970 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Barbara Lee speaks to supporters after being sworn in as Mayor of Oakland at Oakland City Hall on May 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While details on the upcoming celebration are sparse, praise for the young star — whose\u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/alysa-liu-figure-skating-gen-z-olympics-style-hair-11911041\"> Gen Z style\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://pitchfork.com/news/alysa-liu-skates-to-pinkpantheress-at-olympic-gala/\">untraditional music choices\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU9Jl_1kmCn/\">unfiltered post-skate celebration\u003c/a> have captured attention across the country — is not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-based Fentons Creamery said Liu will enjoy ice cream for life following her free skate performance to Donna Summer’s disco cover of “MacArthur Park Suite” last week, and offered to host a homecoming party when she returned to the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The sundaes are on standby,” the shop, which has operated in Oakland for more than 130 years, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DU91b36jhzF/\">wrote on Instagram\u003c/a>. “Oakland shows up for its own.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu was 5 when she was first introduced to skating at the Oakland Ice Center, and continued to train at the club throughout much of her professional career, until announcing her retirement in 2022.[aside postID=news_12072038 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty1.jpg']After she placed sixth at the Beijing Olympic Games that year, she said in a now-deleted social media post that she was “finally done with her goals” in the sport after more than a decade full of “a lot of good and a lot of bad.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/02/02/alysa-liu-oakland-ice-center-figure-skating/#:~:text=Liu%2C%20who%20was%20raised%20in%20the%20East,2025%2C%20and%20the%20skater%20is%20fresh%20off\">told the \u003cem>Oaklandside\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she was burned out and no longer found joy in skating when she quit. But in 2024, she told the publication, she was reminded of her love for the sport after a skiing trip and decided to return to the ice — and the Oakland Ice Center, where she’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7058855/2026/02/19/alysa-liu-olympics-oakland-watch-party-figure-skating/\">again trained\u003c/a> over the last two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While she was in Milan, the rink hosted \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DU9DgWIEnrF/?hl=en&img_index=1\">viewing parties\u003c/a> for her events and praised her winnings on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are so proud to share the ice with you,” a social media post said last week from the Oakland Ice Center and Oakland Skates Ice Hockey, a semi-pro team that uses the rink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART also gave her a shoutout after that performance, congratulating the “BART rider and Oakland legend.” The post clips a news article about Liu, which said she often took the public transit system to get from the East Bay to San Francisco for training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/bart.gov/post/3mfamwo5ljk2l\">Commenters on Bluesky\u003c/a> were quick to point out her connection, too, to San Francisco’s public transit system: When Muni’s L-Taraval train relaunched after five years of renovations in September 2024, Liu recorded a bilingual message in Mandarin and English for returning riders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074616\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074616 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu performs her routine, which won the gold medal, during the Women’s Singles Skating competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 2026 on Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Tim Clayton/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“From welcoming riders on the L-Taraval to standing atop the Olympic podium … Huge congratulations to the Bay Area’s own Alysa Liu,” the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU_eb0cASf8/\">wrote\u003c/a>, joining the bandwagon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-raised football star Marshawn Lynch also sent encouragement to Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Go out there and win some gold, bring that sh-t back to the Town man,” Lynch, who played multiple seasons with the Oakland Raiders, said in a video posted to social media. “Town business, show them what you’re talking about.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last Thursday, after her free skate performance launched her to the top of the singles competition leaderboard, Liu returned the love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oakland shoutout,” she said as she skated toward the cameras, beaming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "Olympic Star Alysa Liu Is Back in the Bay, and Oakland Is Ready to Celebrate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073916/oaklands-alysa-liu-gives-the-us-its-first-womens-figure-skating-olympic-gold-in-24-years\">Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu\u003c/a> headed back to Oakland after a historic run in Milan, the Town is ready to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city of Oakland announced Tuesday that it will host a community-wide celebration, joining a flood of Bay Area locals celebrating the 20-year-old figure skater’s childhood roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu, who grew up in Richmond and has trained in Oakland throughout her career, won the U.S.’s first gold medal in women’s singles skating in more than 20 years and helped the U.S. team to another with her short program performance last week. With the wins, she’s also secured a third title: “Oakland’s hometown hero,” the city crowned her in an Instagram post on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alysa represents the heart, grit, resilience, and joy of Oakland,” the post said, which promised that the city is coordinating with Liu’s team to set a date for the celebration. “Her achievement has filled our city with pride.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last week, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee told KQED that Liu is an inspiration to the city’s youth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re so excited about this historic win and excited for her,” Lee said. “She is a wonderful young lady who has a very promising future. And once again, she is an example of Oakland and our town and what we do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040970\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12040970 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250520-BARBARA-LEE-SWORN-IN-MD-03-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Barbara Lee speaks to supporters after being sworn in as Mayor of Oakland at Oakland City Hall on May 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While details on the upcoming celebration are sparse, praise for the young star — whose\u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/alysa-liu-figure-skating-gen-z-olympics-style-hair-11911041\"> Gen Z style\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://pitchfork.com/news/alysa-liu-skates-to-pinkpantheress-at-olympic-gala/\">untraditional music choices\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU9Jl_1kmCn/\">unfiltered post-skate celebration\u003c/a> have captured attention across the country — is not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-based Fentons Creamery said Liu will enjoy ice cream for life following her free skate performance to Donna Summer’s disco cover of “MacArthur Park Suite” last week, and offered to host a homecoming party when she returned to the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The sundaes are on standby,” the shop, which has operated in Oakland for more than 130 years, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DU91b36jhzF/\">wrote on Instagram\u003c/a>. “Oakland shows up for its own.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu was 5 when she was first introduced to skating at the Oakland Ice Center, and continued to train at the club throughout much of her professional career, until announcing her retirement in 2022.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>After she placed sixth at the Beijing Olympic Games that year, she said in a now-deleted social media post that she was “finally done with her goals” in the sport after more than a decade full of “a lot of good and a lot of bad.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/02/02/alysa-liu-oakland-ice-center-figure-skating/#:~:text=Liu%2C%20who%20was%20raised%20in%20the%20East,2025%2C%20and%20the%20skater%20is%20fresh%20off\">told the \u003cem>Oaklandside\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she was burned out and no longer found joy in skating when she quit. But in 2024, she told the publication, she was reminded of her love for the sport after a skiing trip and decided to return to the ice — and the Oakland Ice Center, where she’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7058855/2026/02/19/alysa-liu-olympics-oakland-watch-party-figure-skating/\">again trained\u003c/a> over the last two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While she was in Milan, the rink hosted \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DU9DgWIEnrF/?hl=en&img_index=1\">viewing parties\u003c/a> for her events and praised her winnings on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are so proud to share the ice with you,” a social media post said last week from the Oakland Ice Center and Oakland Skates Ice Hockey, a semi-pro team that uses the rink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART also gave her a shoutout after that performance, congratulating the “BART rider and Oakland legend.” The post clips a news article about Liu, which said she often took the public transit system to get from the East Bay to San Francisco for training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/bart.gov/post/3mfamwo5ljk2l\">Commenters on Bluesky\u003c/a> were quick to point out her connection, too, to San Francisco’s public transit system: When Muni’s L-Taraval train relaunched after five years of renovations in September 2024, Liu recorded a bilingual message in Mandarin and English for returning riders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074616\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074616 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/AlysaLiuGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu performs her routine, which won the gold medal, during the Women’s Singles Skating competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 2026 on Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Tim Clayton/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“From welcoming riders on the L-Taraval to standing atop the Olympic podium … Huge congratulations to the Bay Area’s own Alysa Liu,” the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU_eb0cASf8/\">wrote\u003c/a>, joining the bandwagon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-raised football star Marshawn Lynch also sent encouragement to Liu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Go out there and win some gold, bring that sh-t back to the Town man,” Lynch, who played multiple seasons with the Oakland Raiders, said in a video posted to social media. “Town business, show them what you’re talking about.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last Thursday, after her free skate performance launched her to the top of the singles competition leaderboard, Liu returned the love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oakland shoutout,” she said as she skated toward the cameras, beaming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "this-stanford-student-and-top-us-speedskater-is-aiming-for-gold-at-2026-winter-olympics",
"title": "This Stanford Student and Top US Speedskater Is Aiming for Gold at 2026 Winter Olympics",
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"headTitle": "This Stanford Student and Top US Speedskater Is Aiming for Gold at 2026 Winter Olympics | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>For most student-athletes, the balancing act between exams and training is part of the job. But for Brandon Kim, a rising senior at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> studying computer science, he calls himself a full-time student first, who still makes time to go for gold at this year’s Milan Cortina \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/winter-olympics\">Winter Olympics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My journey to where I am now is totally different from what a traditional skater or athlete might be,” said Kim, who was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia. “When I’m at school, I don’t have access to an ice rink.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kim, 24, is among the 20 or so athletes with Bay Area ties who are competing in the Winter Games. He has been speedskating since he was a kid, and at 20 years old, he went on to become the top-ranked American skater in the world, entering the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2022 at No. 29. During those trials, he suffered crashes during the finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kim persevered, and now he’s finally headed to the Olympics. He described his passion for speedskating and what he plans to see in Italy off the ice, in conversation with KQED morning news host Brian Watt. Here’s an excerpt of their conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brian Watt: How would you describe speedskating? What is happening on the ice?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brandon Kim:\u003c/strong> We’re racing in a pack. We have 17-inch blades. We’re turning around the corner, leaning at crazy angles and going up to speeds of 30 miles per hour. I’m a short-track speed skater, so I compete inside like an Olympic-size rink, which is like a regular public rink. Our races consist of a lot of strategy. It’s definitely the more exciting version of speedskating compared to long track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Short track seems intense, almost like the sprint on a typical track and field-like track, versus the longer distances, where you have to watch for a while.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s like watching paint dry. I guess the general consensus among short trackers is that long track is boring, and it’s easier because you don’t have to pass people and things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072695\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072695\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brandon Kim of the United States competes in the men’s 500-meter heats during the ISU Short Track World Tour, Montreal, at Aréna Maurice-Richard on Oct. 9, 2025, in Montreal, Quebec. \u003ccite>( Sarah Stier/International Skating Union via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I have to admit, I barely learned to ice skate. The idea of going that fast, like with any speed whatsoever, terrifies me. So, how did you get into it, and how did you maybe get over a fear of going fast?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I started when I was 9 or 10 years old, after watching the [2010] Vancouver Olympics. I thought just the speed that the athletes were going at and turning and racing seemed exciting. And there were a few teams around my area, so I just started out that way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Your dream has been to make it to the Olympics. And you got really close, right before the 2022 Beijing Games. Can you talk a little bit more about that?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We qualify for Olympic spots based on our performance at World Cup competitions prior to the Olympics. I had earned those spots, but unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble at the Olympic Trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I fell like five times. It was a difficult competition for me. With short track, you never know what will happen because you’re racing in a group. You’re passing different people, so there can be a lot of collisions.[aside postID=news_12072038 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty1.jpg']\u003cstrong>You are going to make your Olympic debut, and you’re also a full-time student at Stanford. When you are studying? And training for competitions, what does a typical day look like for you?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m not like a student athlete. I wasn’t recruited to Stanford for short track or anything like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When I’m at school, I prioritize my academics. I do a lot of weight lifting and training by myself because there’s no ice rink at Stanford. So, when I go out to compete, I fly out like Wednesday and then start competing on Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having just one or two days to acclimate myself and compete again, it’s something that not many, if any skaters, have done. Being away from the ice yet being able to compete at the highest level brings up my confidence and sets me apart from different athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>As you join Team USA in speedskating, competing alongside people like Jordan Stoltz, what’s going through your mind?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I just want to take it one race at a time and make sure my preparation from now until we start racing is as good as possible. I don’t want to let the pressure overwhelm me or anything like that. I just want to skate my own race and give it all I got.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are you looking forward to doing in Italy that is not speed skating?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the Olympic Village, I’m looking forward to looking at the Duomo di Milano. We had the test event at the Olympic facility last year, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to check it out. So this time, I want to be able to get a look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For most student-athletes, the balancing act between exams and training is part of the job. But for Brandon Kim, a rising senior at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> studying computer science, he calls himself a full-time student first, who still makes time to go for gold at this year’s Milan Cortina \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/winter-olympics\">Winter Olympics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My journey to where I am now is totally different from what a traditional skater or athlete might be,” said Kim, who was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia. “When I’m at school, I don’t have access to an ice rink.