It didn’t match the thunderous ovation she received four days earlier after her historic performance at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, but Richmond’s Alysa Liu received a warm reception when she made her triumphant return to the Bay Area late Monday night.
After Liu, 20, became the first American female figure skater to win a gold medal in 24 years at the Winter Olympics in Milan, she was greeted by cheers after she exited her flight at SFO.
Lugging a blue “USA” backpack and walking alone, Liu was handed two red gift bags as soon as she entered the terminal. What appeared to be a small group of onlookers who had been awaiting her arrival cheered, shouting “welcome home” and “congratulations.” In a TikTok video, a woman excitedly covered her mouth with her hand after explaining why the crowd had formed before Liu emerged: “We are waiting for Alysa to get off the plane,” she said…