Shallon Olsen, of Canada, performs on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo.
A tattoo of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games decorates the body of Joana Heidrich, of Switzerland, as she prepares to serve against Germany during a women’s beach volleyball match, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A swimmer walks on the pool deck before racing at the Tokyo Aquatic Center at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Vanessa Ferrari, of Italy, performs during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Adam Peaty of Britain exercises with a tattoo of the Olympic rings during a swimming training session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
CHOFU, JAPAN – JULY 26: A picture shows Gabriela Stoeva’s tattoo and fingernails as she serves during a Women’s Doubles Group D match between Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva of Team Bulgaria and Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan of Team China on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on July 26, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 21: A Olympic ring tattoo is seen on the neck of Marios Georgiou of Team Cyprus during Men’s Podium Training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 21, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir, right, blocks a punch by Mauritius’ Louis Richamo Colin during their men’s lightweight 63kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Poland Zofia Noceti-Klepacka competes during race 2 of the women’s RS:X class at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Fujisawa, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Spain’s Gabriel Escobar Mascunano during his fight with Argentina’s Ramon Nicanor Quiroga at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Buda Mendes/Pool Photo via AP)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 25: A tattoo is seen on the arm of Luka Plantic of Croatia during the Men’s Light Heavy (75-81kg) on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Luis Robayo – Pool/Getty Images)
Kaylee Mckeown of Australia leaves the pool after her heat in the women’s 100-meter backstroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A swimmer gestures during a training session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre venue for the swimming competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Ivan Girev, of the Russian Olympic Committee, prepares to start in his heat during the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 25: Liam Broady of Team Great Britain’s tattoo of Achilles is revealed as he changes shirts during his Men’s Singles First Round match against Francisco Cerundolo of Team Argentina on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 25: A tattoo is seenon the leg of Harry Garside of Australia during the Men’s Light (57-63kg) on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Luis Robayo – Pool/Getty Images)
Dominican Republic womens’ volleyball player Brenda Castillo gestures during a training session at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Adam Peaty, of Britain, swims the men’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
China’s Yan Peng has a tattoo on his arm during a men’s 3-on-3 basketball game against Latvia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
France’s Fantine Lesaffre adjusts her cap during a training session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre venue for the swimming competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
An athlete sports a tattoo during a diving practice session at the Tokyo Aquatics Center at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Ivan Iakovlev, of the Russian Olympic Committee, prepares to serve during the men’s volleyball preliminary round pool B match between United States and Russian Olympic Committee at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Chile’s soccer player Yenny Acuna warms up prior women’s soccer match against Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
A tattoo decorates the back of Argentina’s Rodrigo Isgro as he walks off the field after a men’s rugby sevens practice at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo, Friday, July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Shota Mishvelidze of Georgia prepares to compete in the men’s 61kg weightlifting event, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Kayle Browning, of the United States, holds her shotgun during practice at the Asaka Shooting Range ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A swimmer with an Olympic tattoo exercises during a swimming training session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 25: A tattoo is seen on the arm of Luka Plantic of Croatia during the Men’s Light Heavy (75-81kg) on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Luis Robayo – Pool/Getty Images)
Associated Press
TOKYO — Taboo in much of Tokyo, tattoos are everywhere at the Olympics.
There’s the lion on British swimmer Adam Peaty’s shoulder. An inspirational message on the arm of Chinese 3-on-3 basketball player Yan Peng. A likeness of Christ the Redeemer on the calf of Spanish boxer Gabriel Escobar Mascunano.
And the Olympic rings. So many Olympic rings.
French swimmer Fantine Lasaffre has them on her left forearm, and American shooter Kayle Browning on her right wrist. They’re on Moroccan boxer Abdelhaq Nadir’s left bicep, and on the ankle of Canadian gymnast Shallon Olsen.
Italian gymnast Vanessa Ferrari has them, too, on the back of her neck — along with ink commemorating previous trips to the Beijing, London and Rio de Janiero Games.
Athletes won’t do much mingling with locals at these pandemic-restricted Olympics. If they did, they might not find their body art as welcome. Tattoos remain stigmatized in Japan, where those with them are commonly banned from beaches, gyms, pools and elsewhere around Japan.
No such restrictions in the Olympic bubble, though. In the pool, on the beach, at the range — the athletes are redefining what it means to have the mark of a champion.