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kim, 24, is among the 20 or so athletes with Bay Area ties who are competing in the Winter Games. He has been speedskating since he was a kid, and at 20 years old, he went on to become the top-ranked American skater in the world, entering the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2022 at No. 29. During those trials, he suffered crashes during the finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kim persevered, and now he’s finally headed to the Olympics. He described his passion for speedskating and what he plans to see in Italy off the ice, in conversation with KQED morning news host Brian Watt. Here’s an excerpt of their conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brian Watt: How would you describe speedskating? What is happening on the ice?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Brandon Kim:\u003c/strong> We’re racing in a pack. We have 17-inch blades. We’re turning around the corner, leaning at crazy angles and going up to speeds of 30 miles per hour. I’m a short-track speed skater, so I compete inside like an Olympic-size rink, which is like a regular public rink. Our races consist of a lot of strategy. It’s definitely the more exciting version of speedskating compared to long track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Short track seems intense, almost like the sprint on a typical track and field-like track, versus the longer distances, where you have to watch for a while.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s like watching paint dry. I guess the general consensus among short trackers is that long track is boring, and it’s easier because you don’t have to pass people and things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072695\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072695\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/BrandonKimOlympicsGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brandon Kim of the United States competes in the men’s 500-meter heats during the ISU Short Track World Tour, Montreal, at Aréna Maurice-Richard on Oct. 9, 2025, in Montreal, Quebec. \u003ccite>( Sarah Stier/International Skating Union via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I have to admit, I barely learned to ice skate. The idea of going that fast, like with any speed whatsoever, terrifies me. So, how did you get into it, and how did you maybe get over a fear of going fast?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I started when I was 9 or 10 years old, after watching the [2010] Vancouver Olympics. I thought just the speed that the athletes were going at and turning and racing seemed exciting. And there were a few teams around my area, so I just started out that way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Your dream has been to make it to the Olympics. And you got really close, right before the 2022 Beijing Games. Can you talk a little bit more about that?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We qualify for Olympic spots based on our performance at World Cup competitions prior to the Olympics. I had earned those spots, but unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble at the Olympic Trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I fell like five times. It was a difficult competition for me. With short track, you never know what will happen because you’re racing in a group. You’re passing different people, so there can be a lot of collisions.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You are going to make your Olympic debut, and you’re also a full-time student at Stanford. When you are studying? And training for competitions, what does a typical day look like for you?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m not like a student athlete. I wasn’t recruited to Stanford for short track or anything like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When I’m at school, I prioritize my academics. I do a lot of weight lifting and training by myself because there’s no ice rink at Stanford. So, when I go out to compete, I fly out like Wednesday and then start competing on Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having just one or two days to acclimate myself and compete again, it’s something that not many, if any skaters, have done. Being away from the ice yet being able to compete at the highest level brings up my confidence and sets me apart from different athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>As you join Team USA in speedskating, competing alongside people like Jordan Stoltz, what’s going through your mind?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I just want to take it one race at a time and make sure my preparation from now until we start racing is as good as possible. I don’t want to let the pressure overwhelm me or anything like that. I just want to skate my own race and give it all I got.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are you looking forward to doing in Italy that is not speed skating?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the Olympic Village, I’m looking forward to looking at the Duomo di Milano. We had the test event at the Olympic facility last year, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to check it out. So this time, I want to be able to get a look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "2026-winter-olympics-how-to-watch-bay-area-athletes-tahoe-figure-skating-skiing-snowboarding-cortina",
"title": "Meet the Bay Area Athletes Competing at the Winter Olympics",
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"headTitle": "Meet the Bay Area Athletes Competing at the Winter Olympics | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The 2026 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/winter-olympics\">Winter Olympics\u003c/a> are almost here, with a Feb. 6 kickoff — and this year’s squad of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> athletes is a force to be reckoned with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some are trend-setting Gen Z athletes, others are seasoned international pros, and many are both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll be showing off their stuff starting this week, so to help you follow along, we’ve compiled a list of all of the athletes who are from or have strong ties to the Bay Area so you can cheer them on from the comfort of your own home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, jump straight to information on \u003ca href=\"#howtowatchthe2026WinterOlympicGames\">how to watch the 2026 Winter Olympic Games\u003c/a> and what’s new for this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Figure skating: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making an iconic comeback this year is \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7362679/alysa-liu-skating-olympics-2026-interview/\">\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: the Clovis-born Oakland-dwelling young figure skating phenom who became the youngest U.S. women’s champion when she was just 13 and took 6th place on the podium at the Beijing Olympics. After retiring at 16 to live a normal teenage life, Liu announced her return to competition in 2024 and went on to win the 2025 World Championships.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072302\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072302 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu of Team United States trains on day minus four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 2, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San José ice dancer \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/anthony-ponomarenko-olympic-dreams/4008998/\">\u003cstrong>Anthony Ponomarenko\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> will be taking the ice with his longtime skating partner, Christina Carreira. Ponomarenko comes from a family of Olympians, as the son of two Russian ice dancing medalists (and whose mother set him up with Carreira 12 years ago).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Alpine skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This year’s U.S. Alpine Ski Team is chock full of Bay Area and Lake Tahoe-area athletes, including San Francisco native \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcra.com/article/bay-area-alpine-skier-nina-obrien-milano-cortina-olympics/69961916\">\u003cstrong>Nina O’Brien\u003c/strong>,\u003c/a> who’s returning to ski racing after breaking her leg at the last Games in 2022 and then again in 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Brien, like many others, did most of her early career training at Palisades Tahoe. Other Sierra-based athletes include Tahoe City resident and three-time Olympian \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdSavAbMzi4\">\u003cstrong>Bryce Bennett\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, who will be competing in speed events as a new dad, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/tahoe-skiers-best-friends-keely-cashman-aj-hurt/4021554/\">two-time Olympians and close friends\u003c/a> \u003cstrong>Keely Cashman, \u003c/strong>from Strawberry, and \u003cstrong>AJ Hurt,\u003c/strong> from Carnelian Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072320\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nina O’Brien of Team United States in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom on Jan. 24, 2026, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic. \u003ccite>(Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lilalapanja.com/meet-lila\">\u003cstrong>Lila Lapanja,\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> who will be competing for Team Slovenia and trained for most of her childhood at Diamond Peak in Incline Village (full disclosure: alongside this story’s author!).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lapanja has been a high-level competitor on the world ski racing circuit since 2017, but an Olympic appearance has eluded her — until now.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Snowboarding: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Speaking of Tahoe-area medalists, keep an eye out for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/sports/jamie-anderson-motherhood-2026/4010644/\">\u003cstrong>Jamie Anderson\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> of South Lake Tahoe, a mother of two and slopestyle champion — the first woman to win more than one gold in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1369\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4-1536x1051.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jamie Anderson of Team United States competes in the Aspen Snowmass Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Qualifiers during the Toyota US Grand Prix 2026 at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort on Jan. 8, 2026, in Aspen, Colorado. \u003ccite>(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Making their Olympic debuts this year are Truckee-raised athletes \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5n6eXViO4s\">\u003cstrong>Hanna Percy\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, competing in snowboard cross, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/news/hahna-norman-rise\">\u003cstrong>Hahna Norman\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, headed to Italy for slopestyle and big air competitions after she barely missed the 2022 games due to an ACL tear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Freestyle skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the freestyle skiing side, Stanford is sending two athletes to the Games this year, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/03/team-gb-zoe-atkin-winter-olympics-2026-ski-halfpipe\">\u003cstrong>Zoe Atkin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>who came ninth in Beijing and won this year’s X Games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072323\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072323 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China participates in slopestyle training on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 4, 2026, in Livigno, Italy. \u003ccite>(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She’ll be going up against classmate \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/freeskier-eileen-gu-takes-another-wild-ride-to-21327283.php\">\u003cstrong>Eileen Gu\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>born and raised in San Francisco, but who is once again competing for Team China. Gu’s earlier decision not to compete for Team USA in the 2022 Olympics \u003ca href=\"https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/02/03/cold-warrior-why-eileen-gu-ditched-team-usa-to-ski-for-china\">drew some measure of controversy\u003c/a>, especially after she earned three medals, including two golds, one in big air and the other in halfpipe. At just 18, Gu became the youngest Olympic gold medalist ever in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And at just 15 years old, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierrasun.com/news/15-year-old-freeskier-takes-truckee-to-winter-olympic-stage/\">\u003cstrong>Abby Winterberger\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> of Truckee, directly qualified to the Games for freeski halfpipe, bypassing the typical pathways after a fiery run earlier this year in Colorado.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cross-country skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yet \u003cem>another \u003c/em>Stanford athlete, \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/01/sammy-smith-winter-olympics-cross-country-skiing\">\u003cstrong>Sammy Smith\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>qualified for the Olympics — just two months after her soccer season as a starting defender for the Cardinal ended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith will be joined in Italy by Truckee native \u003ca href=\"https://www.moonshineink.com/sports/nordic-king-qa-with-jc-schoonmaker/\">\u003cstrong>JC Schoonmaker\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, who’ll be returning for his second Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072326\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sammy Smith of Team United States takes part in a training session on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on Feb. 4, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. \u003ccite>(Lars Baron/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Biathlon: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Biathlete \u003cstrong>Joanne Reid\u003c/strong>, born in Palo Alto, is back for her third Games after becoming a major voice \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/biathlon-sexual-harassment-female-athletes-investigation-b5c09737637b10f2f6bc5093ee950529\">unveiling allegations of ongoing sexual harassment in her team\u003c/a>. Reid comes from a family of Olympians, with a mom who’s a bronze medalist in speed skating and an uncle who’s a five-time gold medalist in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Speedskating: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nss3H9aS0ac\">\u003cstrong>Brandon Kim\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, a rising senior at Stanford University majoring in computer science on the pre-med track\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>is the athlete to watch in this intense short-distance sport — even though he doesn’t even have a rink to practice on at Stanford while he’s dedicated to his studies. This is Kim’s first Olympic Games, and his most competitive event is the 500-meter race.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Ice hockey: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A handful of players on the San José Sharks made their respective countries’ teams. These include \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-pavol-regenda-named-to-team-slovakia-s-2026-olympic-roster\">\u003cstrong>Pavol Regenda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, representing Team Slovakia, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-philipp-kurashev-named-to-team-switzerland-s-2026-olympic-roster\">\u003cstrong>Philipp Kurashev\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Switzerland, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-alexander-wennberg-named-to-team-sweden-s-2026-olympic-roster#:~:text=Sharks%20forward%20Alexander%20Wennberg%20named%20to%20team%20Sweden's%202026%20Olympic%20roster,-January%2002%2C%202026&text=San%20Jose%20Sharks%20forward%20Alexander,the%20Swedish%20Ice%20Hockey%20Association.\">\u003cstrong>Alexander Wennberg\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Sweden and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-celebrini-earned-his-spot-on-canada-for-olympics\">\u003cstrong>Macklin Celebrini\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Canada. While it’s Regenda’s second Olympics, after he won bronze for Slovakia in 2022, it’ll be the first Games for the rest of the squad.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Sled hockey: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Paralympian and Daly City resident \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/sports/beijing-winter-olympics/one-on-one-with-jen-lee-sled-hockey-gold-medalist-from-daly-city/2740018/\">\u003cstrong>Jen Lee\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> is coming back for his fourth — and possibly final — Paralympic Games as the goalie for Team USA’s sled hockey team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072324\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072324\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1402\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6-1536x1077.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jen Lee #32 of Team United States celebrates with teammates after defeating Team Canada during the Para Ice Hockey Gold Medal game on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at the National Indoor Stadium on March 13, 2022, in Beijing, China. Team United States defeated Team Canada 5-0. \u003ccite>(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lee is somewhat of a dominator on the ice, having won gold in all three of his Paralympic appearances and having zero goals scored against him in Beijing. Lee is also a military veteran and came into the sport during rehab after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident while on leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howtowatchthe2026WinterOlympicGames\">\u003c/a>How to watch the 2026 Olympic Games\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place in Northern Italy, split between hubs in Milan for indoor sports and Cortina d’Ampezzo for outdoor mountain sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the opening ceremony isn’t until Friday, the first events actually begin on Wednesday, kicking off with some alpine ski training and preliminary curling events. Paralympic Winter Olympic Games events will start on March 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one new sport premiering at the 2026 Olympics: \u003ca href=\"https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/sports/ski-mountaineering\">ski mountaineering\u003c/a>, affectionately nicknamed “SkiMo.” It’s a mix between cross-country, backcountry and alpine skiing, featuring sprint and relay events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The full schedule of Olympic and Paralympic events is listed on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule\">NBC Olympic website\u003c/a>. You can tune in via \u003ca href=\"http://nbcolympics.com\">NBCOlympics.com\u003c/a> or with a subscription to streaming service \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/olympics?cid=2602olywntrnbsperndedi27332&utm_campaign=2602olywntr&utm_source=nbcs_nbcspts_st-sv&utm_medium=ernd_edi_seoopt_bnr&utm_term=nbcsportssitevistors&utm_content=winterolympics2026\">Peacock\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Alysa Liu’s hometown.