Alysa Liu Teeth detail sparks conversation as skater sits third, eyes free skate
Alysa Liu Teeth have become a signature element of the skater's comeback persona, drawing attention as she sits in third place after the women's figure skating short program with the free skate scheduled for Thursday night ET.
Alysa Liu Teeth: the piercing, the DIY story and the look
The shiny accent on Liu’s grin is not a gem but a prominent frenulum piercing—commonly called a "smiley"—that connects across the upper part of her gums. The piercing is visibly tied to her frequent smiles and has been openly presented as a deliberate part of her style. Liu pierced her own labial frenulum, holding her lip with a sibling and placing the needle herself, a detail that has amplified the public conversation about both self-expression and potential health risks associated with the trend.
Her hair and overall styling have been similarly curated: Liu has described a recurring halo design she adds to over time, likening it to the rings of a tree and treating hairstyling as another canvas for personal narrative. Those choices are being presented alongside the frenulum piercing as conscious elements of how she chooses to skate on her own terms.
Skating on her terms — competitive position and creative partnership
Liu returned to the sport with clear conditions governing her second run: she would wear what she wants, dance to the music she chooses, eat when she wants and take breaks on her schedule. That approach has carried into the Olympics: she was part of the U. S. squad that won gold in the team event and now sits in third after the short program, bunched with a tight group at the top as the competition heads into the free skate Thursday night ET.
Her choreographer has been central to translating that autonomy into performance. The longtime choreographer embraced the piercing and the broader aesthetic, seeing it as part of the authentic story the skater wants to tell on the ice. That collaborative relationship emphasizes projecting the person who skates rather than subsuming identity to competitive expectation, a dynamic that has helped shape programs designed to showcase Liu’s individuality as she pursues a high finish in the individual event.
How style and sport intersect as the free skate approaches
As the free skate looms Thursday night ET, attention has split between technical outcomes and the visible symbols of Liu’s self-styled comeback. The frenulum piercing and the evolving hair halo symbolize the larger creative control she demanded upon returning to competition—an ethos that has already coincided with tangible success in the team event and a strong short-program position heading into the decisive free skate.
Observers of the field will watch whether the stylistic choices that have helped define Liu’s current public image translate into the sort of performance that can move her from third place into medal contention. For now, the piercing continues to be a talking point: a keystone of the aesthetic she asserts while balancing competitive goals, choreographic partnership and the scrutiny that follows visible deviations from traditional skating presentation.
The coming free skate night ET will be a key moment for Liu’s comeback narrative, testing how her creative control and on-ice execution converge when the medals are decided.
