Coolest Olympians' Tattoo Art

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)

Addicted To The Needle

Jason Reed and Larry Downing traveled across the country recently to attend two different tattoo conventions in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio, to produce the picture package and multi-media piece titled, “Addicted to the Needle” which opens a window into the private world and the culture of tattooing. First up was the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival and then the National Tattoo Association’s 33rd
annual convention.

1Robert Seibert, 62, from Burlington, Kentucky, shows off his full body of tattoos, including the Celtic one 

on his head, accumulated over 40 years, during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati,

 Ohio April 14, 2012. Of his art, Seibert says, I'm one of the people that can't have a favorite tattoo, each 

is like a certain phase of my life. To me it's a picture history of what I have gone through, through the years.

 Picture taken April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

2A tattoo artist works on the head of a client during the second annual Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia

 March 2, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream of society with tattoo 

conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States. Picture taken March 2, 2012. 

3Artist Sean Karn applies a tattoo of Captain America on the leg of Ron Raucci during the Hampton Roads 

Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 2, 2012. The tattoo, completed from start to finish in just one five-and-a-

half hour session, won the prestigious tattoo of the day prize at the festival. Picture taken March 2, 2012. 

4Ron Raucci from Norfolk, Virginia, reacts to the needle while getting his Captain America tattoo at the 

Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 2, 2012. Raucci, who serves in the U.S. Navy, grew up 

reading Marvel comic books and has a leg tattoo collage featuring Captain America and Wolverine, his next

 planned tattoo will feature The Hulk. Picture taken March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

5A tattoo artist wears a t-shirt supporting tattoos during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati,

 Ohio April 14, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream in society with tattoo

 conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. Picture taken April 14, 

2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

6A tattoo artist works on the shoulder of a client at the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 3, 

2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream in society with tattoo conventions 

and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. Picture taken March 3, 2012. 

7Shannon Toohey, 23, works on one of her clients during the National Tattoo Association Convention in 

Cincinnati, Ohio April 14, 2012. Toohey, who has been surrounded by tattoo artists during most of her young

 life, drew her first tattoo on her mother at the age of ten and now works at a tattoo shop on Long Island, 

New York. Picture taken April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

8David Billings, from Abingdon, Maryland, wears a full-back tattoo featuring all nine members of his favorite

 band, Slipknot, as a woman admires the art at the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 2, 2012.

 Billings says he has had over 150 hours of tattoo work done over a 12 year period, now covering over half 

his body. He says tattoos are now as mainstream as Coca Cola. Picture taken March 2, 2012. 

9A client shows his new knife tattoo, which appears on both sides of his face, at the National Tattoo Association

 Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 14, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream

 of society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. 

 Picture taken April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

10Artist Greg French works on his client, Brittany Keylon, during the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in 

Virginia March 2, 2012. Brittany has recently separated from her husband, overcame a battle with cancer

 and the death of her father. She considers Greg her therapist during their sessions and says that each piece 

of work done on her represents her life story. Picture taken March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

11A woman lies on a table as he has a tattoo work applied to her leg by artist Cliff Evans at the Hampton 

Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 2, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the

 mainstream of society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States. Picture

 taken March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

12A visitor shows off his neck tattoo at the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia March 3, 2012. The

 hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream of society with tattoo conventions and festivals

 held year-round across the United States and the world. Picture taken March 3, 2012. REUTERS/Larry 

Downing

13A group of women from an adjacent quilting fair sneak into the National Tattoo Association Convention in 

Cincinnati to take a picture of a heavily-tattooed convention-goer in Ohio April 14, 2012. The hobby of 

 collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream of society with tattoo conventions and festivals held

 year-round across the United States. Picture taken April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

14Male full-body tattoo contestants including Jeff Bitting (R) wait in line to be judged at the National Tattoo

 Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. In his 33 years of getting tattoos, Bitting says he

 has had about 500 hours of work and will complete his other leg in his bid to win more full-body contests. 

 Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

15Keisha Holcomb, 31, from Fort Collins, Colorado, shows the Mom and Dad tattoos she had applied to

 her feet as she participates in the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012.

