There's a story behind American figure skater Alysa Liu's gold-medal smile.
The 20-year-old Olympian, who claimed gold Thursday following a dazzling performance in the women's free skate at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, has gone viral over her frenulum piercing, which is in "tissue that connects her upper lip to her gums," accompanied by jewels prominently featured over her top front teeth, according to NBC Sports.
"I pierced it a little over two years ago now," Liu said of the piercing, which she calls her "smiley," in an interview with TMJ4 News.
Alysa Liu smiles after taking gold in the women's free skate on Feb. 19, 2026. James Lang-Imagn Images
"I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror and I had my piercing needle and then — yeah, I just put it through," she said.
Liu's mouth jewels were on full display Thursday when she ended the United States' 24-year gold-medal drought in figure skating.
She posted a score of 150.20 for a total of 226.79, which included her score of 76.59 from Tuesday's short program.
Upon concluding her program, Liu exclaimed into the nearby cameras, "That's what I'm f–king talking about!"
The Olympian's "smiley" piercing has gone viral during the Milano Cortina Games. James Lang-Imagn Images
Liu's shining moment came two years after she originally called it a career in 2022 amid competition fatigue.
When she returned to the ice in 2024, she wanted to do it on her own terms.
"I think my story is more important than anything to me," Liu said, "and that's what I will hold dear, and this journey has been incredible, and my life has just been — I have no complaints."
Liu smiled atop the podium while Japan's Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai finished second and third, respectively.
Alysa Liu returned to skating in 2024 after retiring two years earlier. Getty Images
In addition to her gold medal in singles, Liu and her teammates, including Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, took gold in the team event.
The 2026 Winter Olympics conclude Sunday.
