PHOTOS: Tattoos at the Olympics
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)
PHOTO: Petros Giannakouris
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men's street skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
PHOTO: Jae C. Hong
Dominican Republic women's' 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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Jeff Roberson
Water droplets fall down the back over a Olympics rings tattoo as Townley Haas, of the United States, swims at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
PHOTO: Charlie Riedel
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
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)
PHOTO: Alex Brandon
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
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)
PHOTO: Petr David Josek
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. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
A United States player stands with an Olympic ring tattoo on her foot during a preliminary round women's water polo match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
PHOTO: Mark Humphrey
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
PHOTO: Frank Franklin II
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)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Silvia Izquierdo
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)
PHOTO: Gregorio Borgia
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)
PHOTO: Petros Giannakouris
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men's street skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
PHOTO: Jae C. Hong
Dominican Republic women's' 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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Jeff Roberson
Water droplets fall down the back over a Olympics rings tattoo as Townley Haas, of the United States, swims at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
PHOTO: Charlie Riedel
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
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)
PHOTO: Alex Brandon
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
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)
PHOTO: Petr David Josek
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. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
A United States player stands with an Olympic ring tattoo on her foot during a preliminary round women's water polo match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
PHOTO: Mark Humphrey
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
PHOTO: Frank Franklin II
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)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Silvia Izquierdo
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)
PHOTO: Gregorio Borgia
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)
PHOTO: Petros Giannakouris
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men's street skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
PHOTO: Jae C. Hong
Dominican Republic women's' 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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Jeff Roberson
Water droplets fall down the back over a Olympics rings tattoo as Townley Haas, of the United States, swims at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
PHOTO: Charlie Riedel
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)
PHOTO: Matthias Schrader
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
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)
PHOTO: Alex Brandon
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
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)
PHOTO: Manu Fernandez
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)
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
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)
PHOTO: Petr David Josek
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. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
A United States player stands with an Olympic ring tattoo on her foot during a preliminary round women's water polo match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
PHOTO: Mark Humphrey
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)
PHOTO: Martin Meissner
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)
PHOTO: Frank Franklin II
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)
PHOTO: Natacha Pisarenko
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)
PHOTO: Silvia Izquierdo
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)
PHOTO: Gregorio Borgia
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 Lesaffre 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 Janeiro 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.