GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Alex Rose has a story to tell, and you can see it on the growing tapestry that adorns his powerful body.
Rose, a discus thrower from Grand Rapids, represented Samoa in the 2016 Olympics in Rio and will do so again in Tokyo later this year.
“Tattoos in Samoan culture are very, very, very important,” Rose said.
Each element of his tattoo, which covers his left arm, shoulder and pectoral, holds special meaning. It started with a crest on his pec that he designed himself that includes three symbols. One of them is a Celtic eternity knot that represents his mother.
“Because for as long as I have been able to understand her, she has been obsessed with Celtic religions,” he explained.
Tucked near the knot is a crescent moon symbolizing his sister Masina, whose name means moon in Samoan, and dominating the crest is a tree.
“My dad is a tree trimmer, so he is the tree,” Rose said.
His father was born in Samoa, which is why Rose can represent that country in the games.
Photo courtesy of News 8 || More at WOODTV.com.