Sports and Sharpies: The History of the Paralympic Tattoo Ban

After many years of hard work and intensive training, you’ve made it to (one of) the most prestigious events in your sport–the Paralympics. The athletes prepare, and the whistle blows, but the event doesn’t start. Instead, an official approaches you and says, “You’ve been disqualified.

“Hold on, disqualified?” “Yes–all because of the tattoo on your back.” 

The practice of getting a tattoo of the Olympic rings following a performance in the games began rising in popularity in 2008, with Michael Phelps acting as a catalyst. Many notable figures like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Gabby Thomas also got theirs around the same time, saying it “represents an amazing era” of their life. Other athletes also share this sentiment, with Rudy Garcia-Tolson stating, ”For me, my journey to the Paralympics is those Olympic rings, that’s what it signifies–the pursuit of being the best.”

This surge of people getting Olympic tattoos could very well have incited a rule change. During the 2012 London Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) began enforcing a new rule: anyone with the Olympic rings tattooed and exposed would be disqualified. It turns out that this is because of a pesky rule banning all forms of body advertising. To the IPC, advertising is still advertising, regardless of the significance it holds.

Dozens of top Paralympians would go on to be disqualified from 2012 to 2020, causing controversy without fail and forcing many to adapt. 

“It was just part of our routine,” Mr. Garcia-Tolson said. “Before an event, it was: ‘All right, I need my cap, I need my goggles, I need my swimsuit and I need a Sharpie.’”

However, just a few days before the 2024 Paralympics, the IPC suddenly announced the rule’s removal for the succeeding events. Representative Craig Spence, the IPC’s chief brand and communications officer, refused to explain the change. 

This has left many to wonder about what caused this sudden rule change. While some have speculated it could be pressure from disqualified countries or the IPC realizing that the Olympics does not need advertising, we may never truly know. Regardless, at least athletes can now move forward, wearing their tattoos with pride to showcase the rings as a symbol of their hard work.