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Find out how to tune into coverage of local athletes going for gold in Italy.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The 2026 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/winter-olympics\">Winter Olympics\u003c/a> are almost here, with a Feb. 6 kickoff — and this year’s squad of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> athletes is a force to be reckoned with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some are trend-setting Gen Z athletes, others are seasoned international pros, and many are both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll be showing off their stuff starting this week, so to help you follow along, we’ve compiled a list of all of the athletes who are from or have strong ties to the Bay Area so you can cheer them on from the comfort of your own home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, jump straight to information on \u003ca href=\"#howtowatchthe2026WinterOlympicGames\">how to watch the 2026 Winter Olympic Games\u003c/a> and what’s new for this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Figure skating: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making an iconic comeback this year is \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7362679/alysa-liu-skating-olympics-2026-interview/\">\u003cstrong>Alysa Liu\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: the Clovis-born Oakland-dwelling young figure skating phenom who became the youngest U.S. women’s champion when she was just 13 and took 6th place on the podium at the Beijing Olympics. After retiring at 16 to live a normal teenage life, Liu announced her return to competition in 2024 and went on to win the 2025 World Championships.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072302\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072302 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alysa Liu of Team United States trains on day minus four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 2, 2026, in Milan, Italy. \u003ccite>(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San José ice dancer \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/anthony-ponomarenko-olympic-dreams/4008998/\">\u003cstrong>Anthony Ponomarenko\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> will be taking the ice with his longtime skating partner, Christina Carreira. Ponomarenko comes from a family of Olympians, as the son of two Russian ice dancing medalists (and whose mother set him up with Carreira 12 years ago).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Alpine skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This year’s U.S. Alpine Ski Team is chock full of Bay Area and Lake Tahoe-area athletes, including San Francisco native \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcra.com/article/bay-area-alpine-skier-nina-obrien-milano-cortina-olympics/69961916\">\u003cstrong>Nina O’Brien\u003c/strong>,\u003c/a> who’s returning to ski racing after breaking her leg at the last Games in 2022 and then again in 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Brien, like many others, did most of her early career training at Palisades Tahoe. Other Sierra-based athletes include Tahoe City resident and three-time Olympian \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdSavAbMzi4\">\u003cstrong>Bryce Bennett\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, who will be competing in speed events as a new dad, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/tahoe-skiers-best-friends-keely-cashman-aj-hurt/4021554/\">two-time Olympians and close friends\u003c/a> \u003cstrong>Keely Cashman, \u003c/strong>from Strawberry, and \u003cstrong>AJ Hurt,\u003c/strong> from Carnelian Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072320\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nina O’Brien of Team United States in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom on Jan. 24, 2026, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic. \u003ccite>(Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lilalapanja.com/meet-lila\">\u003cstrong>Lila Lapanja,\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> who will be competing for Team Slovenia and trained for most of her childhood at Diamond Peak in Incline Village (full disclosure: alongside this story’s author!).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lapanja has been a high-level competitor on the world ski racing circuit since 2017, but an Olympic appearance has eluded her — until now.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Snowboarding: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Speaking of Tahoe-area medalists, keep an eye out for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/sports/jamie-anderson-motherhood-2026/4010644/\">\u003cstrong>Jamie Anderson\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> of South Lake Tahoe, a mother of two and slopestyle champion — the first woman to win more than one gold in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1369\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty4-1536x1051.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jamie Anderson of Team United States competes in the Aspen Snowmass Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Qualifiers during the Toyota US Grand Prix 2026 at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort on Jan. 8, 2026, in Aspen, Colorado. \u003ccite>(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Making their Olympic debuts this year are Truckee-raised athletes \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5n6eXViO4s\">\u003cstrong>Hanna Percy\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, competing in snowboard cross, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/news/hahna-norman-rise\">\u003cstrong>Hahna Norman\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, headed to Italy for slopestyle and big air competitions after she barely missed the 2022 games due to an ACL tear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Freestyle skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the freestyle skiing side, Stanford is sending two athletes to the Games this year, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/03/team-gb-zoe-atkin-winter-olympics-2026-ski-halfpipe\">\u003cstrong>Zoe Atkin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>who came ninth in Beijing and won this year’s X Games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072323\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072323 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China participates in slopestyle training on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 4, 2026, in Livigno, Italy. \u003ccite>(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She’ll be going up against classmate \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/freeskier-eileen-gu-takes-another-wild-ride-to-21327283.php\">\u003cstrong>Eileen Gu\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>born and raised in San Francisco, but who is once again competing for Team China. Gu’s earlier decision not to compete for Team USA in the 2022 Olympics \u003ca href=\"https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/02/03/cold-warrior-why-eileen-gu-ditched-team-usa-to-ski-for-china\">drew some measure of controversy\u003c/a>, especially after she earned three medals, including two golds, one in big air and the other in halfpipe. At just 18, Gu became the youngest Olympic gold medalist ever in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And at just 15 years old, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierrasun.com/news/15-year-old-freeskier-takes-truckee-to-winter-olympic-stage/\">\u003cstrong>Abby Winterberger\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> of Truckee, directly qualified to the Games for freeski halfpipe, bypassing the typical pathways after a fiery run earlier this year in Colorado.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cross-country skiing: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yet \u003cem>another \u003c/em>Stanford athlete, \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/01/sammy-smith-winter-olympics-cross-country-skiing\">\u003cstrong>Sammy Smith\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>qualified for the Olympics — just two months after her soccer season as a starting defender for the Cardinal ended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith will be joined in Italy by Truckee native \u003ca href=\"https://www.moonshineink.com/sports/nordic-king-qa-with-jc-schoonmaker/\">\u003cstrong>JC Schoonmaker\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, who’ll be returning for his second Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072326\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sammy Smith of Team United States takes part in a training session on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on Feb. 4, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. \u003ccite>(Lars Baron/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Biathlon: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Biathlete \u003cstrong>Joanne Reid\u003c/strong>, born in Palo Alto, is back for her third Games after becoming a major voice \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/biathlon-sexual-harassment-female-athletes-investigation-b5c09737637b10f2f6bc5093ee950529\">unveiling allegations of ongoing sexual harassment in her team\u003c/a>. Reid comes from a family of Olympians, with a mom who’s a bronze medalist in speed skating and an uncle who’s a five-time gold medalist in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Speedskating: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nss3H9aS0ac\">\u003cstrong>Brandon Kim\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, a rising senior at Stanford University majoring in computer science on the pre-med track\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>is the athlete to watch in this intense short-distance sport — even though he doesn’t even have a rink to practice on at Stanford while he’s dedicated to his studies. This is Kim’s first Olympic Games, and his most competitive event is the 500-meter race.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Ice hockey: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A handful of players on the San José Sharks made their respective countries’ teams. These include \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-pavol-regenda-named-to-team-slovakia-s-2026-olympic-roster\">\u003cstrong>Pavol Regenda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, representing Team Slovakia, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-philipp-kurashev-named-to-team-switzerland-s-2026-olympic-roster\">\u003cstrong>Philipp Kurashev\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Switzerland, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/sharks-forward-alexander-wennberg-named-to-team-sweden-s-2026-olympic-roster#:~:text=Sharks%20forward%20Alexander%20Wennberg%20named%20to%20team%20Sweden's%202026%20Olympic%20roster,-January%2002%2C%202026&text=San%20Jose%20Sharks%20forward%20Alexander,the%20Swedish%20Ice%20Hockey%20Association.\">\u003cstrong>Alexander Wennberg\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Sweden and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-celebrini-earned-his-spot-on-canada-for-olympics\">\u003cstrong>Macklin Celebrini\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> for Team Canada. While it’s Regenda’s second Olympics, after he won bronze for Slovakia in 2022, it’ll be the first Games for the rest of the squad.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Sled hockey: Bay Area athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Paralympian and Daly City resident \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/sports/beijing-winter-olympics/one-on-one-with-jen-lee-sled-hockey-gold-medalist-from-daly-city/2740018/\">\u003cstrong>Jen Lee\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> is coming back for his fourth — and possibly final — Paralympic Games as the goalie for Team USA’s sled hockey team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072324\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072324\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1402\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/WinterOlympics2026Getty6-1536x1077.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jen Lee #32 of Team United States celebrates with teammates after defeating Team Canada during the Para Ice Hockey Gold Medal game on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at the National Indoor Stadium on March 13, 2022, in Beijing, China. Team United States defeated Team Canada 5-0. \u003ccite>(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lee is somewhat of a dominator on the ice, having won gold in all three of his Paralympic appearances and having zero goals scored against him in Beijing. Lee is also a military veteran and came into the sport during rehab after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident while on leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howtowatchthe2026WinterOlympicGames\">\u003c/a>How to watch the 2026 Olympic Games\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place in Northern Italy, split between hubs in Milan for indoor sports and Cortina d’Ampezzo for outdoor mountain sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the opening ceremony isn’t until Friday, the first events actually begin on Wednesday, kicking off with some alpine ski training and preliminary curling events. Paralympic Winter Olympic Games events will start on March 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one new sport premiering at the 2026 Olympics: \u003ca href=\"https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/sports/ski-mountaineering\">ski mountaineering\u003c/a>, affectionately nicknamed “SkiMo.” It’s a mix between cross-country, backcountry and alpine skiing, featuring sprint and relay events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The full schedule of Olympic and Paralympic events is listed on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule\">NBC Olympic website\u003c/a>. You can tune in via \u003ca href=\"http://nbcolympics.com\">NBCOlympics.com\u003c/a> or with a subscription to streaming service \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/olympics?cid=2602olywntrnbsperndedi27332&utm_campaign=2602olywntr&utm_source=nbcs_nbcspts_st-sv&utm_medium=ernd_edi_seoopt_bnr&utm_term=nbcsportssitevistors&utm_content=winterolympics2026\">Peacock\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Alysa Liu’s hometown.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Local Olympians to Cheer for During the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony is February 6 this year. It’s always fun to watch all the different delegations from other countries show off and to notice which countries have a lot of athletes and which ones only have a couple. As you might imagine, for the Winter Games, it’s usually places with mountains and cold weather that get to show off. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, lucky for us here in the Bay Area, we’ve got mountains not too far away. And plenty of talent so there are a bunch of athletes that were either born in the Bay Area or live here now that will be fun to cheer for.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today on Bay Curious we chat about some of the most well known folks to watch out for, including Alyssa Liu, Brandon Kim, Jen Young Lee, Nina O’Brien and Joanne Reed. Plus, you’ll learn about our dashed Olympic dreams.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC9350229370&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are here, and I am ready to park myself in front of the television to take all of it in. I’ve loved the Olympics for as long as I can remember. I have these vivid memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics with my mom, watching Nancy Kerrigan float around the ice.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Scott Hamilton commenting on TV: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First jump is a triple flip. She doubles it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was so smitten, I begged my parents for ice skating lessons the following Christmas. I got them and went every week, but it didn’t take too long for my Olympic dreams to melt when faced with reality. I was only okay. Oh well. I may have hung up my skates, but over the past few Olympic cycles, I’ve gotten really into following our local Olympians, both those who were born here in the Bay Area and those who reside here now. Here to discuss some of the local athletes to cheer on is Natalia Navarro. She is the afternoon anchor of KQED News and a fellow Olympics fan. Welcome, Natalia.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you so much for having me. I was also obsessed with watching skating as a child, watched it with my mom, I have very similar memories. We will compare notes after. Yeah.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also here is a voice you know well, Katrina Schwartz, editor and producer for Bay Curious. She’s also a big fan of the Olympics, often waffling between whether she likes winter or the summer games more. Where are you at right now?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I mean, whichever one is on is the one I like the best, but I will say I have a particular fondness right now for the Summer Olympics because I was home on maternity leave with a newborn baby during the July, whatever, 2024 Summer Olympics. So I watched them like obsessively. I watched every sport, like every event.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That sounds lovely. And finally, we have Sarah Wright. She is KQED’s outdoors reporter. And Sarah, you grew up in Tahoe and you are a former ski racer yourself and you even trained alongside some now Olympians.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it’s very exciting to get to watch them as they live out all of our dream. I similarly quit when I was young because I wasn’t very good, but had a great time training.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gosh, I love that. And I love how we’ve all had like a little bit of our own Olympic dream. So I want to start with what is your favorite winter Olympic sport to watch? And is there one that you secretly think, had you maybe have dedicated your life to it, you might be good at? Katrina, you’re up first. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All right, to watch…I really like the snowboard cross which is the one where like just like four are racing and they’re like jockeying for position I just I’m a snowboarder and if that looks really hard basically based on what I know of snowboarding Honestly, I think I’d be terrible at all of the winter Olympic sports, but maybe like bobsled I was really I love cool runnings as a kid So like, you know, I have dreams that I too could just run really fast on the ice.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What about you, Sarah? