Long Torso and Lap Swimming

When I received my car back from my mechanic, I had to adjust the seat as close as possible to the dashboard. This reminded me that my long torso is the reason why I am a swimmer.

Every swimmer has a balancing point in the water – known as the center of mass – and the closer it is to the center of flotation (the lungs), the easier it is for the body to float horizontally with little or no effort on the part of the athlete. Having the center of mass near the lungs is one of the main reasons why many elite swimmers have very long torsos often shaped like a triangle.

Having flexibility, especially in the shoulders and ankles, is a huge asset for swimmers and is a big asset in the search for the perfect swimmer’s body. Having flexible shoulders allows for swimmers to rotate their bodies while keeping their hold on the water in the long axis strokes. In the short axis strokes, swimmers with flexible shoulders are able to press their chest down more, thus lengthening their strokes and making them more efficient.

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