Report Emily Post wrote:
Track & Field News, 'The Bible of the Sport Since 1948,' has long held that an individual does not become an Olympian until they compete at the Games. That's good enough for me.
An individual I know self-identifies as an Olympian. As a member of a relay squad, that person never competed in rounds or finals and never stood on the podium with teammates. There is no indication of this individual in the official record.
Although this is correct, people who declare 'I'm an Olympian' directly after qualifying are doing so because the idea that something could happen in the meantime to stop them taking the start line hasn't even crossed their mind.
If they did get injured and were unable to take the place, I'm guessing they would no longer give themselves the title.