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, I’ll find ski racing as my favorite, mostly because I actually know the sport, unlike many of the other Winter Olympics sports. So I can follow along with the drama and the high stakes and unfortunately the injuries, which happen in almost every single Olympics. And as far as competing, I have absolutely no ice skills, but I have small dreams of ice hockey and would love to someday be able to compete, even just casually as an ice hockey player. I think it’d be really fun. And lots of good local teams here in the Bay Area.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ice skating, of course. Figure skating. I just loved it as a child so much and I never took lessons as a kid or anything. I just really enjoyed it and I loved watching it with my mom. My icons were Michelle Kwan and Oksana Bayul. But then actually as an adult, I took adult ice skating lessons for about a year. Was not great at it, but boy.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did I have fun? I love that. And well, let’s stay there with ice skating, because I want to talk about our first Bay Area Olympian, who we’ll be discussing today. And that’s US figure skater, Alyssa Liu. She was born in Richmond, but lives in Oakland now. And she really wowed judges at the US Figure Skating Championships in January. She has a ton of fans. Natalia, what do you think makes her so much fun to watch?\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She really reminds me of those skaters that I grew up watching. Her skating is so fluid, so relaxed and she actually looks like she’s having a great time. She doesn’t look like everyone else which I personally relate to and love so much like she has this really signature look right now. She’s got this this bleached halo striped hair, she’s got some cool piercings going on and she seems to have really her own perspective to communicate. It just really brings me back and she looks so effortless on the ice right now. She was actually the youngest and first American woman to ever land a triple axel in international competition at just 12 years old. That’s one of the most difficult jumps and it’s become her signature. She’s got two exciting programs to watch. Her short program is really expressive and emotional. And her free skate is to a Lady Gaga medley and it’s very, very fun.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now this is Alyssa’s second Olympics. As you said, she’s been skating at a very high level for a long time. So even though she’s only 20 years old, she’s really a veteran in the sport, but she did step away from the sport for a while. Tell us about that.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was very, very good at skating in a very young age. So she was primarily homeschooled during most of her life. She was living in the dorms at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado. And she got to this point around, you know, 15, 16 years old. Where she really was missing out on a lot of what we all want as teens and young adults. That isolation and lack of social interaction, it was really taking a toll on her mental health. She hung up her skates. She thought it was for good. She retired at just 16 years old. And she went about her life. She got to be a normal kid. And then, you know, in January of 2024, at that point she was at UCLA going to college. She went skiing in Lake Tahoe, which is not something that you can do when you’re an elite figure skater and you’re worried about getting injured. She was just having fun. And she realized on that trip that she really missed skating. She announced her return to competition in March of 2024 and just came back like a storm. She won the 2025 world championships and it is really working. Like she is a different person on the ice now. He or she is talking about all of this with Jimmy Fallon. What makes skating feel different now?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Alysa Liu: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, I mean, I have a lot of creative control this time around. You know, I get to pick out what I want my dress to look like, what color I want to use. Sometimes I’ll drop a real bad sketch, send it to my dress designer, see if she can decipher it. I pick my music and I control my training. You know what I’m saying? My schedule, I draw myself. So, yeah.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She’s also a Bay Area super fan. I follow her on social media and you can sometimes spot familiar Bay Area vistas or businesses in her posts and she’s always talking about how much she loves Oakland, which just makes my heart sing. Do you think she has a shot at the podium?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Well, Russia and Japan have dominated the last few Olympic podiums, but she has a pretty high baseline score for all of her elements. I think she absolutely has a chance to get onto that podium, but you know what she said is she doesn’t really care about the results anymore. It’s not the medal that fulfills her, she said. She just wants to share her art with the world. That creative expression is really clear at her skating and I think it’s going to serve her well.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope so. I’ll be rooting for her. Okay, so for this next athlete, we’re staying on the ice, but let’s pick up the pace. I wanna talk about speed skater, Brandon Kim. He’s a rising senior at Stanford, majoring in computer science, but on the pre-med track. And he’ll be making his debut at the Winter Olympics this year in short track speed skating.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, this guy is wild. When he’s at Stanford, he doesn’t even have an ice rink to practice at, so he’s been keeping up his fitness by himself while he’s like focused on his studies half the year. He talked with KQED’s Brian Watt the other day, and he said that getting the feel of the ice is a really important part of speed skating. So when he flies out to a competition over a long weekend, the first day or two, he’s just trying to like feel the ice again, and that’s really hard.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, I would say definitely my journey to where I am now is totally different from I guess what you would say like a traditional like skater or athlete might be. I’m a full-time student, so being away from the ice, flying out, having just one or two days to acclimate myself and compete again, it’s definitely something that not many, if any skaters have done.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the Olympics in play, this past year has been a little bit different. He took a few quarters off of school so that he could practice full time in Salt Lake City with the rest of the speed.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed skating is such a fun sport to watch. The track is 111 meters around, which, if you think about it, is really tiny. For context, the shortest distance that’s raced on the outdoor track is 100 meters. So just turn that into a doughnut. The curves are so tight that the racers, I mean, they’re practically horizontal on the ice as they are whipping around those turns. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, they reach up to 30 miles per hour. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Wow.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short track, you never know exactly what will happen just because you know, you’re racing in a group, you’re passing different people. So there can be a lot of collisions, falls.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Alyssa Liu, Brandon has been at this since he was really young. He first saw speed skating in the Vancouver Olympics and thought it looked really cool, but there was just one problem.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I definitely did not skate at all. When I first started, my coach gave me a bucket or like a folding chair to push around because I was falling so much.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, it seems like he figured it out. Yeah, he said to compete in the 500, the 1000, and the 1,500-meter races, with people thinking his best chances are probably in the five hundred.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We’re going to take a quick break, but when we return, more Bay Area Olympians. Stay with us. And we’re back, talking Bay Area Olympians that you can cheer for over the coming weeks. Sarah, who are you excited to pull for?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are actually a number of athletes who are from the Bay Area here or spend a lot of time around here but are competing for other countries during this Olympics like freestyle skier Eileen Gu. She was born and raised in San Francisco and is a current student at Stanford but she’s competing for Team China, a move that she also made ahead of the 2022 Beijing Olympics And, at the time, it drew a lot of controversy. Especially after she earned three medals, including two golds, one in big air and the other in half pipe. And she was only 18 when she did those, right? Yeah, she was the youngest Olympic gold medalist in history in her sport, which if you haven’t ever watched it, it’s pretty incredible. And it’s not just Eileen, there are also a handful of ice hockey players who on the San Jose Sharks right now. And who made their respective country’s teams. So there’s Pavel Rogenda, representing Team Slovakia, Filip Kirishchev for Team Switzerland, Alexander Wenberg for Team Sweden, and Macklin Celebrini for Team Canada. But if I’m being honest, I might be the most excited to watch Laila Leponia. She will be racing slalom for Team Slovenia, and she and I actually grew up ski racing together in Tahoe. She’s been working toward her Olympic dream since we were kids and she just messaged me and said she’s very excited to be competing.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wow, that’s amazing to be like, I don’t know, thinking back to your childhood memories and put an Olympian in there.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, we were all working very hard. She was working the hardest.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, right on the heels of the Olympics is the Paralympics, which will be held in the same spot, but about a month later, from March 6th through 15th. And Daly City’s Jen Young Lee is headed back for his fourth Paralympics. He is the goalie on Team USA’s sled hockey team, and he’s won gold each time he’s been there. Last go around in Beijing, he had zero goals scored on him for the entire tournament. Wow. I mean perfection.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, he’s an intense competitor and he’s got an incredible story. I mean, honestly, a lot of Paralympians have incredible stories for how they came to their sport. He was a veteran. He served in Iraq and tragically, he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident that actually happened while he was on leave, but it ended his military career and he was rehabbing in a military hospital when he was introduced to sled hockey. It brought him back because he went to Thomas Edison Elementary in Daly City and he used to play stick ball. And, you know, he had fun. He liked the Mighty Ducks, just like anybody else, but he never thought he was gonna like play ice hockey until this was offered to him as part of his rehab and he just loved it and he was good at it. So he’s been a staple for the team for many, many years now. It’s his fourth Olympic Games. And he understands that there are a lot of guys younger than him who like need him to kind of step up right now.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jen Young Lee: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My other role is really being a leader for the younger guys. We got young guys who were still in high school.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anybody making four Paralympic teams is impressive, but especially in a sport that’s as demanding as hockey. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seriously, when I chatted with him last week he was living in Colorado. They’re doing this intense residency where they all live together and do two-a-days and just constantly are training. And he said he couldn’t feel his arms. So yeah, they are training a lot. He’s clearly a fierce competitor and amazing athlete, but he says that this might be his last Olympic games, he has a young daughter who will be in Milan cheering for him.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jen Young Lee: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I just want to be closer with my daughter and be a little bit more a full-time dad, right? So that is kind of scary. There’s definitely a lot of options as far as, you know, go coaching or do something, you know with the hockey or, but a lot of those things are unknown, uncertain. And we’re just going to see how that, how those things go after the games, you know.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All right, well, good luck to Jen as well. This is overall a pretty small sampling of our local athletes going, but there are more athletes that we didn’t get to talk about today. Sarah, maybe give us a couple highlights.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, so Nina O’Brien, she’s a San Francisco native, an alpine ski racer coming back from breaking her leg twice, the first time was racing at the last Olympics. We also have biathlete Joanne Reed. She was born in Palo Alto and she’s also coming back, this after a sexual harassment case that took years to be taken seriously by US biathlon officials. She comes from a family of Olympians. Her mom is a bronze medalist in speed skating. And her uncle is a five-time gold medalist in the sport. There’s other legacy athletes as well. Anthony Ponomarenko from San Jose. He’s the son of two Russian ice dancing medalists. He takes the ice with his long-time dancing partner, Christina Carrera. Their moms set them up in 2014, and they’ve been a pair ever since. That’s so cute.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is. All right, Sarah, and you have a helpful guide on all the Bay Area Olympians at KQED.org. So if you’re listening, be sure to go check that out. Sarah Wright, Natalia Navarro, Katrina Schwartz, thank you for talking Olympics with me today. Shall we bring it in on three? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Yeah. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let’s do it. Go team on three. One, two, three… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Go team. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Become a member today at kqed.org slash donate. Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and me, Olivia Allen Price. Extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Ethan Tovan Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some members of the KQEd podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California, local. I’m Olivia Allen-Price, see you next time. Go team on three.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One, two, three, go team! \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can we do it again? I forgot to say anything.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I feel like usually only one person does the count. Should we all say the count? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Yeah, you guys just say go team. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okay. Okay.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony is February 6 this year. It’s always fun to watch all the different delegations from other countries show off and to notice which countries have a lot of athletes and which ones only have a couple. As you might imagine, for the Winter Games, it’s usually places with mountains and cold weather that get to show off. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, lucky for us here in the Bay Area, we’ve got mountains not too far away. And plenty of talent so there are a bunch of athletes that were either born in the Bay Area or live here now that will be fun to cheer for.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today on Bay Curious we chat about some of the most well known folks to watch out for, including Alyssa Liu, Brandon Kim, Jen Young Lee, Nina O’Brien and Joanne Reed. Plus, you’ll learn about our dashed Olympic dreams.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC9350229370&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are here, and I am ready to park myself in front of the television to take all of it in. I’ve loved the Olympics for as long as I can remember. I have these vivid memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics with my mom, watching Nancy Kerrigan float around the ice.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Scott Hamilton commenting on TV: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First jump is a triple flip. She doubles it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was so smitten, I begged my parents for ice skating lessons the following Christmas. I got them and went every week, but it didn’t take too long for my Olympic dreams to melt when faced with reality. I was only okay. Oh well. I may have hung up my skates, but over the past few Olympic cycles, I’ve gotten really into following our local Olympians, both those who were born here in the Bay Area and those who reside here now. Here to discuss some of the local athletes to cheer on is Natalia Navarro. She is the afternoon anchor of KQED News and a fellow Olympics fan. Welcome, Natalia.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you so much for having me. I was also obsessed with watching skating as a child, watched it with my mom, I have very similar memories. We will compare notes after. Yeah.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also here is a voice you know well, Katrina Schwartz, editor and producer for Bay Curious. She’s also a big fan of the Olympics, often waffling between whether she likes winter or the summer games more. Where are you at right now?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I mean, whichever one is on is the one I like the best, but I will say I have a particular fondness right now for the Summer Olympics because I was home on maternity leave with a newborn baby during the July, whatever, 2024 Summer Olympics. So I watched them like obsessively. I watched every sport, like every event.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That sounds lovely. And finally, we have Sarah Wright. She is KQED’s outdoors reporter. And Sarah, you grew up in Tahoe and you are a former ski racer yourself and you even trained alongside some now Olympians.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it’s very exciting to get to watch them as they live out all of our dream. I similarly quit when I was young because I wasn’t very good, but had a great time training.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gosh, I love that. And I love how we’ve all had like a little bit of our own Olympic dream. So I want to start with what is your favorite winter Olympic sport to watch? And is there one that you secretly think, had you maybe have dedicated your life to it, you might be good at? Katrina, you’re up first. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All right, to watch…I really like the snowboard cross which is the one where like just like four are racing and they’re like jockeying for position I just I’m a snowboarder and if that looks really hard basically based on what I know of snowboarding Honestly, I think I’d be terrible at all of the winter Olympic sports, but maybe like bobsled I was really I love cool runnings as a kid So like, you know, I have dreams that I too could just run really fast on the ice.