U.S. swimmers are heading home with Olympic experiences embedded in their memories. Now, many are weighing whether to engrave the Olympic rings on their epidermis.
Tattoos of the five interlocking circles are a tradition on the team. But it often triggers a tense debate around the family dinner table.
Kara Lynn Joyce’s parents in Ann Arbor, Mich., have all but signed off on the ink job but want some voice in the details. “Our discussion has been how big,” said Kathleen Joyce, whose daughter brings back two silver medals from relays. “Placement is a factor, but the important thing is [small] size.”
Amanda Weir is undecided. Kara Lynn Joyce suspects her Olympic roommate will join the tat pack, but Weir said Monday she remains firmly on the fence.
“It’s a big decision,” she fretted.
Kaitlin Sandena inked her lower back at the Sydney Games. She has no regrets.
The hip is the hip choice for shy swimmers, so the body art is obscured by normal clothing. Mary Descenza, who missed out on the Olympics, had only ruled out her butt as a location, worried that the tat “might grow” over the years.
