The man who started the trend has revealed why Olympians tend to ink-up

The Olympics – it is the most prestigious sporting competition in the world.

The elite of the elite face-off against each other on the global stage and only the very best come home with medals, although finishing last in a contest as impressive as the Olympics is a feat in itself.

For the rest of your life you could call yourself an Olympian – even when your body is old and withered, it still holds true.

All-around gymnastics champion Simone Biles with her Olympic tattoo. (Instagram/@simonebiles)

Well, other than it being an iconic symbol recognised anywhere on Earth – okay maybe not by those on the North Sentinel Island – it holds a powerful message and there is a reason why so many Olympic athletes get those infamous five rings tattooed on their bodies.

But before we get into why they do it, and the superstitions many believe getting it inked holds… we’ll dive into its history.

For this we’ll have to hark back 36 years, before even my time (I’m only 27 but with the groins I make getting up from the couch you’d think I was furniture to this planet now), to 1988.

Enter Team USA’s Christopher Jacobs.

The 1988 Olympics Men’s 4x100M Freestyle Relay winning USA Team Matt Biondi, Tom Jager, Troy Dalbey, and Christopher Jacobs. (Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The swimmer is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, former world record holder, and silver medallist.

At the young age of just 23, he is the man who is credited to starting the trend of getting the five rings inked on his skin.

He picked up all his medals at his one and only Olympics at the 1988 Seoul Games.

While at the games he noticed that his Canadian counterparts had small tattoos of the Canadian flag emblazoned on their chests, Jacobs decided he wanted to get a tattoo of his own.

After scooping three medals he visited Hawaii on the way home to celebrate, and while there he got a small Olympics logo tattooed on his hip – the only part of his body that he could hide under his speedos at future competitions.

Team USA volleyball player Thomas Jaeschke celebrates after beating Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympics with his tattoo on full show. (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

But that wasn’t enough.

The 59-year-old then decided to get another a bit higher up on his hip, and then later he got a big colorful one on the inside of his right bicep.

Speaking about the trend to USA Today, and the reason behind why Olympians from across the globe decide to ink-up, he said: “I do think it’s become a rite of passage. It’s almost like a little card for a somewhat exclusive club.

“They represent a lot to a lot of people. I wanted to mark that period in my life, I suppose.”

Singaporean Swimmer Joseph Schooling showing off his new Olympic ink. (Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Since then, some of the biggest stars in sport, including the US‘ Michael Phelps – one of the most decorated Olympians of all time.

There are many, many, more – including notable names such as women’s all-around gymnastic champion Simone Biles, and the reigning 100m sprint world champion Noah Lyles.

So, what’s the superstition?

According to US shooter Mary Tucker, athletes should only get it after they have competed in the Olympics – stating to the publication that she knew of at least four people who jumped the gun and got inked up ahead of qualifying, but never ended up competing.