Canadian rugby star Jen Kish has more than a bronze medal to commemorate her team's recent success in Rio — she now has an Olympic torch tattooed on her leg.



Kish, captain of the women's seven's rugby team, estimates she already has "20 to 100" tattoos on her extensively inked body, but wanted something special on her left calf to remember the Olympic competition.



It will be a companion to the Rugby Canada logo she put on her right calf after making the under-19 squad a dozen years ago.



"I think it is fitting. On my right calf I have where I started rugby," the Edmonton native said at the Urge 2 Tattoo studio on 107 Avenue Saturday before starting the five- to six-hour process.



"Every time I looked at it, I thought of that achievement … Now I'm getting the Olympic tattoo on my left calf. It comes full circle. It really completes my dream and my journey."



The torch ties in to the Canadian slogan "fire in our hearts, ice in our veins," she said.



"You have so much passion. You're representing your country. I got to it with 11 other girls I respect. It's like family… It's a memory that will be with me for the rest of my life."



Kish, 28, originally favoured piercings, but shifted to tattoos at age 16 because rings and studs generally aren't allowed on the rugby pitch.



The tattoos include a design on the back of her neck that features two halos for her father Steve and brother Jason, and "Fate" on her upper right arm to mark meeting fiancee Nadene Selewich, an Edmonton police officer.



"I like to share my life story and what I have learned over the years."



She wants to play in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series that starts in Dubai in December and stretches into next summer at various other venues, but isn't sure what the future holds after that.



Eventually, a wedding, along with her professional goal of opening a business as an Edmonton personal trainer.



In the meantime, tattoo artist Jen Danger, who had never previously worked with Kish, said she was "star struck" by her new client.



"She's been a delight … Super sweet, really easy to bounce ideas off each other. She's been awesome."



gkent@postmedia.com



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