Olympic tattoo
Olympic tattoos are a tradition among athletes who compete in the Olympic Games of tattooing the Olympic rings symbol. The practice dates back to at least the 1980s, when swimmer Chris Jacobs received a tattoo of the rings to commemorate his participation in the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Olympic tattoo has since become common practice among individuals who compete in the Games. Cited reasons for the tattoo usually include a signal of status as an Olympian, a personal reminder of success, and a show of camaraderie with teammates. While the tattoos are typically done by athletes who compete in the Games, others may sometimes obtain the artwork, such as parents of athletes.
History
Origin
The interlocking rings symbolizing the Olympic Games, and later featured in the tattoo, were proposed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913 and first used in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Around six decades later, in the 1980s, the rings began appearing in tattoos. The American swimmer Chris Jacobs is commonly credited as the first individuals to receive the Olympic tattoo. Jacobs reported feeling inspired after seeing a tattoo of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf on a fellow swimmer. The Olympic tattoo became popular among American swimmers and then broadly adopted by members of other sports across countries. Journalist Rick Maese explained the appeal of the tattoo in The Washington Post:The tattoo has been described as a rite of passage for those who qualify for the Games. Obtaining the tattoo has also acted as a driving factor for athletes. Swimmer Missy Franklin was quoted in Reuters as saying: "I've seen on all the other athletes and it's so cool. I've used it as my motivation". While the tattoo is most common among athletes, some people who did not compete in the Games also chose to get the tattoo, such as the parents of Olympians. Olympic archer Brady Ellison stated: "I feel like the Olympic rings is the one tattoo that only we can get".