London 2012: Spelling error in torchbearer's Olympic tattoo Published duration 18 July 2012

media caption Jerri Peterson spent $10 on the tattoo

A woman 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, from Atlanta in the US, carried the torch through Derby on 30 June after being nominated by the hotel chain she worked for.

Before coming to England, she decided to spend money on a tattoo to mark the occasion.

Only later did the 54-year-old realise it featured the mis-spelling "Oylmpic".

Mrs 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.

'Artist felt bad'

"So when I was selected for this wonderful honour, I thought 'that's it - I'm ready to have my tattoo'."

image caption Mrs Peterson wanted to mark her role in the Olympic torch relay

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."

Mrs 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."