Ink or swim? Tattoos tell a tale

Wide array of body art drawing notice at world championships

BUDAPEST - World records have tumbled and gold medals have been won, but the colorful array of tattoos on display at the World Aquatics Championships have proved just as eye-catching.

Sharks, dolphins... even the lion adorning the arm of Adam Peaty's grandmother.

A vast array of images, script, and secretive symbols adorn the bodies of competitors, from flowing and harmonious waves to powerful and speedy creatures of the deep.

Britain's Adam Peaty reacts after winning the men's 50m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest last Wednesday. Michael Dalder / Reuters

The Olympic rings - a proud stamp on the skin of the swimmers who competed at a Games - are also common place, but some of the world's fastest have explained the thinking behind the art work on their bodies.

Britain's Peaty has been one of the star performers at the Duna Arena with two world records and golds in the men's 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Peaty had a large tattoo of a lion inked onto his left shoulder after winning the Olympic 100m breaststroke title last year in Rio de Janeiro.

"The tattoo is more about training for me," said the 22-year-old.

"When I wake up, I look in the mirror and go to the pool. It reminds me of the hard work I put in to win in Rio, while I am swimming.

"It also keeps me grounded and passionate about what I do and reminds me of how I got there.

"It is great to have a reminder ... and it's getting extended in a few days," he added without wanting to give away the future design.

Peaty's wheelchair-bound grandmother, Mavis Williams, 74, got a temporary tattoo, a copy of her grandson's lion, which delighted the British swimmer.

"That was crazy, I actually thought she had had a proper tattoo done, I thought, 'Oh my God, what has she done?' But she loves it," Peaty said with a grin.

Bruno Fratus, who took silver in the men's 50m freestyle on Saturday behind Caeleb Dressel of the US, explained how his winged tattoo was done on a whim.

"I trust the guy who does my tattoos so much that I just give him my arms and say 'do whatever you feel like as long as it's not too crazy'... because I still got to wear short sleeves," said the 28-year-old.

Time off

"As long as I have space and money, I'll keep doing it. And time off, too ... because every time you tattoo something, you need 10 days out of the water.

"That's a graffiti I saw in Miami. I just took a picture and give it to him as a reference. That one's just a wing.

"I woke up one morning and thought 'I think I would look good with a wing on my arm'."

His compatriot, Etiene Medeiros won the women's 50m backstroke gold last Thursday and explained the differing motivations for her tattoos.

"I have an ocean mermaid on my forearm to bring its energy into my life, beneath it a lotus flower, which is rising from the ashes like a phoenix," said the 26-year-old Brazilian.

"Beneath that, an 'ohana' tattoo to remind me how blessed I am to have my family and friends.

"On my ankles, I have the name of my father and mother, I also have other ones which are hidden."

South African-born Dutch swimmer Kyle Stolk boasts a springbok and an Irish shamrock displayed on a resplendent Dutch flag.

"I wanted to incorporate the three places that have made me what I am today," said the swimmer, who learned his trade in Dublin, before moving to the Netherlands who he represented at the Rio Olympics.

"It might be a too flamboyant for some people but it means a lot to me," he said.

Agence France-Presse

Etiene Medeiros of Brazil is all smiles after winning the women's 50m backstroke final.

(China Daily 07/31/2017 page24)