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What about you, Sarah? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, I’ll find ski racing as my favorite, mostly because I actually know the sport, unlike many of the other Winter Olympics sports. So I can follow along with the drama and the high stakes and unfortunately the injuries, which happen in almost every single Olympics. And as far as competing, I have absolutely no ice skills, but I have small dreams of ice hockey and would love to someday be able to compete, even just casually as an ice hockey player. I think it’d be really fun. And lots of good local teams here in the Bay Area.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ice skating, of course. Figure skating. I just loved it as a child so much and I never took lessons as a kid or anything. I just really enjoyed it and I loved watching it with my mom. My icons were Michelle Kwan and Oksana Bayul. But then actually as an adult, I took adult ice skating lessons for about a year. Was not great at it, but boy.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did I have fun? I love that. And well, let’s stay there with ice skating, because I want to talk about our first Bay Area Olympian, who we’ll be discussing today. And that’s US figure skater, Alyssa Liu. She was born in Richmond, but lives in Oakland now. And she really wowed judges at the US Figure Skating Championships in January. She has a ton of fans. Natalia, what do you think makes her so much fun to watch?\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She really reminds me of those skaters that I grew up watching. Her skating is so fluid, so relaxed and she actually looks like she’s having a great time. She doesn’t look like everyone else which I personally relate to and love so much like she has this really signature look right now. She’s got this this bleached halo striped hair, she’s got some cool piercings going on and she seems to have really her own perspective to communicate. It just really brings me back and she looks so effortless on the ice right now. She was actually the youngest and first American woman to ever land a triple axel in international competition at just 12 years old. That’s one of the most difficult jumps and it’s become her signature. She’s got two exciting programs to watch. Her short program is really expressive and emotional. And her free skate is to a Lady Gaga medley and it’s very, very fun.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now this is Alyssa’s second Olympics. As you said, she’s been skating at a very high level for a long time. So even though she’s only 20 years old, she’s really a veteran in the sport, but she did step away from the sport for a while. Tell us about that.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was very, very good at skating in a very young age. So she was primarily homeschooled during most of her life. She was living in the dorms at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado. And she got to this point around, you know, 15, 16 years old. Where she really was missing out on a lot of what we all want as teens and young adults. That isolation and lack of social interaction, it was really taking a toll on her mental health. She hung up her skates. She thought it was for good. She retired at just 16 years old. And she went about her life. She got to be a normal kid. And then, you know, in January of 2024, at that point she was at UCLA going to college. She went skiing in Lake Tahoe, which is not something that you can do when you’re an elite figure skater and you’re worried about getting injured. She was just having fun. And she realized on that trip that she really missed skating. She announced her return to competition in March of 2024 and just came back like a storm. She won the 2025 world championships and it is really working. Like she is a different person on the ice now. He or she is talking about all of this with Jimmy Fallon. What makes skating feel different now?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Alysa Liu: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, I mean, I have a lot of creative control this time around. You know, I get to pick out what I want my dress to look like, what color I want to use. Sometimes I’ll drop a real bad sketch, send it to my dress designer, see if she can decipher it. I pick my music and I control my training. You know what I’m saying? My schedule, I draw myself. So, yeah.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She’s also a Bay Area super fan. I follow her on social media and you can sometimes spot familiar Bay Area vistas or businesses in her posts and she’s always talking about how much she loves Oakland, which just makes my heart sing. Do you think she has a shot at the podium?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Well, Russia and Japan have dominated the last few Olympic podiums, but she has a pretty high baseline score for all of her elements. I think she absolutely has a chance to get onto that podium, but you know what she said is she doesn’t really care about the results anymore. It’s not the medal that fulfills her, she said. She just wants to share her art with the world. That creative expression is really clear at her skating and I think it’s going to serve her well.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope so. I’ll be rooting for her. Okay, so for this next athlete, we’re staying on the ice, but let’s pick up the pace. I wanna talk about speed skater, Brandon Kim. He’s a rising senior at Stanford, majoring in computer science, but on the pre-med track. And he’ll be making his debut at the Winter Olympics this year in short track speed skating.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, this guy is wild. When he’s at Stanford, he doesn’t even have an ice rink to practice at, so he’s been keeping up his fitness by himself while he’s like focused on his studies half the year. He talked with KQED’s Brian Watt the other day, and he said that getting the feel of the ice is a really important part of speed skating. So when he flies out to a competition over a long weekend, the first day or two, he’s just trying to like feel the ice again, and that’s really hard.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, I would say definitely my journey to where I am now is totally different from I guess what you would say like a traditional like skater or athlete might be. I’m a full-time student, so being away from the ice, flying out, having just one or two days to acclimate myself and compete again, it’s definitely something that not many, if any skaters have done.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the Olympics in play, this past year has been a little bit different. He took a few quarters off of school so that he could practice full time in Salt Lake City with the rest of the speed.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed skating is such a fun sport to watch. The track is 111 meters around, which, if you think about it, is really tiny. For context, the shortest distance that’s raced on the outdoor track is 100 meters. So just turn that into a doughnut. The curves are so tight that the racers, I mean, they’re practically horizontal on the ice as they are whipping around those turns. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, they reach up to 30 miles per hour. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Wow.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short track, you never know exactly what will happen just because you know, you’re racing in a group, you’re passing different people. So there can be a lot of collisions, falls.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Alyssa Liu, Brandon has been at this since he was really young. He first saw speed skating in the Vancouver Olympics and thought it looked really cool, but there was just one problem.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brandon Kim: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I definitely did not skate at all. When I first started, my coach gave me a bucket or like a folding chair to push around because I was falling so much.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, it seems like he figured it out. Yeah, he said to compete in the 500, the 1000, and the 1,500-meter races, with people thinking his best chances are probably in the five hundred.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We’re going to take a quick break, but when we return, more Bay Area Olympians. Stay with us. And we’re back, talking Bay Area Olympians that you can cheer for over the coming weeks. Sarah, who are you excited to pull for?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are actually a number of athletes who are from the Bay Area here or spend a lot of time around here but are competing for other countries during this Olympics like freestyle skier Eileen Gu. She was born and raised in San Francisco and is a current student at Stanford but she’s competing for Team China, a move that she also made ahead of the 2022 Beijing Olympics And, at the time, it drew a lot of controversy. Especially after she earned three medals, including two golds, one in big air and the other in half pipe. And she was only 18 when she did those, right? Yeah, she was the youngest Olympic gold medalist in history in her sport, which if you haven’t ever watched it, it’s pretty incredible. And it’s not just Eileen, there are also a handful of ice hockey players who on the San Jose Sharks right now. And who made their respective country’s teams. So there’s Pavel Rogenda, representing Team Slovakia, Filip Kirishchev for Team Switzerland, Alexander Wenberg for Team Sweden, and Macklin Celebrini for Team Canada. But if I’m being honest, I might be the most excited to watch Laila Leponia. She will be racing slalom for Team Slovenia, and she and I actually grew up ski racing together in Tahoe. She’s been working toward her Olympic dream since we were kids and she just messaged me and said she’s very excited to be competing.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wow, that’s amazing to be like, I don’t know, thinking back to your childhood memories and put an Olympian in there.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, we were all working very hard. She was working the hardest.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, right on the heels of the Olympics is the Paralympics, which will be held in the same spot, but about a month later, from March 6th through 15th. And Daly City’s Jen Young Lee is headed back for his fourth Paralympics. He is the goalie on Team USA’s sled hockey team, and he’s won gold each time he’s been there. Last go around in Beijing, he had zero goals scored on him for the entire tournament. Wow. I mean perfection.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, he’s an intense competitor and he’s got an incredible story. I mean, honestly, a lot of Paralympians have incredible stories for how they came to their sport. He was a veteran. He served in Iraq and tragically, he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident that actually happened while he was on leave, but it ended his military career and he was rehabbing in a military hospital when he was introduced to sled hockey. It brought him back because he went to Thomas Edison Elementary in Daly City and he used to play stick ball. And, you know, he had fun. He liked the Mighty Ducks, just like anybody else, but he never thought he was gonna like play ice hockey until this was offered to him as part of his rehab and he just loved it and he was good at it. So he’s been a staple for the team for many, many years now. It’s his fourth Olympic Games. And he understands that there are a lot of guys younger than him who like need him to kind of step up right now.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jen Young Lee: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My other role is really being a leader for the younger guys. We got young guys who were still in high school.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anybody making four Paralympic teams is impressive, but especially in a sport that’s as demanding as hockey. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seriously, when I chatted with him last week he was living in Colorado. They’re doing this intense residency where they all live together and do two-a-days and just constantly are training. And he said he couldn’t feel his arms. So yeah, they are training a lot. He’s clearly a fierce competitor and amazing athlete, but he says that this might be his last Olympic games, he has a young daughter who will be in Milan cheering for him.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jen Young Lee: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I just want to be closer with my daughter and be a little bit more a full-time dad, right? So that is kind of scary. There’s definitely a lot of options as far as, you know, go coaching or do something, you know with the hockey or, but a lot of those things are unknown, uncertain. And we’re just going to see how that, how those things go after the games, you know.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All right, well, good luck to Jen as well. This is overall a pretty small sampling of our local athletes going, but there are more athletes that we didn’t get to talk about today. Sarah, maybe give us a couple highlights.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sarah Wright: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, so Nina O’Brien, she’s a San Francisco native, an alpine ski racer coming back from breaking her leg twice, the first time was racing at the last Olympics. We also have biathlete Joanne Reed. She was born in Palo Alto and she’s also coming back, this after a sexual harassment case that took years to be taken seriously by US biathlon officials. She comes from a family of Olympians. Her mom is a bronze medalist in speed skating. And her uncle is a five-time gold medalist in the sport. There’s other legacy athletes as well. Anthony Ponomarenko from San Jose. He’s the son of two Russian ice dancing medalists. He takes the ice with his long-time dancing partner, Christina Carrera. Their moms set them up in 2014, and they’ve been a pair ever since. That’s so cute.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is. All right, Sarah, and you have a helpful guide on all the Bay Area Olympians at KQED.org. So if you’re listening, be sure to go check that out. Sarah Wright, Natalia Navarro, Katrina Schwartz, thank you for talking Olympics with me today. Shall we bring it in on three? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Yeah. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let’s do it. Go team on three. One, two, three… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Go team. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Become a member today at kqed.org slash donate. Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and me, Olivia Allen Price. Extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Ethan Tovan Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some members of the KQEd podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California, local. I’m Olivia Allen-Price, see you next time. Go team on three.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One, two, three, go team! \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Natalia Navarro: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can we do it again? I forgot to say anything.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katrina Schwartz: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I feel like usually only one person does the count. Should we all say the count? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Yeah, you guys just say go team. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Everyone: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okay. Okay.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "jump-higher-spin-faster-olympic-figure-skater-tai-babilonia-on-her-rise-to-fame",
"title": "'Jump Higher, Spin Faster': Olympic Figure Skater Tai Babilonia on Her Rise to Fame",
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"headTitle": "‘Jump Higher, Spin Faster’: Olympic Figure Skater Tai Babilonia on Her Rise to Fame | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/mixed-race\">\u003cem>This post is part of a series of stories on The California Report Magazine about the experience of being mixed race.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"More from The California Report’s ‘Mixed’ series\" tag=\"mixed\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia rose to fame as a child in the 1960s, breaking into the white world of figure skating with the help of famed coach Mabel Fairbanks, who herself was of Black and Seminole descent. Babilonia and her skating partner, Randy Gardner, rapidly ascended figure skating’s ranks to become World Champions in 1979. They were favorites at the 1980 Olympics, but an injury ended their dream of a medal. In the decades since, Babilonia has opened up about a lot of difficult experiences in her life, including the racism and exotification she faced as an athlete and public figure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the series “Mixed: Stories of Mixed-Race Californians,” hosts Sasha Khokha and Marisa Lagos spoke to Babilonia about growing up in a mixed-race family in the 1960s, and how she’s dedicated her career to creating pathways for younger figure skaters, especially skaters of color. Here are some excerpts from that conversation, edited for brevity and clarity. Listen to the full conversation by clicking the play button at the top of this page.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On growing up mixed race in Los Angeles in the 1960s and ’70s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944238\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1058px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944238\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337.jpg\" alt=\"A family photo taken near the water with a smiling daughter who wears white sunglasses, a mother sits on a rock in the center with black sunglasses and her young son to the right who squints at the camera in the sunlight.\" width=\"1058\" height=\"928\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337.jpg 1058w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-800x702.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-1020x895.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-160x140.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1058px) 100vw, 1058px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A young Tai Babilonia (left) with her mother, Cleo Babilonia (center), and older brother, Constancio Babilonia. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tai Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My father is Filipino and Hopi Indian, and my mom is Black. We lived in a great neighborhood. It was a rainbow color of different nationalities: Hispanic and Black kids and white kids and mixed kids. It was on a street called Sierra Bonita in Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944239\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1440px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11944239 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061.jpg\" alt=\"A husband and wife pose for their wedding photo. The bride smiles to the left of her groom wearing a lacy, white gown. The groom smiles next to his bride in a white tux with black bowtie and a single white carnation on his lapel. She is Black, and he is Filipino and Hopi Indian.