LEARNING TO SWIM IN THE 90s...IYKYK.

Apr 22
2 min read

Updated: Apr 23

All things related to swimming in the 90s. Collage of 90s retro snacks, shampoo, and chips. Includes Hubba Bubba gum, L'Oréal shampoo, fries with ketchup, and The Little Mermaid design.

Showing our age here but we learnt to swim in the 90s. Such a formative time and such important life skill to learn. There are things that are burned in our minds from that time, things that you may have forgotten but one look and it will all come flooding back - you’re transported back to your local poolside, armbands on, shivering, being asked by a swim teacher in a wet t-shirt to jump.

Here is our nostalgia trip list of the things that take us right back to learning to swim in the 90s...

Feet wearing light blue textured socks against a black background. "VERRUCA SOCKS" text in bold turquoise at the bottom.

The dreaded white sock. an ever present at swimming lessons in the 90s. Immediately filled up with water. horrible to wear, horrible to swim in - your punishment for getting a verruca. Pass me the Bazuka.

Three colorful towels: Barney on blue, Space Jam with characters playing basketball, and The Little Mermaid with Ariel, against a black background.

When did towels go boring?! Now it’s all plain stripes and boring branding but back then towels were works of art. Mad, colourful designs that were an extension of your personality. Friendships were formed off the back of another kid liking the cut of your cotton. Bring ‘em back.

Several colorful swimming badges with text like "Water Skills," "100 METRES," and "RAINBOW AWARD 800m" on a black background.

Sewn onto your little mermaid or Space Jam towel to let the other kids know you weren’t mucking about. “Yeah course i got my ‘Pool Frog 1’ mate...done it ages ago” you say casually as you jump into the 40 degree pool.

Children in swimsuits playing on an orange float in water. Text: FLOATS. Blue edge, black background.

Floats were absolutely massive in the 90s. Hours of fun was to be had trying to climb onto/jump off/jump onto/knock someone off or swim under these foamy rafts. Just don’t try to stand up - the lifeguard will be blowing their whistle quicker than you can shout ‘BOMBS AWAY!!’.

Various toiletry products, including shampoo, body spray, deodorant, shower gel, and styling gel, displayed on a black background.

Shower gel held a lot of currency in the changing rooms. You were a true G if you were washing with Physio Sport (RIP). As important was the body spray. Half a can of Impulse or Lynx, do your hair in the mirror and you were good to go.

Red gumball machine filled with colorful balls; a gold ring watch is displayed near the top. Text reads "20P MACHINE" below.

Bouncy balls, gobstoppers and the holy grail itself...the Watch Ring. Your mum was never getting back that 20p for the locker, it was ALWAYS destined to be twisted into one of these bad boys.

Assorted snacks including crisps, candy, chips with ketchup, and a drink. Text: "POST SWIM SNACKS" on a black background.

You would always be absolutely starving after your lesson/swim party/general muck about. Luckily the vending machine was stocked full of everything a kid could dream of. chipsticks, choc dips, panda pops or hot chips from the pool cafe. If you'd swooped a swim badge you’ll be off to the Pizza Hut buffet for a bowl full of bacon bits. Bosh!ULD ALWAYS BE ABSOLUTELY

Can you relate? We're off to find a raspberry Panda Pop...

SEE YOU IN THE WATER.