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.

Liu touched down two days after she concluded her Olympics at the post-competition exhibition gala, skating to “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Lawson. Two days earlier, Liu’s transcendent free skate allowed her to make history after she was in third place following the short program.

With her victory, Liu became the eighth American female figure skater to win Olympic gold, and the first since Sarah Hughes in 2002. An American woman hadn’t medaled since Sasha Cohen earned silver in 2006. Among the golden group of eight, Liu is one of three from the Bay Area, joining Fremont’s Kristi Yamaguchi (1992) and San Jose’s Peggy Fleming (1968).