Older college swim team photos

[sebbie]

This one is a college swim team from 1977-78 All in briefs but widely varying shapes, sizes and colors, and widely varying body builds as well

What I find so fascinating about these photos is that every guy is going his own way in terms of swimwear choice (from brief to not so brief), hair, and body type. No tatoos though. like this

The other issue is how competitive collegiate swimming has changed in terms of prep. Nowadays, competitive swimmers spend maybe as much time in the weight room as in the pool and the best swimmers have big broad chests and shoulders, and seem to all conform to a body type that looks largely the same. In terms of basic physique, these guys are all over the place. But swimming once was a sport that was suited to guys who were not that big and physically strong just as basketball supported fast guards that were only 5' 8 inches. But nowadays basketball players are all 6'4 or more with big broad shoulders and the sport has become much more of a sheer physical and physique game. So true for swimming. For these guys, not only are the suits all different but the packages are as well. Its all over the place!

[sebbie]

Moving forward to 82-83 things look a bit more coordinated. I wonder where the guys in the A-shirts in the back row fit in Still everyone has a different suit.

[Minimalist75]

Originally Posted by sebbie

This one is a college swim team from 1977-78 All in briefs but widely varying shapes, sizes and colors, and widely varying body builds as well

What I find so fascinating about these photos is that every guy is going his own way in terms of swimwear choice (from brief to not so brief), hair, and body type. No tatoos though. like this

The other issue is how competitive collegiate swimming has changed in terms of prep. Nowadays, competitive swimmers spend maybe as much time in the weight room as in the pool and the best swimmers have big broad chests and shoulders, and seem to all conform to a body type that looks largely the same. In terms of basic physique, these guys are all over the place. But swimming once was a sport that was suited to guys who were not that big and physically strong just as basketball supported fast guards that were only 5' 8 inches. But nowadays basketball players are all 6'4 or more with big broad shoulders and the sport has become much more of a sheer physical and physique game. So true for swimming. For these guys, not only are the suits all different but the packages are as well. Its all over the place!

A few years further back and the "swimsuits" would have all been the same, none at all.

[Swimmboy]

Interesting photos, Sebbie. I suspect these were not 'official' team photos taken by the Athletic Dept. Instead, maybe a coach or one of the teammates asked them to pose before or after a practice. For many teams, the official school team suit was worn for actual meets, but for everyday practices, the athletes were expected to provide their own suits. Those suits really take a beating - hours and hours in the water every week, so they begin to fade and/or lose their shape quickly. Some did seem to be in matching suits, but those may have been last year's team suits that were now only good for practices. They would usually get a new team suit - or maybe 2-3 new suits - at the beginning of the school year. Those in the tee-shirts may have been student team 'assistants', not actual swimmers. Such assistants would help out at meets as timers, scorekeepers, etc., or as 'team managers' - the Athletic Depts. would give them stipends to cover book costs for their other classes, etc., in return for their work.

[Torchwatch]

I was doing school cross country running in the mid 1970's, we could buy the school running vests in the appointed school outfitter but had to supply our own shorts, we all had navy cotton rugby shorts but if we were lucky we'd find blue nylon running shorts with split sides.
I guess the school and college swimming teams of this era would have a colour theme and buy whatever they could find locally.

[singletlover]

That last post pinged a memory. When in Junior high school, gym was mandatory class with a uniform. The only sports store (pre Dicks and Sports Authority) in town had the required white t-shirt, blue shorts and the required jock. How embarrassing. It did make me feel more grown up with this ritual.