Curious to know whether you have a swimmer’s body or not. Then you are at the right page buddy.
It’s most important to know whether your body is suitable for swimming or not as it’s the deciding factor for your performance in this sport. This is obvious that not everyone is capable of wrestling. The same goes for swimming.
So without taking more, let’s see the 9 signs that indicate you have a swimmers body.
- You Have a Strong Body
Swimming requires more energy than most of the other sports. This is because you have to overcome a significant amount of hydraulic drag to go forward.
The study shows that, if you swim slowly for one hour, it will burn 3.2 calories for every pound of your body weight. And if you do it fast, the calorie burn is 4.54 for each pound.
When you move your body parts fast for some time, lactic acid is produced in the muscle. This is why you feel the pain. But stronger muscle has the capability to cope up with this by draining the lactic acid quickly that weaker muscle hasn’t.
Also Read : Best Tampon for Swimming
Therefore, unless you have a strong body, swimming will be difficult for you. A stronger body will assist you to perform faster strokes over a long period.
- You are Tall
Most of the record holder swimmers are tall. A study found that the best swimmers around the world are at least 6 feet. Tall body is good for flexibility and good for taking wide axial strokes.
But if you aren’t that tall, don’t be upset. You still got the chance to do better. There are a number of example of short swimmers doing extraordinarily well.
- Your Body Is Flexible
A flexible body is a good indication of swimmer’s body. Swimming requires constant movement and with rigid muscle, that isn’t possible. Again if your body isn’t flexible, you will feel pain in your bones and muscle just after a number of strokes.
You will see the swimmers warming up their body before swimming. By this, they break their muscle stiffness which helps them to swim swiftly for a longer period.
Therefore, if you find yourself to be flexible, then you are ahead of others. If you think your body is mildly flexible, then some freehand exercise will help you for sure.
- The Ratio of Your Arm Length and Height is Good
Arm length plays an important role when you perform strokes. Suitability of different arm length depends upon the style of swimming.
If you have longer arms in comparison to your body height, it will be easier for you to perform large axis strokes for backstrokes and freestyle swimming. Again if your arms are relatively short, for butterfly and breaststroke, short axis strokes will be easier to perform for you.
- You Have Broad Shoulders
This is obvious that without buoyancy you can’t swim. Buoyancy force gives your body uplift and hence your body floats in water. The wider the area, the higher will be the buoyancy force which will let you float easily.
Therefore, unless you have a wide shoulder, it will cost you more effort to balance your body.
- You Shoulder is V Shaped
Have a closer look at the best swimmers body, you will notice that they all have a v shape shoulder. V shape shoulder has two advantages. The first one is it is good for balancing the body in water as the center for mass and center of bouncy is closer for this type of shoulder. The second one is for V shape shoulder, the lower part of your body will face less hydrodynamic drag.
- You have a Relatively Thin but Wide Chest
One of the major resistance, while you swim, is encountered in your chest. If it’s thick, the resistance will be more.
On the other hand, thin chest not only helps you by creating less resistance but is also good for cutting the water to create a passage, just like the nose of a ship.
- You have Slender Legs
For swimming, slender legs are always helpful. Longer legs assist to balance the body and rotation. This also helps you to perform long axis strokes.
On the other hand, bulk legs drag your body from going forward. They are also not good for balance in the water. Therefore, if you have thin and long legs, it will increase the ease of swimming.
- Your Trunk is Long and Relatively Thin
If you have ever seen a canoe race, you will notice that they are made thin and long to go fast and have balance.
The hydrodynamics is same for a canoe and a swimmer. The longer trunk will help you to have balance in water as well cut through the water fast with less effort.
Verdict
This is certain that an average person’s body will not have all the characteristics above. But your body shows most of them and you think rests can be achieved by a little effort, then you are welcome to the world of swimming.
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