INTERVIEW: Alysa Liu reflects on life as a superstar as she returns to skate in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Alysa Liu is bringing her skating career full circle as she returns to the Bay Area for the Stars on Ice tour stop at SAP Center on Sunday. The Bay Area native talked with ABC7 Eyewitness News about the show and her new life as an Olympic champion and cultural icon.

Liu, who has been performing with fellow Team USA athletes in cities across the country, said she is excited to skate for a hometown crowd and looks forward to the energy that comes with it. She also reflected on what she enjoys about show skating, which offers a different pace and atmosphere from competition.

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"Being on tour has been really fun," Liu said. "The crowds have been insane already and I just have a feeling it's just gonna be the craziest in San Jose. And I'm really excited to see my friends and my family again. It's been a bit. We've been on tour for like a month and a half now, and so I'm excited to perform for them."

In terms of competition, Liu noted how important she thinks sportsmanship is and how it's not discussed enough.

"I don't see my competitors as competitors, they're really just my friends, or other skaters, like they've got their own stuff going on," she said.

Her life has been dramatically different and glamorous since winning gold, from a hometown celebration in Oakland to walking major red carpets, including the Met Gala earlier this month. Liu said she is enjoying the experience while staying grounded through the support systems around her.

"I have yet to find out how crazy life will be cause I haven't been home," she said. "So I'm hoping it's not too different from pre-Olympics but we'll see how I deal and how I manage."

With May marking AAPI Heritage Month, Liu discussed her identity as someone who is half Chinese. She spoke about how she approaches being a representative of the community and what she hopes to achieve with her global profile.

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"I really do love being half Chinese, I feel like it has shaped me in every way possible," she said. "I'm excited if I can rep anyone out there."

Liu said she has many opportunities ahead and hinted at projects and broader goals she is exploring. She also addressed the question of whether she sees herself competing again, including the possibility of 2030.

The Stars on Ice performance in San Jose is scheduled for Sunday. Other Olympians performing include: Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea and more.