Cody Simpson’s tattoos reflect the different directions his life has taken: music, family, relationships and competitive swimming. His collection includes classical imagery, a team number and a matching tattoo from an earlier relationship.
In a 2026 interview, Simpson explained a newer tattoo as a marker of a new chapter. Earlier coverage identifies Apollo, a swim-team coat of arms marked 838 and other designs across his arms. Together, the pieces make more sense as a timeline than as one unified style.
Apollo gives the collection its classical center
One of Simpson’s most distinctive pieces is a detailed bust of Apollo on his right upper arm or tricep. Photos show the classical figure beside other fine-line designs, including a tiger, a sculpted head and a geometric rose. The mix feels more like collected artwork than a single traditional sleeve.
Tattoo coverage identifies Apollo, but does not provide a complete quote from Simpson explaining each mythological reference. The classical style is clear; any specific personal symbolism is less certain.
The 838 coat of arms ties ink to swimming
When Simpson returned seriously to swimming, he got a coat of arms with his swim-team number, 838, on the inside of his left bicep. The number marks a major change: after stepping away from music, he began working toward his Olympic goal.
The inner-bicep placement is easy to cover and appears in training or competition photos. It is a small badge tied to a new athletic identity.
His tattoos sit between music and sport.
Simpson’s tattoos are visible both in music photos and when he wears training gear. A classical figure can sit beside a team number without either one cancelling out the other.
His public life has moved from teenage pop stardom to serious swimming and back to songwriting. The tattoos reflect different stages rather than a single finished look.
The matching Miley Cyrus tattoo belongs to an earlier chapter
In 2019, Simpson and Miley Cyrus got matching tattoos during their relationship. Tattoo artist Nico Bassill shared an image of their forearms together. Coverage connected the design to their creative relationship and a phrase that mattered to them at the time.
The tattoo records a moment in their lives; it does not define how either person feels about it now. In Simpson’s collection, it marks an earlier relationship chapter, while the 838 piece reflects a later commitment to swimming.
The arm work mixes portraits, animals and geometry
Photos show the Apollo bust alongside a roaring tiger, another sculpted head and a geometric rose. The order of the sessions is not fully documented, and not every nearby design has a confirmed name. What is visible is a mix of fine-line work, classical figures, natural subjects and geometric shapes.
Rather than one unified theme, these pieces feel collected over time. Some are easier to identify than others, and the gaps between them are part of the look.
His newest tattoo story is about a fresh start.
Coverage in 2026 described a newer tattoo as connected to a new chapter. For its exact design and meaning, it is best to rely on Simpson’s explanation in the 10 News interview rather than guess from a photo.
The broader timeline is clear: Simpson’s life has included music, competitive swimming and a return to songwriting. His tattoos record some of those choices without forcing them into one persona.
What can be confirmed from the public record
The documented designs include Apollo on the right upper arm or tricep, the 838 coat of arms on the inner left bicep, and the matching tattoo with Cyrus. Photos also show a tiger, a sculpted head, a geometric rose and other fine-line work.
The full order of his tattoo sessions, the artist behind every piece and the meaning of every surrounding mark have not been established. Photos can identify a large design while leaving smaller ones unclear.
The collection is personal without being over-explained
Simpson’s tattoos bring together classical imagery, animals, geometry, a relationship and a swimming milestone. The meanings do not have to cancel one another out.
He has moved through music, relationships and sport, and the collection reflects those changes. Some stories are public; others remain his to keep.
Why the pool matters so much to the tattoo story
Swimming was a serious pursuit for Simpson, requiring training and a shift away from the pop career that first made him famous. The 838 tattoo gives that period a lasting place beside his earlier work in music.
It is reasonable to read the number as a mark of that transition, while remembering that Simpson has not given a definitive explanation for every design. The tattoo keeps an earlier chapter in view as his life moves forward.
Cody Simpson’s tattoos keep the story moving
The collection traces a life that has moved through music, swimming, relationships and a return to songwriting. Apollo and the fine-line work show one side of his taste; the matching tattoo records an earlier relationship; 838 marks his swimming chapter.
The tattoos are not a final answer. They record choices along the way, with some meanings explained and others left for Simpson to keep.
Watch Cody Simpson break down his tattoos