For many people, reaching the top of their profession is a lifetime goal. Even being in the running or the top spot would be an incredible feat. And that is very true for athletes who participate in sports that are covered in the Olympics. There are few greater accolades than being on the podium representing the whole country and bringing home a medal.
Attending the games is a significant event. For many people, commemorating important moments in the form of a tattoo is a great way to memorialize something truly special. So it’s probably no surprise that tattoos are common among athletes who make it to the games. And there are so many ways they’ve chosen to mark this moment on their skin, each special and beautiful in their own way.
Whether in the Olympics as a participant, a huge supporter of someone who is, or just enjoy the Games that come around every four years, here are 15 tattoos perfect for people obsessed with this worldwide event.
The Black & White Rings
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The Olympic rings are synonymous with the Games and they’re recognizable even if they’re not featured with their signature colors. This tattoo is one we see often on athletes who have made it to the games as a way to commemorate their incredible achievement in sports. Not everyone can say they made it to the highest level.
Watercolor Rings
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We love watercolor tattoos because they seem so fluid and add a gorgeous element to a piece of tattoo art. This is a pretty way to incorporate the colors of the Olympics logo without being the standard logo that we see everywhere. This particular one is inspired by the 2016 games, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Honoring the Torch
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This beautiful tattoo is a tribute to the Olympic torch and this person’s relationship with their father. “My client’s father held the 2012 Olympic touch through Loughborough [UK],” the tattoo artist explained in the caption. “And so he wanted a realistic rendition of that torch with him and his father’s silhouette”
A Podium Moment
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For many athletes, being up on that podium and receiving a bronze, silver, or gold medal is a dream come true. To be able to represent their country and the sport they’ve poured so much love into is what they’re ultimately striving for. So, it’s no surprise that honoring that moment makes a really cool tattoo.
A Flame Moment
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Few people get the honor of being a part of the Olympic torch relay, which symbolizes the whole Olympics. It’s lit before the games and is relayed through the host country by a series of athletes, until it reaches the opening ceremony. The flame then remains lit until the end of the Games. For anyone who has been part of the tradition, which began in 1928, it makes for a cool tattoo.
Arrows & Rings
The multicolored interlocking Olympic rings form a logo that is instantly recognizable. It’s also a simple graphic design that’s easy to make into a tattoo. Each of the rings represent the five continents of the world. We love this subtle change to it with this tattoo with the arrows. It would make a great tattoo for someone who participates in archery!
Let’s Play Volleyball
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For athletes who play volleyball — or the fans who are super supportive — this tattoo is a beautiful nod to the sport that is a part of the Summer Olympics. The shape of the volleyball, surrounded by the rings in a beautiful watercolor style, is the right mix of beauty and power for the best volleyball players in the world.
Taking in the Scenery
There are so many ways to honor the love of the Olympics in tattoo form, and for anyone who doesn’t want to make it super obvious, this is a good twist. Choose the scenery that the location where the games took place is known for and it’s not only pretty but memorable, too. And super creative.
Time To Swim
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Swimming is one of the events that take place at the Summer Games, and swimming races can be really fun to watch. These athletes are incredible in the water, whether they’re competing on their own or working a relay race together. This tattoo is a beautiful way to honor those athletes who make it look so easy to be able to move so fast in the water.
Water Polo
Water polo is one of those sports that people really only think about if they play it. And the sport is full of super talented athletes who make the event seem like it’s second nature. It’s also one of the sports that is fun to watch during the Olympics because we don’t see it generally in our daily life and it’s such an underrated sport.
Let’s Go for a Run
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There are so many track events at the Olympics, and the runners are really impressive to watch. There’s so much more to it than just going as fast as you can — building up enough speed and endurance to be able to go these long distances is incredible. This tattoo is a beautiful way to honor to the dedication and work required to get to this level.
The Rings & the Stars Together
This tattoo is on the back of the neck of Australian athlete Jaele Patrick. She’s an Olympic diver who specializes in the 3-meter springboard diving events at the Olympics. She began diving at 15 years old, after starting her sports career in gymnastics. This tattoo symbolizes her Olympic run, attending the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Fencing Is Life
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To make the qualifiers to get on the Olympic team requires a lot of work, dedication, and focus. To be able to do that, there needs to be a passion for the sport and many will say things like they “eat, breathe, and sleep,” their sport. And that’s why this fencing tattoo, along with heartbeats, is so perfect. There’s no question that fencing is important in this person’s life.
The Colored Torch
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This tattoo is a beautiful reminder of the Olympic games, with several elements that are connected to the games. A hand holding the torch and the space between the pieces symbolize the colors associated with the Olympic rings in the logo. It’s one of the more complex ones we’ve seen!
Weightlifting
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This tattoo is a beautiful nod to the weightlifting sport, one where people have their strength tested, and they take it to the extremes. This one’s artistic in that it looks like watercolor with the speckles of red and blue highlighting the different weightlifting poses. It’s a really cool looking tattoo, too.
Gold Medal
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We know that winning isn’t everything there is to competition and sports, but when it comes to the Olympic Games, being able to take a gold medal home is incredible. It’s a symbol of all that work and dedication and that’s why this tattoo is powerful — a reminder of one of the biggest achievements in the sports world.
