The History of the Olympic Rings Tattoo

When the world’s greatest athletes come to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic Games, the Olympic medals won’t be the only thing they will be after…  They will be after permanent glory, and something else that is permanent as well… Olympic ring tattoos.

In 2028, it is likely that more athletes will return home with Olympic ring tattoos than with medals. This trend is particularly fitting for a Games hosted in Southern California—the birthplace and undisputed capital of American tattooing. And just like the Olympics, the art of the tattoo serves as a powerful way of uniting people from across the globe in a shared celebration of achievement and identity.

Being a staple in the Southern California body art world, and having locations near many of the venues of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, we at Mr. Inkwells felt it was our duty to try and help explain the phenomena of the Olympic ring tattoos.

Tattoos can be more than just ink, they can be physical reminders of your own personal journey through life. This is especially true for Olympic ring tattoos. These tattoos represent the sacrifice, dedication, and the sheer will it takes to become an Olympian. The road to finding the exact history of the Olympic ring tattoos is tough, and the journey didn’t always lead to places we expected, but in the end, this is where the path led us. 

So let’s take a deep dive into this athletic rite of passage, and find out how the Olympic ring tattoo trend started, what it means, and how this tradition will look in the future

The Origins of Olympic Ring Tattoos

When it comes to the true origin of Olympic ring tattoos, there are many theories. Some say that Olympians have been getting them since as early as the 1970s. That could be possible, but there is no actual evidence. No pictures, no news stories, just people’s claims that they knew about them, or they saw athletes with them. As you know, this is not real evidence, so it is relegated to myth until we can find more evidence or the pioneering Olympic athlete steps forward with a carbon-dated tattoo to prove they were the first.

The first actual evidence we have for an Olympic ring tattoo comes from 1988, a cosmopolitan story of an American athlete inspired by his competitors from Canada...

Following the 1988 Seoul Olympics, American swimmer Chris Jacobs noticed members of the Canadian swim team sporting small maple leaf tattoos. Inspired, Jacobs decided to commemorate his own Olympic journey by getting a small Olympic ring tattoo in between the horns of his longhorn tattoo he got to commemorate his college. It was small, and tattooed right on his swim trunks line so it could be easily hidden (that’s right, there was a time when even Americans had to hide tattoos). As time passed, and tattoos became more acceptable, Chris decided to get what he really wanted in 1988, a much larger, much more visible version of the iconic rings in color on his bicep.

Not only did the Olympic ring tattoo have its origins in the water, ironically the trend "caught fire” there too. After fellow swimmers saw Chris’s tattoo, swimmers around the world began getting Olympic ring tattoos and tattoos of all kinds.

But, why were tattoos so popular with swimmers?

The reason is quite simple: Swimmers, especially those swimming at an Olympic level, need to remove anything that can slow them down. This means unlike other athletes, they cannot, in any way, customize their appearance. No different equipment, shoes, etc.; they all wear the same swimsuits, cover their hair with a cap, or shave it. This means they physically can show no personality. Except, that is, with a tattoo. A tattoo gives swimmers autonomy; it gives them a way to express themselves and show their personality without sacrificing performance in the water.

As more and more Olympic swimmers were sporting their Olympic ring tattoos, other Olympians from different disciplines started noticing them. And because tattoos are awesome, the fire that started in the water spread from sport to sport, athlete to athlete. Soon, what started as a fad amongst swimmers as a way to express themselves in the late 80s and 90s exploded across all Olympic sports by the 2000s. Today, you’ll see the rings tattooed on Olympians from any sport, any country, man or woman. From simple to intricate designs and everything in between.

The Ancient Roots of Modern Olympic Ring Tattoos

In Ancient Greece where the Olympics were born, eudaimonia was the goal of every citizen. Eudaimonia roughly translates to “human flourishing” in English. To the Greeks, human flourishing meant that people built themselves to the best they could be, mentally, physically, and as pieces of a larger society. Eudaimonia is what the Olympics represent; it is not just “natural talent.” It’s physical and mental dedication to your sport, your team, and your country. It’s waking up before sunrise to push through relentless training sessions while the world sleeps. It’s stripping away distractions and maintaining an iron will in the face of failure, injury, and exhaustion. It’s pushing yourself to your limits and past them, day after day, year after year. That’s what makes an Olympic ring tattoo so special. Those five simple rings represent that you have truly flourished, that you have done what it takes to actually see what you are truly capable of. And that is special; most people never get that, they never find eudaimonia.

Team USA archer Brady Ellison once said, "I feel like the Olympic rings is the one tattoo that only we can get." 

When an athlete walks into a tattoo shop and asks for those five rings, they aren't just getting a logo. They are permanently recording a lifetime of immense sacrifice. The tattoo is an equalizer, whether you finish first or fiftieth, if you made it to the Games, you earned the ink.

The Evolution of the Olympic Ring Tattoo

As mentioned above, the first recorded Olympic ring tattoo that swimmer Chris Jacobs got was very simple, just five small rings in black ink. Although some athletes still have simple and classic Olympic ring tattoos (who doesn’t love a clean line work tattoo?), many are creating more custom pieces that are specifically tailored to each individual Olympian.

Many athletes like to pay homage to their hometowns with their tattoos, incorporating landmarks, colors, and other elements to rep where they came from. Others like to rep their sports, their hobbies, and other things that make them, them.

The host city also gets a lot of love in Olympic ring tattoos regardless of where the athlete is from. These tattoos serve as a reminder of where you competed and went against the world's best.

Some Olympians, taking a page from Chris’s OG ring tattoo, like to hide their ink. Popular locations include inside the wrist, on the ankle, and tucked behind the ear. These ring tattoos, if you are able to find them, have a more subtle, understated aesthetic.

Looking Ahead to LA28

With the popularity of tattoos, and body art in general, still growing, and the Olympics being held in arguably the tattoo capital of the world, SoCal, LA2028 will likely see more Olympic ring tattoos than ever before.

At Mr. Inkwells we are excited and honored to be a part of this tradition. It is rare that the world unites in a global effort to celebrate human achievement regardless of where you are from, what language you speak, or any differences we have.  We set that all aside for an event, and we get a chance to see what is truly possible when we forget about our borders and invite humans to come together and push each other to new realms of excellence.

LA2028 will be a historic event, and many Olympians will be capturing this moment in history and preserving it on their skin forever. Five simple rings that represent global unity and the union of five inhabited continents. They represent hope, dedication, and the endless possibilities of human achievement. They inspire billions, whether they are athletes or not. Just seeing them reminds us to be better, to live better, and to reach for the stars.

That is real art. That is why we get tattoos.