His medal may be going straight to the pool room, but Albion Park hockey player Kieran Govers has ensured he will have another permanent reminder of his Olympic glory.
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Fresh off the plane from London, the bronze-medal winning Kookaburra yesterday headed for Albion Park's Southside Tattoo parlour, emerging a couple of hours later with a sizeable set of Olympic rings tattooed on his abdomen.
"I wanted something that was a traditional symbol of the Olympics," he said, explaining why he had chosen the rings over other designs, including hockey sticks.
"I can play hockey whenever I want, but I might only get to the Olympics once in my life."
Govers, who already sports a sleeve-full of inkings, said he had committed to getting the tattoo after making the Olympic team in January and had booked the appointment while in London.
He spent yesterday catching up with friends and family, but will fly back to his Australian base in Perth this afternoon.
Despite living on the other side of the country, and his impending move to Europe to take up a contract playing in Holland, Govers yesterday said his heart remained in the Illawarra.
"I'm still a Gong boy," the 24-year-old said.