High School Swimming Memory

[swimmer3333]

I grew up as a kid in the 80s and a teen in the 90s.

I'd been at high school for a few weeks when we had our annual swimming carnival. As a kid who'd been in a swimming club and an avid swimmer, this was an exciting day for me. Having started at a new school with no friends, I also figured it was an opportunity to impress with my swimming ability.

We were encouraged to dress in our house colours and paint our face, and I did this pretty enthusiastically.

I made it to school earliy that day to make sure I didn't miss the bus that would take us to the pool. My first event was one of the first races of the day so I hadn't been at the pool long when I heard the announcment, "13 year old boys 50 metre freestyle, please go to the marshalling area".

We sat down in rows waiting for each in front to be called up for their race. I was really nervous, because even though I knew I was a good swimmer, I didn't know how good the others were, and I wanted to do well.

It was nearly my race, so I got my cap and goggles out of my bag, took off my shirt and my shorts and stood there in my Black nylon Speedo branded togs. Any kid who swam in Australia in the 80s and 90s wanted that speedo logo on their togs because we knew that's what every Australian gold medal olympian wore.

The time had come. We were called to walk towards the starting blocks. I quickly checked out the competition and noticed that I was in the middle in terms of height, skinnier than everyone, but on balance I seemed like the only swimmer.

We stepped onto the starting block and waited for the first announcement to signal to get ready. The silence was broken by some kid yelling out 'nice dick togs'. A wave of laughter followed as it dawned on me that of the 8 boys on the starting blocks, the other 7 were all wearing boardshorts.

I won the race easily, but 'dick togs', a coloquial expression in Australia for speedos, would become my nickname for all of year 8. So began an awkward relationship with speedos where it was all we wore for swim training and races, but ridicule would happen when wearing them somewhere that nobody else was. It didn't stop me from wearing them to future swimming carnivals but I wouldn't just hang out in them like I would around the pool at home. It's funny how that stuff impacts.

[...:::sam:::...]

Its funny how something you never think about all of a sudden becomes a thing. I had the same when my older bro told me that dick stickers are for the pool, boardies are for the beach. Like you I still wear them.

[Thom]

I grew up as a kid in the 80s and a teen in the 90s.

I'd been at high school for a few weeks when we had our annual swimming carnival. As a kid who'd been in a swimming club and an avid swimmer, this was an exciting day for me. Having started at a new school with no friends, I also figured it was an opportunity to impress with my swimming ability.

.......

Many thanks for sharing this.

T.

[speedoboi]

I grew up as a kid in the 80s and a teen in the 90s.

I'd been at high school for a few weeks when we had our annual swimming carnival. As a kid who'd been in a swimming club and an avid swimmer, this was an exciting day for me. Having started at a new school with no friends, I also figured it was an opportunity to impress with my swimming ability.

We were encouraged to dress in our house colours and paint our face, and I did this pretty enthusiastically.

I made it to school earliy that day to make sure I didn't miss the bus that would take us to the pool. My first event was one of the first races of the day so I hadn't been at the pool long when I heard the announcment, "13 year old boys 50 metre freestyle, please go to the marshalling area".

We sat down in rows waiting for each in front to be called up for their race. I was really nervous, because even though I knew I was a good swimmer, I didn't know how good the others were, and I wanted to do well.

It was nearly my race, so I got my cap and goggles out of my bag, took off my shirt and my shorts and stood there in my Black nylon Speedo branded togs. Any kid who swam in Australia in the 80s and 90s wanted that speedo logo on their togs because we knew that's what every Australian gold medal olympian wore.

The time had come. We were called to walk towards the starting blocks. I quickly checked out the competition and noticed that I was in the middle in terms of height, skinnier than everyone, but on balance I seemed like the only swimmer.

We stepped onto the starting block and waited for the first announcement to signal to get ready. The silence was broken by some kid yelling out 'nice dick togs'. A wave of laughter followed as it dawned on me that of the 8 boys on the starting blocks, the other 7 were all wearing boardshorts.

I won the race easily, but 'dick togs', a coloquial expression in Australia for speedos, would become my nickname for all of year 8. So began an awkward relationship with speedos where it was all we wore for swim training and races, but ridicule would happen when wearing them somewhere that nobody else was. It didn't stop me from wearing them to future swimming carnivals but I wouldn't just hang out in them like I would around the pool at home. It's funny how that stuff impacts.

I'm surprised you suffered ridicule in Australia. I'm in Toronto, Canada and while in high school, the guys wore swim briefs. I don't recall the guys being made fun of. But I remember this Hungarian fellow in gym class, he always wore swim briefs when swimming. The majority of guys looked at him because he was the only guy in swim briefs. The rest of us were in swim shorts, but not board shorts. I know that my swim shorts were above the knees. I actually envied him because he was tall, nice swimmer's build and he was confident enough to be the only guy in gym class to wear a swim brief. Oddly enough, I don't remember him being on the swim team.

