Olympics 2012: torchbearer Jerri Peterson discovers spelling error in her Olympic tattoo

Jerri Peterson from Atlanta in the US, who got a new tattoo to celebrate her role in the Olympic torch relay, was shocked to discover it had been spelt incorrectly.

Jerri Peterson carried the torch through Derby on 30 June after being nominated by the hotel chain she worked for.

When she arrived back in the US, she decided to spend $10 on a tattoo to mark the occasion.

It was only hours later she spotted it featured the mis-spelling “Oylmpic”.

Jerri Peterson was one of 70 international employees selected by her firm to take part in the relay as a thank you for her years of charity work.

She said: “I always wanted to have a tattoo but I never quite felt passionate about any one thing to have it put on my body permanently.

“So when I was selected for this wonderful honor, I thought <<that’s it – I’m ready to have my tattoo>>.”

She booked a session with a “really good” tattoo artist in her home state of Georgia, and took a friend along for moral support.

Initially she was delighted with how it looked and it was only when she sent a photo of the tattoo to a friend that the spelling mistake was pointed out.

She said: “I looked at it and I was so disappointed. I called my husband and he giggled a little bit.

“Then I started laughing about it and I’ve laughed ever since.”

Jerri Peterson pointed out the mistake to the tattoo artist responsible but declined his offer to correct it.

She said: “He felt so bad when he found out.

“He wanted to fix it but I decided I want to keep it. It’s fine.

“It’s the Oy-limpics – it’s as unique as I am.”