Sporting the colors of the country they represent is gratifying enough for most Olympic athletes. For others, an ink gun provides the opportunity to express themselves in a more permanent way. --By Armando Botello II 
Russia's Anastasia Davydova's 17 butterfly tattoos can partially be seen as she prepares for a synchronized swimming training session after the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The London Games will be Davydova's third Olympics. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice, a three-time gold medalist in the Olympics, shows off her Olympic rings tattoo backstage at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte shows off his Olympic rings tattoo on his right bicep while wearing a new Speedo high technology swimsuit during the swimsuit's debut at a news conference in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
U.S. swimmer Kathleen Hersey's Olympic rings tattoo can be seen during the Santa Clara International Grand Prix swim competition in Santa Clara, California, June 19, 2011. REUTERS/Kim White
Freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs stretches while posing for a portrait during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Dallas, Texas, May 15, 2012. Burroughs' upper back tattoo features his initials with wings. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Cyclist Nic Long's tattoo sleeves can be seen as he poses for a portrait during the USOC Portrait Shoot at Smashbox West Hollywood on November 18, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for USOC)
Jordan Burroughs, above, competes with Kamel Malikov, of Russia, in a 163-pound bout during a freestyle wrestling event in New York's Times Square on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Burroughs' left arm is decorated with American-themed Olympic rings. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The heavily tattooed Natasha Kai of United States celebrates after winning the Women's Football Gold Medal match between Brazil and the United States 0-1 on Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Paralympic cyclist Oz Sanchez poses for a portrait during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Dallas, Texas May 15, 2012. Sanchez’s "Know No Limits" tattoo on his chest is just one of many. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
U.S. long jumper Brittney Reese makes an attempt in the Women's Long Jump final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 11, 2012. Reese’s right arm features a tattoo sleeve with a large cross. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Sprinter Wallace Spearmon of the US Track and Field Olympic team poses for pictures during the 2012 Team USA Media Summit on May 13, 2012 in Dallas,Texas. The detailed crucifix on his left bicep complements the “Naturally gifted naturally” tattoo on his right arm. JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages
A small heart tattoo can be seen on the back of the neck of USA's Serena Williams as she takes a break during her first round match against Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 24, 2010. Serena and Venus Williams will be doubles partners at the London Games. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
U.S. decathlete Bryan Clay has a tattoo on his back featuring the Olympic rings, an olive wreath and the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” which translate to “swifter, higher, stronger.” The reigning Olympic gold medal winner was eliminated from the London Games after stumbling in the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track trials on Saturday, June 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)
Khatuna Lorig, of the U.S., prepares to shoot an arrow during the women's individual archery competition at the Beijing 2008. Lorig's Olympic rings tattoo can be seen on her right forearm. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das )
Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver of United States looks on after competing in the men's 110 metres hurdles semi finals during day three of the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Daegu Stadium on August 29, 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. Oliver's right arm features a tattoo of the Olympic rings, among others. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Weightlifter Kendrick Farris' forearm tattoos can be seen as he poses for a portrait during the USOC Portrait Shoot at Smashbox West Hollywood on November 15, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for USOC)
Jennifer Kessy (R) of USA celebrates with her playing partner April Ross during the women's group matches at the 2011 Swatch World Tour Beijing Grand Slam in Chaoyang Park on June 9, 2011 in Beijing, China. Kessy sports a flower tattoo on her right hip. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
“What I Deserve I Earn” can be read above a crucifix with wings tattoo on British gymnast Louis Smith’s upper back. Here, Smith is seen during the pommel horse apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in which he won the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Karine Sergerie, a member of the Canadian taekwondo team heading to the 2012 London Olympics, has a tattoo on her forearm which reads, “All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given to us.” Underneath the 'Lord of the Rings' quote are the internationally recognized Olympic rings and the date Sergerie competed during the 2008 Games in Beijing and the date Seregerie will compete this summer. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger
A tattoo of a stick-figure pole vaulting is seen on the back of Brazilian pole vaulter Fabiana Murer during a training session in Sao Paulo for the London Olympics on May 10, 2012. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
Canadian swimmer Brent Hayden’s tattoos of the Olympic rings and a red maple leaf on his back can be seen when he competes. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne
A detail of a tattoo of an archer on the lower leg of Natalia Valeeva of Italy during competition in the women's individual ranking round held at the Olympic Green Archery Field during Day 1 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
British diver Nicholas Robinson-Baker has a large tattoo on his chest of the the Olympic rings. Here Robinson-Baker is shown competing in the men's 1m springboard diving preliminaries at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest August 11, 2010. REUTERS/Balint Meggyesi
Sandow Weldemar Nasution of Indonesia kisses the weights as he competes in the men's 77kg weightlifting event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Weldemar Nasution's colorful arm tattoo features a dragon. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Icelandic javelin thrower Asdis Hjalmsdottir sports a tattoo of the Olympic rings and “Beijing 2008” on her lower back. The shadow of Hjalmsdottir of Iceland is cast on the ground during the women's javelin throw qualifying event at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu September 1, 2011. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Brazilian diver Hugo Parisi shows off his tattoos of the Olympic rings and an outline of his native country during a training session ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Yves Herman (CHINA)
A tattoo of the Olympic rings surrounded by splashing waves is seen on the back of Cassius Duran of Brazil during diving practice at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Jason Reed (CHINA)
Tattoos of all the disciplines of the decathlon are seen on the legs of Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus as he competes at the pole vault event during the men's heptathlon at the world indoor athletics championships at the Atakoy Athletics Arena in Istanbul March 10, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Sarah Stevenson's Olympic tattoo can be seen during Team GB Taekwondo training at the Macau Pavilion on July 31, 2008 in Macau, China. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Colombian diver Juan Guillermo Uran's lower back tattoo features two birds. Here he competes in the men's 10m platform diving final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Jason Reed (CHINA)
Russian sprinter Yulia Gushchina’s butterfly tattoo is seen as she takes off her T-shirt before her women's 400m semi-final of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA)
A tattoo of the Olympic rings is seen on Nicholas Robinson Baker of Britain after he dives during the Men's Synchronised 3m Springboard preliminary round at the FINA Diving World Cup at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in London February 20, 2012. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Brazil's Joanna Maranhao prepares for the women's 200m individual medley final at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, October 18, 2011. Maranhao's right shoulder features a sparkly butterfly tattoo above her last name. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Neymar of Brazil's Santos celebrates after they beat Argentina's Velez Sarsfield in a penalty shootout during their quarter-final Copa Libertadores soccer match in Santos, May 24, 2012. Also seen in this photo: Neymar’s chest tattoo. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
Brazil's Marcelo (R) celebrates scoring a goal against the U.S. with teammates Neymar (11) and Leandro Damiao during an international friendly soccer match in Landover, Maryland, May 30, 2012. With most experts agreeing that the Brazilian men’s team will win gold this summer, Marcelo should have no trouble “Seizing the Day” in London. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Olympic rings and an Irish Shamrock are displayed on the hindquarters of Louise Lyons' mount Watership Down as they perform their Dressage Test at the Equestrian event held at the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue in Sha Tin during Day 1 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)
Russia's Anastasia Davydova's 17 butterfly tattoos can partially be seen as she prepares for a synchronized swimming training session after the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The London Games will be Davydova's third Olympics. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
