The concept of a team “mascot,” a treasured figure inspiring team pride, has been a part of popular culture for a good, long while. The mascot is an emblem, a lucky charm, and an image behind which to unite.
The mascot’s origin story began circa 1800 in France and wasn’t always in the form of a fun, quirky figurine. Initially, mascots were simply inanimate objects- a trinket, lock of hair, token. These were carried around as “lucky” charms that could also be passed down through generations. Out of this humble beginning, mascots morphed into the cartoons and characters we know and love today. The figures began to serve as both marketing tools and uniting symbols of community. That original idea of “luck”, though, has remained the same.
So, what makes mascots so lovable?
- Mascots immediately identify our team/brand. Everyone knows of the Texas Longhorns, the Philadelphia Eagles, the DC Nationals. These team names become even more powerful when backed by a recognizable image. You see the Longhorn on a baseball cap and you know exactly which team that cap is referencing (and, if you’re also a fan, you feel immediate kinship with the wearer). Our community feels more powerful/real when backed by our mascot.
- Mascots humanize a brand/team. By adding a “face” to a brand/company, we draw closer to something that might otherwise feel abstract. This human element brings fans closer to not only one another, but to the team/brand itself.
- Mascots create, as a result of this humanization, a brand loyalty. Fans are proud of their mascot, proud of the mascot’s history and are therefore more likely to remain loyal supporters.*
Swim teams are no strangers to the idea of a team symbol. Here at SwimTopia, we are inundated daily by our customers’ heralded mascots. We also all certainly remember our own swim team rallying cheers, often highlighting the mascot. We vividly recall the fun uniform logos/colors, perfectly encapsulating the team’s emblem.
Have you ever been curious where your swim team mascot lands in terms of popularity? Working with thousands of swim teams has given SwimTopia a pretty good picture of what’s out there. Our teams trend toward water-related images/emblems (lending relevancy and an intimidation factor), but there are a few that SwimTopia teams just can’t get enough of. Take a peek at our top ten below!
SwimTopia Teams’ Top Mascots:
- Sharks 8.65%
- Dolphins 7.52%
- Barracudas 5.75%
- Stingrays 5.75%
- Gators 4.93%
- Waves 4.04%
- Piranhas 3.35%
- Marlins 3.16%
- Hurricanes 2.53%
- Hammerheads 1.64%
We also wanted to shoutout our most unusual/unique team mascot: the Slugs. Does your team have a unique mascot? Comment below and share with us! If you’ve got a fun story describing the origin of your mascot, we’d love to hear it as well.
From all of us here at SwimTopia, we hope summer 2025 was a season for the books and that you are enjoying some much deserved rest and relaxation. We look forward to serving you and your mascots again for summer 2026!
*Source: Bullseye Media