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-1020x1275.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tai Babilonia’s parents, Cleo Babilonia and Detective Sgt. Babilonia. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tai Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"Tai Babilonia, Olympic figure skater\"]‘They had never seen a multiracial family. It makes you tough. You learn, whether you know it or not, you’re starting to build that armor.’[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[When we moved to the San Fernando Valley], we did get the looks. I got the funny looks when I was with my mother. It was the outside world that couldn’t figure it out. They didn’t know what to think of us. They had never seen a multiracial family. It makes you tough. You learn, whether you know it or not, you’re starting to build that armor. And, I think, that [was] protection for the future, when it did get a little uncomfortable.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On training with Mabel Fairbanks\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1408px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944240\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002.jpg\" alt=\"Two child figure skaters, one girl with a blond ponytail, and one boy with dark, short hair, glide on the ice together in a black and white image.\" width=\"1408\" height=\"1392\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002.jpg 1408w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-800x791.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-1020x1008.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-160x158.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Babilonia and skating partner Randy Gardner as young skaters gliding on the ice. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tai Babilonia and Detective Sgt. Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There’s a rink in Culver City. That’s where I started. I took [lessons] from Mabel Fairbanks. [She was a] pioneer, [the] first Black coach. She wasn’t allowed to compete or join a show. So, there’s no record of competitions or anything. But she fought and hustled just to make a living. She had to go abroad to make a name for herself and to pay the rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We were her kids, actually, because she didn’t have kids. [She] had a stable of students, all different nationalities, rich, poor, celebrities’ kids. We didn’t feel different. The one thing she did say, because we were all different shades of brown and beige and Black, [was] we must “jump higher, spin faster and sparkle brighter.” Huge lesson.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On competing at the highest levels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944232\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944232\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A male and female figure skater wearing matching red, sparkly outfits glide across the ice.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1676\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-800x524.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1020x668.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-2048x1341.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1920x1257.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Babilonia and Gardner glide through their routine in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 1980. \u003ccite>(Bettmann/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>All of a sudden we’re on ABC \u003cem>Wide World of Sports\u003c/em> and, you know, just the it pair team. These two kids, young teens from Los Angeles. We came out of nowhere. Our first nationals, I think I was 12, 1973, and it was white. [There were] maybe one or two other Black skaters. And, there’s my mom in a sea of white parents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kP4LXNFeTU\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I was there to work and compete. Call [us] whatever you’re going to call us; put us in whatever category you want to put us in; I still have to go out and compete. And, you know, when you’re winning, it shuts people up. We were spinning faster and jumping higher and at the top of the podium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Did I think about being a role model? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Now, looking back, I understand that I was. You start getting letters from kids in schools. Letters [from] kids of color saying, “It was so nice to see someone who looks like me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On media coverage of her mixed-race identity\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>[pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"Tai Babilonia, Olympic figure skater\"]‘They put me in the box that they felt comfortable in identifying me with.’[/pullquote]When I got into figure skating, questions would come up — [TV] networks not knowing what to call me. They didn’t know where to put me. And the word “exotic” always came up. Why couldn’t they just call me what I was? What stopped them from saying what my mother was and what my father was?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They put me in the box that they felt comfortable in identifying me with.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On talking with her son about his mixed-race heritage\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scout is white — his dad’s white and Jewish — and then there’s my side of the family. I just tell him, “Scout, embrace everything that you are. Learn to embrace it. Honor your parents.” I tried to plant that seed early on with him. Embrace it all.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On her work to diversify figure skating\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944236\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944236\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A female figure skater wearing a sparkly, red outfit spins around a child wearing a navy blue school uniform as they smile together on an ice rink outdoors with buildings and skyscrapers in the background.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1819\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-800x568.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1020x725.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1536x1091.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-2048x1455.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1920x1364.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two-time Olympian, five-time US National Champion and World Champion Tai Babilonia spins Measia Aaron, 8, of the Sheenway School and Culture Center, at the Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink at Pershing Square in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, 2012. \u003ccite>(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It feels like skating is playing catch-up with everything. Back in the ’70s, there were a handful of Black skaters. There’s less now. That’s a problem. There’s so much work to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s getting the right people of color in the higher places like with U.S. figure skating. Why aren’t more people on staff of color? It’s still very white. I’m starting to see little changes. But we have to push.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"anchor\">\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n[hearken id=\"7528\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/7528.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "World Champion figure skater Tai Babilonia speaks on her rise to the Olympics during the 1970s-'80s, growing up mixed race in Southern California and how she’s creating new paths to diversify the sport.",
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"title": "'Jump Higher, Spin Faster': Olympic Figure Skater Tai Babilonia on Her Rise to Fame | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/mixed-race\">\u003cem>This post is part of a series of stories on The California Report Magazine about the experience of being mixed race.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia rose to fame as a child in the 1960s, breaking into the white world of figure skating with the help of famed coach Mabel Fairbanks, who herself was of Black and Seminole descent. Babilonia and her skating partner, Randy Gardner, rapidly ascended figure skating’s ranks to become World Champions in 1979. They were favorites at the 1980 Olympics, but an injury ended their dream of a medal. In the decades since, Babilonia has opened up about a lot of difficult experiences in her life, including the racism and exotification she faced as an athlete and public figure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the series “Mixed: Stories of Mixed-Race Californians,” hosts Sasha Khokha and Marisa Lagos spoke to Babilonia about growing up in a mixed-race family in the 1960s, and how she’s dedicated her career to creating pathways for younger figure skaters, especially skaters of color. Here are some excerpts from that conversation, edited for brevity and clarity. Listen to the full conversation by clicking the play button at the top of this page.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On growing up mixed race in Los Angeles in the 1960s and ’70s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944238\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1058px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944238\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337.jpg\" alt=\"A family photo taken near the water with a smiling daughter who wears white sunglasses, a mother sits on a rock in the center with black sunglasses and her young son to the right who squints at the camera in the sunlight.\" width=\"1058\" height=\"928\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337.jpg 1058w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-800x702.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-1020x895.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/20220310_235337-160x140.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1058px) 100vw, 1058px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A young Tai Babilonia (left) with her mother, Cleo Babilonia (center), and older brother, Constancio Babilonia. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tai Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My father is Filipino and Hopi Indian, and my mom is Black. We lived in a great neighborhood. It was a rainbow color of different nationalities: Hispanic and Black kids and white kids and mixed kids. It was on a street called Sierra Bonita in Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944239\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1440px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11944239 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061.jpg\" alt=\"A husband and wife pose for their wedding photo. The bride smiles to the left of her groom wearing a lacy, white gown. The groom smiles next to his bride in a white tux with black bowtie and a single white carnation on his lapel. She is Black, and he is Filipino and Hopi Indian.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-1020x1275.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/IMG_20210612_072954_061-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tai Babilonia’s parents, Cleo Babilonia and Detective Sgt. Babilonia. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tai Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘They had never seen a multiracial family. It makes you tough. You learn, whether you know it or not, you’re starting to build that armor.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[When we moved to the San Fernando Valley], we did get the looks. I got the funny looks when I was with my mother. It was the outside world that couldn’t figure it out. They didn’t know what to think of us. They had never seen a multiracial family. It makes you tough. You learn, whether you know it or not, you’re starting to build that armor. And, I think, that [was] protection for the future, when it did get a little uncomfortable.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On training with Mabel Fairbanks\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1408px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944240\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002.jpg\" alt=\"Two child figure skaters, one girl with a blond ponytail, and one boy with dark, short hair, glide on the ice together in a black and white image.\" width=\"1408\" height=\"1392\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002.jpg 1408w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-800x791.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-1020x1008.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/image002-160x158.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Babilonia and skating partner Randy Gardner as young skaters gliding on the ice. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tai Babilonia and Detective Sgt. Babilonia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There’s a rink in Culver City. That’s where I started. I took [lessons] from Mabel Fairbanks. [She was a] pioneer, [the] first Black coach. She wasn’t allowed to compete or join a show. So, there’s no record of competitions or anything. But she fought and hustled just to make a living. She had to go abroad to make a name for herself and to pay the rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We were her kids, actually, because she didn’t have kids. [She] had a stable of students, all different nationalities, rich, poor, celebrities’ kids. We didn’t feel different. The one thing she did say, because we were all different shades of brown and beige and Black, [was] we must “jump higher, spin faster and sparkle brighter.” Huge lesson.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On competing at the highest levels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944232\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944232\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A male and female figure skater wearing matching red, sparkly outfits glide across the ice.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1676\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-800x524.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1020x668.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-2048x1341.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-515123508-1920x1257.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Babilonia and Gardner glide through their routine in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 1980. \u003ccite>(Bettmann/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>All of a sudden we’re on ABC \u003cem>Wide World of Sports\u003c/em> and, you know, just the it pair team. These two kids, young teens from Los Angeles. We came out of nowhere. Our first nationals, I think I was 12, 1973, and it was white. [There were] maybe one or two other Black skaters. And, there’s my mom in a sea of white parents.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/-kP4LXNFeTU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/-kP4LXNFeTU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>I was there to work and compete. Call [us] whatever you’re going to call us; put us in whatever category you want to put us in; I still have to go out and compete. And, you know, when you’re winning, it shuts people up. We were spinning faster and jumping higher and at the top of the podium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Did I think about being a role model? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Now, looking back, I understand that I was. You start getting letters from kids in schools. Letters [from] kids of color saying, “It was so nice to see someone who looks like me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On media coverage of her mixed-race identity\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>When I got into figure skating, questions would come up — [TV] networks not knowing what to call me. They didn’t know where to put me. And the word “exotic” always came up. Why couldn’t they just call me what I was? What stopped them from saying what my mother was and what my father was?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They put me in the box that they felt comfortable in identifying me with.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On talking with her son about his mixed-race heritage\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scout is white — his dad’s white and Jewish — and then there’s my side of the family. I just tell him, “Scout, embrace everything that you are. Learn to embrace it. Honor your parents.” I tried to plant that seed early on with him. Embrace it all.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>On her work to diversify figure skating\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944236\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944236\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A female figure skater wearing a sparkly, red outfit spins around a child wearing a navy blue school uniform as they smile together on an ice rink outdoors with buildings and skyscrapers in the background.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1819\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-800x568.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1020x725.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1536x1091.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-2048x1455.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-564012449-1920x1364.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two-time Olympian, five-time US National Champion and World Champion Tai Babilonia spins Measia Aaron, 8, of the Sheenway School and Culture Center, at the Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink at Pershing Square in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, 2012. \u003ccite>(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It feels like skating is playing catch-up with everything. Back in the ’70s, there were a handful of Black skaters. There’s less now. That’s a problem. There’s so much work to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s getting the right people of color in the higher places like with U.S. figure skating. Why aren’t more people on staff of color? It’s still very white. I’m starting to see little changes. But we have to push.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"anchor\">\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "'The World Was Shocked': How the Winter Olympics Came to Tahoe in 1960",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/beijing-2022/#:~:text=When%20is%20the%20next%20Winter,scheduled%20for%2020%20February%202022.