The promise of free ice cream for life might sound like a joke. In Oakland, it became a tribute. After figure skater Alysa Liu captured Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Games, the hometown celebration began almost immediately. Fentons Creamery, a longtime Bay Area institution, announced it would reward the 20-year-old champion with unlimited ice cream and host a public welcome when she returns from Italy. The gesture reflected something larger than dessert. It marked a city claiming one of its own. Liu’s victory carried historic weight. She became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in individual figure skating since 2002, ending a drought that had stretched across generations of fans. Her performances in Milan combined technical confidence with artistic control, including a free skate set to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park.” The celebration back home moved quickly, with messages of pride spreading across local organizations and public figures. Gold medallist Alysa Liu of the United States, flanked by silver medallist Sakamoto Kaori (left) and bronze medalist Nakai Ami (right), both from Japan, on …