[Aircat]

Exact same thing for me.
Everyone wore Speedos (cheap Kmart mostly) in primary school in my town, we had school swimming once or twice a week. Nobody had ever even felt conscious of it, it was what every kid in the town did.
We went to highschool in the next bigger town and the first swimming class they all laughed at our group in "DP"s" dick pointers was their term, they were all in boardshorts.
So from them on it was shorts for swimming.

For carnival races I would still wear Speedos, which didn't get teased because if winning then that was acceptable that you were a racer.
I was just naturally good and was second best in the year after another kid who had Olympic aspirations and did the hours of laps every morning thing (he was too short so never made the big time).

[Thom]

Exact same thing for me.
.....

I'm really surprised that Australia was/is like this. My mental image was one of every man, teen, and boy wearing Speedo brand. Years ago, I even bought a calendar of Australian surf life savers in speedos with some of them turned into thongs. (Forget why they do this. I think there was a functional reason associated with rowing, which you likely know, being an Aussie.)

In the U.S. in my day, they wouldn't make fun of you, just ignore you with side-glances(I suppose that's better than outright humiliation and blatant ridicule.) but that was rare. I remember wearing a square cut made of an early stretch material, almost as long as the board shorts of the day (made by Jantzen, I think.). It revealed nothing, really, I wore it sailing with a friend and you could see that he was nervous and sweating bullets, steeling side glances! That said, a friend of mine who was very muscular and athletic wore a brief suit that laced up the sides. This was unheard of in the era. Nobody dared to tangle with him.

[swimmer3333]

Exact same thing for me.
Everyone wore Speedos (cheap Kmart mostly) in primary school in my town, we had school swimming once or twice a week. Nobody had ever even felt conscious of it, it was what every kid in the town did.
We went to highschool in the next bigger town and the first swimming class they all laughed at our group in "DP"s" dick pointers was their term, they were all in boardshorts.
So from them on it was shorts for swimming.

For carnival races I would still wear Speedos, which didn't get teased because if winning then that was acceptable that you were a racer.
I was just naturally good and was second best in the year after another kid who had Olympic aspirations and did the hours of laps every morning thing (he was too short so never made the big time).

It was exactly the same for me. All throughout primary school everybody wore speedos and over the summer holidays to the first week of high school it reduced to a very small percentage. It was like a memo went out but I didn't receive it lol. There were still a few who did, mostly consisting of others who swam for a club too, so it didn't stop me. The teasing would continue throughout but on the whole I'd say it was more in good fun than serious. Mum tried to palm off K-Mart speedos on me one year to save some cash but I kicked off. Compared to the 100s of dollars kids demand for tech suits now i think she got off lightly for an extra $10 for speedo branded togs.

[swimmer3333]

Exact same thing for me.
.....

I'm really surprised that Australia was/is like this. My mental image was one of every man, teen, and boy wearing Speedo brand. Years ago, I even bought a calendar of Australian surf life savers in speedos with some of them turned into thongs. (Forget why they do this. I think there was a functional reason associated with rowing, which you likely know, being an Aussie.)

As a daily lap swimmer, the vast majority of lap swimmers wear speedos in Australia. Younger guys are more likely to wear jammers, but Funky Trunks have also become really popular for across the board, but especially teens. They tend to have a cut somewhere between a brief and a square cut. When you move from lap swimming to recreational swimming or the beach, the percentage of those wearing speedos reduces quite a lot

I would always wear speedos at home - it was just what we wore. If i ever had a mate over who jumped in the pool in boardshorts and I did the same mum would ask 'why are you swimming in your shorts?'.

The surf lifesavers pull their speedos up when rowing so they don't slide around when sitting in the boat. It has become quite an iconic image here i guess.

[swimmer3333]

Its funny how something you never think about all of a sudden becomes a thing. I had the same when my older bro told me that dick stickers are for the pool, boardies are for the beach. Like you I still wear them.

I think that sums up the general consensus in Australia - that speedos are ok in some places but not completely so everywhere on average. Although you'd still be unlikely to rock up on the beach and not see anyone wearing them, but it won't be the same as lap swimming at the local pool.

[Aircat]

I'm really surprised that Australia was/is like this. My mental image was one of every man, teen, and boy wearing Speedo brand. Years ago, I even bought a calendar of Australian surf life savers in speedos with some of them turned into thongs. (Forget why they do this. I think there was a functional reason associated with rowing, which you likely know, being an Aussie.)

Like others have said the body shame starts in highschool where teenage boys become self conscious and then turn it into something to mock to justify wearing baggy knee length clown pants as swimwear.

It's really silly that the girls go the opposite direction and the style for teen girls is now almost G-strings.

Lap swimmers wear Speedos, though teens tend towards wide sides or jammers.

[Thom]

It's really silly that the girls go the opposite direction and the style for teen girls is now almost G-strings.

Lap swimmers wear Speedos, though teens tend towards wide sides or jammers.

Yes, I've found the current teen girls suits, even here (Florida), to be rather surprising.

There are a couple public pools here used by swim clubs, and speedos/jammers are seen. But you never see them at family/rec swims. This was back before Covid cut back on everything.