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">24th Winter Olympics\u003c/a> are unfolding in Beijing right now with endless hours of coverage and athlete profiles. It’s a much bigger event than the winter games held in the Tahoe valley back in 1960. At that time, there were no huge ski resorts and bustling crowds. The Olympics jump-started Tahoe’s reputation as a winter sports destination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Osvaldo and Eddy Ancinas live in Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe — right where the \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/squaw-valley-1960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">1960 Olympics\u003c/a> took place. Both remember those winter games as if they were yesterday. Back then, \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/athletes/osvaldo-a-ancinas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Osvaldo\u003c/a> was a dashing member of Argentina’s ski team, who competed in three alpine events — downhill, giant slalom and slalom. Eddy was one of the young multilingual women employed to make the visiting dignitaries feel welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like when you meet a wonderful family,” said Osvaldo, who can remember the folk song he performed at the athlete’s talent show held during the games one night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904458\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 765px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904458\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"765\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut.jpg 765w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut-160x161.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Olympic Village, 1960. The complex housed athletes and was mostly off-limits to others. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outsized and lasting impact\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Ancinases said the 1960 Olympics weren’t just memorable for the people who were there, like them. The event also had an outsized and lasting impact worldwide because of the many firsts and innovations that happened there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Technologies that we consider commonplace today, like instant replay and a first-of-its-kind refrigeration mechanism for the speed-skating oval, were pioneered or developed at those games. Also, this was the first time the Olympics were televised live nationwide. CBS bought the exclusive rights for $50,000, and Walter Cronkite reported live throughout the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904460\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904460\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-800x790.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-800x790.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-1020x1008.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-160x158.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-1536x1518.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pageantry chair Walt Disney at the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Walt Disney himself \u003c/a>was the pageantry chair. The entertainment king and winter sports enthusiast turned the event into a theatrical extravaganza worthy of TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disney’s team booked choirs and bands to play in Olympic Village and created giant, white statues of athletes that looked like they were carved out of ice (though in reality they were fashioned from wire and papier-mâché). At various points they released fireworks, balloons and even pigeons into the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddy Ancinas said the event took on an almost supernatural quality under Disney’s direction, especially after a heavy snowstorm delayed the start of the opening ceremony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904461\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904461\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-800x1007.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1007\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-800x1007.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-1020x1284.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-1221x1536.jpg 1221w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut.jpg 1498w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the massive athlete sculptures created by Walt Disney’s team for the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The blizzard suddenly ended, the sun came out and the sky was blue,” she said. “It was kind of like maybe God had a hand in this or something.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Myth-making vs. lost reality\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The weather wasn’t the only element to give the 1960 Olympics an almost mythological aura. Another is the U.S. men’s ice hockey team’s triumph against the fearsome Soviets — a big deal during the Cold War.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 540px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904386\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"316\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut.jpg 540w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut-160x94.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Historic ice hockey game between the U.S. and Soviet Union at the 1960 Olympics. The U.S. won 3-2. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And then there’s the narrative about how the games even made it to an obscure corner (at the time) of the Sierra Nevada in the first place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a David and Goliath story,” said Eddy, who wrote \u003ca href=\"https://www.talesfromtwovalleysbook.com/book/\">a 2019 book about the region’s ski history\u003c/a>. “There was nothing there, so they had a clean slate. To make that into an Olympic site was quite a feat.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what tends to get lost in accounts of the 1960 Olympic Games is the fact that they took place on unceded Indigenous lands — stolen land that had belonged to Native people for thousands of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People view this land as pristine and untouched,” said Herman Fillmore, culture and language resources director for the \u003ca href=\"https://washoetribe.us/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California\u003c/a>. “But this land was actually shaped by Indigenous peoples and our cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time of the Olympics, Fillmore said his tribe was in the middle of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/washoe-tribe-indian-claims-commission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decades-long lawsuit against the federal government\u003c/a> for the theft of roughly 6 million acres of Washoe lands, including the area where the Olympics were held. The Washoe had never formally entered into a treaty nor received compensation for land occupied by the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While Washoe people were undergoing a court case to gain any sort of restitution for the taking of our land, we coincidentally have the 1960 Olympics, where other nations are freely welcome to Washoe homelands, a place that Washoe people were no longer allowed to be,” Fillmore said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904384\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904384\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut-160x142.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Washoe tribespeople in their ancestral lands in the valley of Lake Tahoe. \u003ccite>(Library of Congress)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Both the tribe and local historians say the organizers of the Olympic Games did not consult Washoe people about their plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make matters worse, owners named the resort that hosted the games Squaw Valley, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13885276/squaw-valley-ski-resort-will-change-its-name\">a racist and misogynistic term used for Indigenous women\u003c/a>. European settlers had given the land that name in the mid-19th century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resort kept the name until September 2021, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/new-name\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">management rebranded it Palisades Tahoe\u003c/a>. Tribal members had been asking for the derogatory name to be removed for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The renaming of Palisades was long overdue,” said Fillmore.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The 1960 Olympic story\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Most historical accounts of the Tahoe Olympics begin with a picture of a sparkling white landscape, practically untouched by human hands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was almost nothing here: one lift, two rope tows, a lodge and a dirt road leading to it off the highway. And there were only two year-round families that lived in the valley itself,” said \u003ca href=\"http://www.tahoefacts.com/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Antonucci\u003c/a>, an avid cross-country skier, long-time Tahoe resident and author of the book “\u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Y5VTCC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Snowball’s Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tahoe Olympic story began in the waning days of 1954.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alex Cushing, who is a co-founder of what was then known as the Squaw Valley ski area, was reading the paper,” said Antonucci. “And he saw that the city of Reno was submitting a bid to host the 1960 Winter Olympics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That was all it took to give Cushing the improbable idea of pitching his own little ski resort as a contender for the privilege of hosting the 1960 Olympics, said Antonucci.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He thought, ‘Heck, Squaw Valley is a better mountain. I’ve got better conditions here. I wonder if I could submit a bid and just get some publicity for it?'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cushing was a Harvard-educated lawyer with many rich and powerful friends. He hurriedly put together a proposal, got financial backing from the California state Legislature, and traveled to New York to pitch the U.S. Olympic Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And much to the surprise of everybody, the U.S. Olympic Committee decided to nominate Squaw Valley to host the 1960 Winter Olympics,” Antonucci said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904462\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 755px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904462\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"755\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut.jpg 755w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut-160x163.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the opening ceremonies at the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Cushing still had to go to Paris and convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Tahoe should host the Games. Even though by this point he had the support of both the state of California and the U.S. federal government, his chances of winning looked pretty slim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s being told, ‘Forget it. You’ve got no chance. You’re just wasting your time,'” said Antonucci. “People in the Olympic orbit said, ‘Innsbruck, Austria, has it tied up.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cushing and his team didn’t give up. They started working their contacts around the globe. The lobbying effort included the then-unorthodox step of printing their proposal in Spanish — not just the official Olympic languages of English and French. [emailsignup newslettername=\"baycurious\" align=\"right\"]“He actually traveled or had representatives travel to South America to visit with IOC representatives that normally wouldn’t be interested in the Winter Olympics to get their support and make sure they would be in attendance and could vote,” Antonucci said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After two nail-biting rounds of voting, California prevailed, beating Innsbruck by just a couple of votes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The world was shocked,” said Antonucci, adding that another year would pass before the IOC definitively green-lit Cushing’s winning bid, asking him to raise several million dollars in funding first.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Disappearing history\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Palisades Tahoe\u003c/a>, the massive white mountains set against the limitless blue sky are just as awe-striking today as they likely were back in 1960. Antonucci points out where some of the Olympic races took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we look up this canyon here, this was the men’s downhill course,” he said. “It started up on that peak, which is called Palisades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Olympic logo, with its five, colorful interlocking circles symbolizing global unity, is a favorite location for a photo opp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But only a smattering of the original Olympic era structures remain. One such building is the Olympic Village Lodge, part of the complex that was used to house the athletes for the duration of the games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Olympic Village Lodge’s cavernous dining hall is where the athletes came together to socialize, eat and enjoy evening performances by some of the leading acts of the day like Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Walt Disney arranged for entertainment every night, and that was held in this room,” said Antonucci.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904380\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inside the dining room at Olympic Village Lodge, one of just a few spaces built for the 1960 Olympics that remain at Palisades Tahoe. \u003ccite>(Chloe Veltman/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But this historic building, like most of the others still standing at Palisades Tahoe, isn’t in great shape. The dining room roof is currently propped up by steel columns, following snow damage from a few years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After the Olympics, the facilities were originally to be operated by the state of California through its Department of Parks and Recreation as a public winter recreation site,” said Antonucci. “But it never became viable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Antonucci said the state eventually sold the buildings off bit by bit to developers and investors, until it all ended up under control of a privately owned resort.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>New developments\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The current resort owner, \u003ca href=\"https://www.alterramtnco.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alterra Mountain Company\u003c/a>, proposed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9344/Specific-Plan-for-Village-at-Squaw-Valley-PDF\">plan in 2016 to demolish the historic buildings\u003c/a> in order to make way for new development, including high-rise hotels and an indoor waterpark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local anti-development activists managed to stall these plans in court last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People who really value the sense of place that we still feel in the Tahoe Sierra are working together to demand something better,” said Tom Mooers, executive director of the Nevada City-based conservation group \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierrawatch.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sierra Watch\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are committed to carrying out a responsible development project,” said \u003ca href=\"https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/press/dee-byrne-named-president-coo-of-squaw-valley-alpine-meadows/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Palisades Tahoe President and COO Dee Byrne\u003c/a> in an email. “This project will provide significant benefits to our community, such as new jobs, increased tax revenue, new affordable housing units and millions in funds for conservation and transit to Olympic Valley and the region. Unfortunately, due to the 2021 court decision, we will now have to wait longer to see those benefits come to fruition and begin to serve our community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of what happens next in court, David Antonucci is resigned to the idea that eventually the historic buildings will likely come down. He expressed sadness, but said the structures mostly fall short of current ADA and energy conservation standards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Something has to happen,” Antonucci said. “These buildings are at the end of their useful life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Olympic future at Tahoe\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever since the 1980s, a variety of local groups, such as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.renotahoewintergames.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition\u003c/a>, have been working to bring the Olympics back to the Sierra Nevada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most recent efforts fell by the wayside in 2018. But that doesn’t put a definitive end to the possibility of the games returning at some point down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11904381 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eddy Ancinas, David Antonucci and Osvaldo Ancinas in Tahoe City. \u003ccite>(Chloe Veltman/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The idea, however, holds little interest for Eddy and Osvaldo Ancinas, even though they hold cherished memories of the 1960 event.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr>\n“It’s just so different right now,” said Osvaldo. “The cost is going to be horrible. Billions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So many people,” said Eddy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the meantime, the couple, together with David Antonucci, are part of a group working to salvage the region’s Olympic history as best as they can. They’re planning to build a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thesnowmuseum.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20,000-square-foot museum\u003c/a> at the entrance to Olympic Valley, right where the Olympic torch still burns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "The 1960 Winter Olympics held in the Sierra Nevada transformed a sleepy valley into a ski haven. Organizers tried out new ideas, like instant replay and nationally televising the events — ideas that are commonplace now.",
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"title": "'The World Was Shocked': How the Winter Olympics Came to Tahoe in 1960 | KQED",