 Holcomb, the product of a military family upbringing, was 16 when she got her first tattoo and is now a 

budding tattoo artist herself. She wants to have a full-body tattoo eventually, with the exception of her hands, 

throat and head. Try to keep it classy, she says. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

16Keisha Holcomb (R), 31, from Fort Collins, Colorado, waits in line to have her tattoos judged in a contest 

during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. Holcomb, the product

 of a military family upbringing, was 16 when she got her first tattoo and is now a budding tattoo artist herself.

 She wants to have a full-body tattoo eventually, with the exception of her hands, throat and head. Try to keep

 it classy, she says. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

17Tattoo judges inspect the tattoos of a competitor at the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival in Virginia, March

 2, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream of society with tattoo conventions

 and festivals held year-round across the United States. Picture taken March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Larry 

Downing

18Jeff Bitting (R), from St Augustine, Florida, speaks back stage with fellow full-body tattoo contestants 

before judging at the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. In his 33

 years of getting tattoos, Bitting says he has had about 500 hours of work and will complete his other leg

 in his bid to win more full-body contests. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

19Full-body tattoo competitors show their art to an audience during judging at the National Tattoo Association 

Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream 

 of society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. 

 Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

20A competitor has his work photographed for an industry magazine at the National Tattoo Association 

Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the

 mainstream of society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and 

the world. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

21Michael Newman, 60, an Aviation Technical School teacher, from Plainfield, Indiana, shows off his Pinocchio

 tattoo to the judges during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 14, 2012. 

 Newman started late in life getting tattoos but has made up for lost time, having between 600-700 hours 

performed on him, costing around $50,000. Winning about 60 awards, mostly in the 'Unique' category, over

 the past 7 years, he claims his Pinocchio tattoo is always a crowd favourite. Picture taken April 14, 2012. 

22Keisha Holcomb (2nd R), 31, from Fort Collins, Colorado, waits in line to have her tattoos judged in a 

contest during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. Holcomb, 

the product of a military family upbringing, was 16 when she got her first tattoo and is now a budding tattoo

 artist herself. She wants to have a full-body tattoo eventually, with the exception of her hands, throat and 

head. Try to keep it classy, she says. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

23Contestant Yoshi shows off his full-body tattoo as a judge points to phallic symbols tattooed under his arm

 during judging at the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. Yoshi, from

 Japan, was tattooed by Horiyoshi III and is a multi-award winning contestant in the world of full-body tattoos.

 In Cincinnati he won third place in the 'Best Tattooed Male' category. Picture taken April 13, 2012. 

24Contestant Yoshi shows off the back of his full-body tattoo to the judges at the National Tattoo 

Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. Yoshi, from Japan, was tattooed by 

Horiyoshi III and is a multi-award winning contestant in the world of full-body tattoos. In Cincinnati

 he won third place in the 'Best Tattooed Male' category. Picture taken April 13, 2012. 

25Contestant Chay McCarty has her tattoos appraised by judges during a contest at the National Tattoo 

Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded

 into the mainstream in society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United 

States and the world. Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

26A contestant has her tattoos judged at the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio

 April 13, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream of society with tattoo 

 conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. Picture taken April 13, 

2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

27A female full-body tattoo contestant is judged during the National Tattoo Association Convention in 

Cincinnati, Ohio, April 13, 2012. The hobby of collecting tattoos has exploded into the mainstream in 

society with tattoo conventions and festivals held year-round across the United States and the world. 

Picture taken April 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

28Evelyne Greenwald, from Belgium, awaits her turn to be judged during the National Tattoo Association 

Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio April 13, 2012. Greenwald has traveled four times in the past year to Ukraine

 where tattoo artist Dmitriy Samohin has completed tattoos of a horse, bird, wild cats and American Indians. 

She claims she is addicted to the art because it is so beautiful. Picture taken April 13, 2012. 

29Robert Seibert, 62, from Burlington, Kentucky, shows off his full body of tattoos, including the tribal-inspired 

designs he has accumulated over 40 years, during the National Tattoo Association Convention in Cincinnati, 

Ohio April 14, 2012. Of his art, Seibert says, I'm one of the people that can't have a favorite tattoo, each is

 like a certain phase of my life. To me it's a picture history of what I have gone through, through the years. 

 Picture taken April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed