As a shorter swimmer, I am fascinated by how short swimmers can compete at the highest levels in a sport dominated by tall people.
It is no secret that elite swimming is dominated by individuals who are, on average, 4 to 5 inches taller than the rest of the population. So how can you find an edge in competitions if you are a shorter swimmer?
As a general rule, short-axis strokes such as the breaststroke, the individual medley or longer distance freestyle races, typically longer than 400m, are events where shorter swimmers can do well, as height advantage diminishes over these events.
In this article, I want to look at what is the best event for a short swimmer and understand why.
Why Are Most Swimmers Tall?
Elite swimmers are on average between 4 to 6 inches taller than the average person. [source]
But why are most swimmers tall? How does being tall give a natural advantage in this sport?
Height gives an advantage in swimming because it allows swimmers to cover more distance in the water with each stroke. Tall swimmers have a longer reach and can generate more power with each kick and pull. In addition, their height also helps them remain more streamlined in the water and reduces drag on their bodies.
I have covered the physics behind height and swimming in much greater depth in this article, What Body Type Is Good For Swimming? (Explained)
What Is The Best Event For A Short Swimmer?
Given that height is a proven advantage in swimming, this may discourage a lot of shorter swimmers who think they cannot compete, but this is not true.
Short swimmers have many events to choose from, but some are better suited for them than others.
In general, shorter swimmers excel in short axis strokes such as breaststroke, individual medley, and longer distance freestyle races.
Longer distance freestyle races, events that are typically longer than 400m, seem to be the areas where shorter swimmers thrive.
Although tall swimmers still have an advantage in these events, it diminishes over the length of the race, as technique is more important than height.
How Can A Short Swimmer Use Their Height?
Although being taller gives a natural advantage in swimming, shorter swimmers can also use their shorter length to their advantage.
Here are some ways that shorter swimmers can improve their speeds:
1. Great Underwaters
Having a fantastic dolphin or underwater kick is great for speed, no matter what your height, however as a shorter person, you have less mass to pump through the water.
The sine-like, undulation movement of the dolphin kick can be very short and snappy with shorter swimmers because of their shorter length. This can result in excellent ankle flexing, which will increase your speed. If you can improve your underwater dolphin kick, you can greatly increase your overall times.
Having a great underwater kick is beneficial for all swimmers, short or tall, but it is certainly an area where shorter swimmers can make up some speed.
2. Great Tumble Turns
A shorter swimmer can do a fast and snappy tumble turn with less effort than a taller body.
Again, this can be an area where a shorter swimmer can make up some speed.
A fast and snappy tumble turn leading into an excellent underwater kick will do wonders for your swim times.
To learn more about how you can swim fast if you are short, I have covered this topic in much greater detail in this article, How To Swim Fast If You Are Short? (Top Tips)
Can Short Swimmers Be Olympians?
There are some fantastic Olympic swimmers that are below average height.
For me, the two most notable are:
- Brad Cooper, who won gold at the 1972 Olympic games, swimming the 400m freestyle. He has a height of around 5’3″.
- Janet Evans, who won four Olympic gold medals between 1998 and 1992. She has a height of around 5’5″.
Depending on your own height, these heights may be tall or short.
I am 5’0″, so Janet Evans is still pretty tall to me!
There are many other examples of great Olympic swimmers that are shorter than average. I have covered this topic in greater detail, giving a full list of heights and their chosen swim strokes in this article, How Tall Are The Shortest Olympic Swimmers?
Final Thoughts
Short swimmers have many events to choose from, but some are better suited for shorter swimmers than others.
In general, shorter swimmers excel in short axis strokes such as breaststroke, individual medley, and longer distance freestyle races.
In addition, events that are typically longer than 400m diminish the height advantage.
So if you’re a short swimmer, don’t despair – there are many events that you can excel in. Just remember to focus on your strengths and practice hard. With a bit of hard work, you can achieve great things in the swimming pool.
Happy swimming!