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"subhead": "The behind-the-scenes story of the 1960 Tahoe Winter Olympics.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/beijing-2022/#:~:text=When%20is%20the%20next%20Winter,scheduled%20for%2020%20February%202022.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">24th Winter Olympics\u003c/a> are unfolding in Beijing right now with endless hours of coverage and athlete profiles. It’s a much bigger event than the winter games held in the Tahoe valley back in 1960. At that time, there were no huge ski resorts and bustling crowds. The Olympics jump-started Tahoe’s reputation as a winter sports destination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Osvaldo and Eddy Ancinas live in Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe — right where the \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/squaw-valley-1960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">1960 Olympics\u003c/a> took place. Both remember those winter games as if they were yesterday. Back then, \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/athletes/osvaldo-a-ancinas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Osvaldo\u003c/a> was a dashing member of Argentina’s ski team, who competed in three alpine events — downhill, giant slalom and slalom. Eddy was one of the young multilingual women employed to make the visiting dignitaries feel welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like when you meet a wonderful family,” said Osvaldo, who can remember the folk song he performed at the athlete’s talent show held during the games one night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904458\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 765px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904458\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"765\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut.jpg 765w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53559_Olympic-Athlete-Village-qut-160x161.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Olympic Village, 1960. The complex housed athletes and was mostly off-limits to others. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outsized and lasting impact\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Ancinases said the 1960 Olympics weren’t just memorable for the people who were there, like them. The event also had an outsized and lasting impact worldwide because of the many firsts and innovations that happened there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Technologies that we consider commonplace today, like instant replay and a first-of-its-kind refrigeration mechanism for the speed-skating oval, were pioneered or developed at those games. Also, this was the first time the Olympics were televised live nationwide. CBS bought the exclusive rights for $50,000, and Walter Cronkite reported live throughout the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904460\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904460\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-800x790.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-800x790.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-1020x1008.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-160x158.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut-1536x1518.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53562_Disney-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pageantry chair Walt Disney at the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Walt Disney himself \u003c/a>was the pageantry chair. The entertainment king and winter sports enthusiast turned the event into a theatrical extravaganza worthy of TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disney’s team booked choirs and bands to play in Olympic Village and created giant, white statues of athletes that looked like they were carved out of ice (though in reality they were fashioned from wire and papier-mâché). At various points they released fireworks, balloons and even pigeons into the sky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddy Ancinas said the event took on an almost supernatural quality under Disney’s direction, especially after a heavy snowstorm delayed the start of the opening ceremony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904461\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904461\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-800x1007.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1007\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-800x1007.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-1020x1284.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut-1221x1536.jpg 1221w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53561_Sculpture-1-qut.jpg 1498w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the massive athlete sculptures created by Walt Disney’s team for the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The blizzard suddenly ended, the sun came out and the sky was blue,” she said. “It was kind of like maybe God had a hand in this or something.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Myth-making vs. lost reality\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The weather wasn’t the only element to give the 1960 Olympics an almost mythological aura. Another is the U.S. men’s ice hockey team’s triumph against the fearsome Soviets — a big deal during the Cold War.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 540px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904386\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"316\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut.jpg 540w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53532_Squaw-Valley-US-Russia-Final_Buzzer-1960-qut-160x94.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Historic ice hockey game between the U.S. and Soviet Union at the 1960 Olympics. The U.S. won 3-2. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And then there’s the narrative about how the games even made it to an obscure corner (at the time) of the Sierra Nevada in the first place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a David and Goliath story,” said Eddy, who wrote \u003ca href=\"https://www.talesfromtwovalleysbook.com/book/\">a 2019 book about the region’s ski history\u003c/a>. “There was nothing there, so they had a clean slate. To make that into an Olympic site was quite a feat.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what tends to get lost in accounts of the 1960 Olympic Games is the fact that they took place on unceded Indigenous lands — stolen land that had belonged to Native people for thousands of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People view this land as pristine and untouched,” said Herman Fillmore, culture and language resources director for the \u003ca href=\"https://washoetribe.us/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California\u003c/a>. “But this land was actually shaped by Indigenous peoples and our cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time of the Olympics, Fillmore said his tribe was in the middle of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/washoe-tribe-indian-claims-commission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decades-long lawsuit against the federal government\u003c/a> for the theft of roughly 6 million acres of Washoe lands, including the area where the Olympics were held. The Washoe had never formally entered into a treaty nor received compensation for land occupied by the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While Washoe people were undergoing a court case to gain any sort of restitution for the taking of our land, we coincidentally have the 1960 Olympics, where other nations are freely welcome to Washoe homelands, a place that Washoe people were no longer allowed to be,” Fillmore said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904384\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904384\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53530_library-of-congress-1866-washoe-indians-valley-of-lake-tahoe-qut-160x142.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Washoe tribespeople in their ancestral lands in the valley of Lake Tahoe. \u003ccite>(Library of Congress)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Both the tribe and local historians say the organizers of the Olympic Games did not consult Washoe people about their plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make matters worse, owners named the resort that hosted the games Squaw Valley, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13885276/squaw-valley-ski-resort-will-change-its-name\">a racist and misogynistic term used for Indigenous women\u003c/a>. European settlers had given the land that name in the mid-19th century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resort kept the name until September 2021, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/new-name\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">management rebranded it Palisades Tahoe\u003c/a>. Tribal members had been asking for the derogatory name to be removed for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The renaming of Palisades was long overdue,” said Fillmore.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The 1960 Olympic story\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Most historical accounts of the Tahoe Olympics begin with a picture of a sparkling white landscape, practically untouched by human hands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was almost nothing here: one lift, two rope tows, a lodge and a dirt road leading to it off the highway. And there were only two year-round families that lived in the valley itself,” said \u003ca href=\"http://www.tahoefacts.com/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Antonucci\u003c/a>, an avid cross-country skier, long-time Tahoe resident and author of the book “\u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Y5VTCC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Snowball’s Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tahoe Olympic story began in the waning days of 1954.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Alex Cushing, who is a co-founder of what was then known as the Squaw Valley ski area, was reading the paper,” said Antonucci. “And he saw that the city of Reno was submitting a bid to host the 1960 Winter Olympics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That was all it took to give Cushing the improbable idea of pitching his own little ski resort as a contender for the privilege of hosting the 1960 Olympics, said Antonucci.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He thought, ‘Heck, Squaw Valley is a better mountain. I’ve got better conditions here. I wonder if I could submit a bid and just get some publicity for it?'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cushing was a Harvard-educated lawyer with many rich and powerful friends. He hurriedly put together a proposal, got financial backing from the California state Legislature, and traveled to New York to pitch the U.S. Olympic Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And much to the surprise of everybody, the U.S. Olympic Committee decided to nominate Squaw Valley to host the 1960 Winter Olympics,” Antonucci said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904462\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 755px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11904462\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"755\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut.jpg 755w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53560_Opening-2-qut-160x163.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the opening ceremonies at the 1960 Olympics. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Bill Briner)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Cushing still had to go to Paris and convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Tahoe should host the Games. Even though by this point he had the support of both the state of California and the U.S. federal government, his chances of winning looked pretty slim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s being told, ‘Forget it. You’ve got no chance. You’re just wasting your time,'” said Antonucci. “People in the Olympic orbit said, ‘Innsbruck, Austria, has it tied up.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cushing and his team didn’t give up. They started working their contacts around the globe. The lobbying effort included the then-unorthodox step of printing their proposal in Spanish — not just the official Olympic languages of English and French. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“He actually traveled or had representatives travel to South America to visit with IOC representatives that normally wouldn’t be interested in the Winter Olympics to get their support and make sure they would be in attendance and could vote,” Antonucci said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After two nail-biting rounds of voting, California prevailed, beating Innsbruck by just a couple of votes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The world was shocked,” said Antonucci, adding that another year would pass before the IOC definitively green-lit Cushing’s winning bid, asking him to raise several million dollars in funding first.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Disappearing history\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Palisades Tahoe\u003c/a>, the massive white mountains set against the limitless blue sky are just as awe-striking today as they likely were back in 1960. Antonucci points out where some of the Olympic races took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we look up this canyon here, this was the men’s downhill course,” he said. “It started up on that peak, which is called Palisades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Olympic logo, with its five, colorful interlocking circles symbolizing global unity, is a favorite location for a photo opp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But only a smattering of the original Olympic era structures remain. One such building is the Olympic Village Lodge, part of the complex that was used to house the athletes for the duration of the games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Olympic Village Lodge’s cavernous dining hall is where the athletes came together to socialize, eat and enjoy evening performances by some of the leading acts of the day like Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Walt Disney arranged for entertainment every night, and that was held in this room,” said Antonucci.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11904380\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53529_olympic-village-lodge-dining-hall-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inside the dining room at Olympic Village Lodge, one of just a few spaces built for the 1960 Olympics that remain at Palisades Tahoe. \u003ccite>(Chloe Veltman/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But this historic building, like most of the others still standing at Palisades Tahoe, isn’t in great shape. The dining room roof is currently propped up by steel columns, following snow damage from a few years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After the Olympics, the facilities were originally to be operated by the state of California through its Department of Parks and Recreation as a public winter recreation site,” said Antonucci. “But it never became viable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Antonucci said the state eventually sold the buildings off bit by bit to developers and investors, until it all ended up under control of a privately owned resort.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>New developments\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The current resort owner, \u003ca href=\"https://www.alterramtnco.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alterra Mountain Company\u003c/a>, proposed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9344/Specific-Plan-for-Village-at-Squaw-Valley-PDF\">plan in 2016 to demolish the historic buildings\u003c/a> in order to make way for new development, including high-rise hotels and an indoor waterpark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local anti-development activists managed to stall these plans in court last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People who really value the sense of place that we still feel in the Tahoe Sierra are working together to demand something better,” said Tom Mooers, executive director of the Nevada City-based conservation group \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierrawatch.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sierra Watch\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are committed to carrying out a responsible development project,” said \u003ca href=\"https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/press/dee-byrne-named-president-coo-of-squaw-valley-alpine-meadows/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Palisades Tahoe President and COO Dee Byrne\u003c/a> in an email. “This project will provide significant benefits to our community, such as new jobs, increased tax revenue, new affordable housing units and millions in funds for conservation and transit to Olympic Valley and the region. Unfortunately, due to the 2021 court decision, we will now have to wait longer to see those benefits come to fruition and begin to serve our community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of what happens next in court, David Antonucci is resigned to the idea that eventually the historic buildings will likely come down. He expressed sadness, but said the structures mostly fall short of current ADA and energy conservation standards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Something has to happen,” Antonucci said. “These buildings are at the end of their useful life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Olympic future at Tahoe\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever since the 1980s, a variety of local groups, such as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.renotahoewintergames.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition\u003c/a>, have been working to bring the Olympics back to the Sierra Nevada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most recent efforts fell by the wayside in 2018. But that doesn’t put a definitive end to the possibility of the games returning at some point down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11904381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11904381 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/RS53528_eddy-osvaldo-and-dave-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eddy Ancinas, David Antonucci and Osvaldo Ancinas in Tahoe City. \u003ccite>(Chloe Veltman/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The idea, however, holds little interest for Eddy and Osvaldo Ancinas, even though they hold cherished memories of the 1960 event.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr>\n“It’s just so different right now,” said Osvaldo. “The cost is going to be horrible. Billions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So many people,” said Eddy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the meantime, the couple, together with David Antonucci, are part of a group working to salvage the region’s Olympic history as best as they can. They’re planning to build a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thesnowmuseum.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20,000-square-foot museum\u003c/a> at the entrance to Olympic Valley, right where the Olympic torch still burns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"soldout": {
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"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
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