Swimmer Brianna Throssell, renowned for representing Australia at the Olympics, is on a personal mission to erase the "god awful" tattoo she got to commemorate her achievements. Following her participation at the Rio 2016 Games and her later success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she snagged gold and bronze medals, Throssell is now publicly sharing her tattoo removal process and the lessons learned throughout her tattooing ordeal.
After securing her place on the Olympic team, Throssell, like many athletes, sought to commemorate her status with something permanent—an Olympic rings tattoo. Initially loving the ink, Throssell expressed her pride, thinking it was "super cool". But as time passed, the reality of her choice began to sully those warm memories. The black ink started to leak, and the bright colors began to fade, transforming her proud piece of art to what she describes as "wild how awful this tattoo is".
Throssell's candid reveal came via her TikTok account, where she boasted a considerable following of approximately 31,000 fans. Through her video, she highlighted her regret and the importance of thinking critically about tattoo choices, particularly when it came to selecting the right artist. "If this is a message to anyone, learn to do your research before choosing your tattoo artist. Don’t make a mistake like me," Throssell cautioned her followers, pointing out the significant impact of poor tattooing.
The former Australian relay swimmer decided to take action after the disillusionment of her once-beloved tattoo intensified. After contemplating various options, she realized she needed to start the long process of removal. Throssell shared her experience during her first laser removal session, noting the procedure was "painful, but totally bearable". The breakthrough moment of her treatment saw her tattoo regain some color post-procedure, but she acknowledged it would take multiple sessions—up to eight—to completely remove the fading Olympic rings and then possibly redo the tattoo correctly.
Reflecting on her experience, Throssell's story resonates beyond just her personal ordeal with tattoos. It conveys the passion athletes have for representing their country but also the vulnerabilities they face when expressing themselves through art. So many people look to tattoos as permanent markers of accomplishment, yet they often forget the importance of craftsmanship and artistry when selecting their designs.
With her eye on taking the plunge again, Throssell's message encourages potential tattoo enthusiasts to carefully weigh their decisions. Tattoos are meant to last forever, and making educated choices about design and execution is something not all athletes considered as they celebrated their achievements.
Beyond her tattoo drama, Brianna Throssell remains one of the standout performers of her generation. Competing at two Olympic events, she secured her gold medal as part of the Australian women's 4x100m medley relay team and added to her collection with bronze for the mixed 4x100m event. Now with her eyes set on the future, she hopes to inspire her fans not just through her swimming but by being authentic about her experiences and the mistakes she’s made along the way.
Despite the intense pains of tattoo removal, Throssell's candidness about her situation serves to remind everyone—from aspiring swimmers to passionate tattoo enthusiasts of all stripes—that it's okay to learn from mistakes and share those lessons with others. This kind of vulnerability is not just encouraging; it creates dialogues about greater issues—like body image, self-expression, and, yes, even regret within the world of tattoos.