[Thom]

As a daily lap swimmer, the vast majority of lap swimmers wear speedos in Australia. Younger guys are more likely to wear jammers, but Funky Trunks have also become really popular for across the board, but especially teens. They tend to have a cut somewhere between a brief and a square cut. When you move from lap swimming to recreational swimming or the beach, the percentage of those wearing speedos reduces quite a lot

I would always wear speedos at home - it was just what we wore. If i ever had a mate over who jumped in the pool in boardshorts and I did the same mum would ask 'why are you swimming in your shorts?'.

The surf lifesavers pull their speedos up when rowing so they don't slide around when sitting in the boat. It has become quite an iconic image here i guess.

Interesting the rise of Funky Trunks.

Also interesting, your mum's comment.

Yes, that surf lifesaver image has become iconic. The calendar I bought was published a LONG time ago, the early nineties. I found it in the stationery/card section of a local shop near Boston.

[swimmer3333]

I'm really surprised that Australia was/is like this. My mental image was one of every man, teen, and boy wearing Speedo brand. Years ago, I even bought a calendar of Australian surf life savers in speedos with some of them turned into thongs. (Forget why they do this. I think there was a functional reason associated with rowing, which you likely know, being an Aussie.)

Like others have said the body shame starts in highschool where teenage boys become self conscious and then turn it into something to mock to justify wearing baggy knee length clown pants as swimwear.

It's really silly that the girls go the opposite direction and the style for teen girls is now almost G-strings.

Lap swimmers wear Speedos, though teens tend towards wide sides or jammers.

The body image stuff is big but never really talked about because it gets cloaked as something else. It's the same for boys and girls I think but the response is entirely different. As a squad swimmer and a family with a pool there were a bunch of photos of me as a teen in speedos, including a couple that were in frames with other photos around a bunch of other photos mum had around the house. I think it was when I was 14 or so that I removed those photos and hid them away so that my friends didn't see them when they came over. I don't think mum noticed because we had so many photos around, but it does point to the body issue stuff that persisted that we probably didn't understand or acknowledge.

[Tim-USA]

Is it possible that Funky Trunks are becoming popular because the wild patterns hide any visible penis lines, and therefore make them more acceptable?

[Scottiebum]

Is it possible that Funky Trunks are becoming popular because the wild patterns hide any visible penis lines, and therefore make them more acceptable?

Good point. Perhaps also they are new and the youngsters are not wearing the same black speedos as the 'oldies'.

[swimmy]

My middle school gym class swim segment was three weeks of jogging two blocks to the pool and suiting up. All I owned was my swim team speedo and the Mark Spitz stars and stripes workout speedo. There was no taunting or teasing. The good part was on day one when instructor asked who could swim. I was one of the dozen who stepped forward. Then he asked who thought they could swim to the other end and back. Again stepped forward with several others. Instructor told us to step to the edge, on go, jump in and swim to the other end and back. On go I did the usual racing start, at the other end the usual flipturn and back to the wall, all under thirty seconds. Easy. My classmates were shocked. I had time to make a pizza before anybody else got back.
So at the end of every days lesson we had to form six relay teams and have a little race. Like choosing players for basketball but this time I was first pick. That never happened for soccer or football or basketball... Swimming is a skill everybody should have, but swimming really well and competing by age thirteen puts you in a pretty special bracket amongst peers. I have many other examples of that.

[Scottiebum]

I had swimming classes at school too.

I don't really remember what everyone wore but it certainly wasn't shorts, even the teacher wore speedos.

I think most wore bland unbranded blue or black. I do remember one of my friends swam with a club outwith school and he wore red nylon speedos with a white block on each hip, similar to asussiebum.

I thought they looked so cool I pestered my mother for something similar before eventually getting a black nylon speedo with gold blocks on the hips. I so loved that suit!

[Baltspeed]

It seems that you all had a lot of swimming classes in school. Where I grew up there were nearly no possibilities to swim. Sure, we've had some indoor-pools where we had some swimming-lessons during grade 5 and 6. But it was only a duty to teach us swimming to prevent us from drowning.
The boys wore speedos or briefs and the girls mostly one-pieces. Our teachers did so, too. At this time this was normal swimwear. Nobody cared about the look of others and I don't remember any comment. It was no fun for us and we all were glad when it was over. I'm glad that this event didn't last for long time and I discovered swimming as one of my favorite sports.

[swimmer3333]

Is it possible that Funky Trunks are becoming popular because the wild patterns hide any visible penis lines, and therefore make them more acceptable?

Good point. Perhaps also they are new and the youngsters are not wearing the same black speedos as the 'oldies'.

We always wanted to wear what the best swimmers wore. So it wasn't a case of avoiding what the 'oldies' were wearing, but copying what the best were wearing.

But things have changed a bit because of the advent of the race suit (tech suit). Because tech suits are crazy expensive and don't last long, they're not used for training. So, while what olympic swimmers wear influences what the next generation of swimmers where when they race, there isn't the same impact on what is usually worn for training or lap swimming, and therefore recreational swimming etc.

I really idolised Kieren Perkins, so when Speedo released their range for the Barcelona Olympics for the Aus swim team, they became the speedos I lived in for that summer. Speedo should release a retro range of some of their previous iconic designs.