How do you improve swimming times for a shorter swimmer?

I think the best thing you could do is to let go of your height. The only way to guard against that is to grow, which you have no control over. Until you do, that will be a distraction and an excuse. (I was a short HS swimmier, so I know what it's like. Getting blown out of the water by someone shorter than me taught me this lesson.) What you can do to hit those times is train hard, work with your coach to improve technique, guard against overtraining, and then rest up for the big meets -- the same thing the giants have to do. And make sure you are having fun with your sport.

You are going to have a disadvantage on the surface because longer boats are faster on the surface.Fortunately in a 25 yd pool you don't have to be on the surface much.Get killer SDKs and use every inch of the 15M underwater.In Masters, Leslie Livingston is relatively short,has totally awesome SDKs and breaks world records.(Or you can change to breaststroke where swimmers like Kitajima show that short guys can rule.I'm 5'8"and a breaststroker so I'm a little biased.)

In my college years, I would occasionally do some of the sprint events (100 Free/50 Free), and would usually anchor the relays for our team as well. Most of the fast sprint freestylers were always taller than me (and most of them were 6'3" and bigger). I'm only 5'9", but I knew I could beat the guy standing on the block next to me. A positive mental focus may give you all the edge you need. I have excellent reaction speeds off the blocks, and great wall work as well. This alone can save you valuable time in the sprints. I was primarily a distance swimmer in college, but my coach would pull me over to the sprinters lane in the morning for them to watch my turns. I figure if I'm going to do 65 turns in a race, I might as well make the most of them. You can make up a lot of time there. Use the walls to your advantage against the tall folks you're racing. You're more compact and can get in and out faster.

You are going to have a disadvantage on the surface because longer boats are faster on the surface.Fortunately in a 25 yd pool you don't have to be on the surface much.Get killer SDKs and use every inch of the 15M underwater.In Masters, Leslie Livingston is relatively short,has totally awesome SDKs and breaks world records.(Or you can change to breaststroke where swimmers like Kitajima show that short guys can rule.I'm 5'8"and a breaststroker so I'm a little biased.) Thanks Allen. I am, as Allen notes, relatively short for a swimmer at 5'4". When I first started masters, I must admit I envied the taller swimmers. (Many of my competitors are 5'10".) However, they have no advantage underwater so I did focus, quite obsessively, on underwater dolphin kicking for backstroke and fly. I'm now experimenting with using it more in my freestyle races. Now, I barely notice things like height. There are some elite male HS swimmers who are small. One of them in my area, Andrew Seliskar is 5'8 or 5'9. And though Patrick is a foot taller than me (and younger), he refuses to gridge me in the 50 back!

And though Patrick is a foot taller than me (and younger), he refuses to gridge me in the 50 back!You are right. Never!

I'm a tall guy (6' 4") and got my butt whooped throughout my career and still today by guys (and many women) who were/are WAY shorter. Yes, height helps, but it's not required.

The answer to this thread is simple. Swim in a shorter pool! www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../33094.asp What do you think the winning time will be in the 40 yard freestyle? I'm guessing 15.9

Thanks guys for the advice. Had a big meet today completely focused on my underwaters and went 56.7 100 fly, 53.1 100 free, just need 1.8 till states. Tapering next week. :)

Quit psyching yourself out, while most swimmers are tall and elite swimmers seem to be getting taller, there are plenty of short very fast swimmers en.wikipedia.org/.../Kenneth_To sports.yahoo.com/.../ en.wikipedia.org/.../Kosuke_Kitajima en.wikipedia.org/.../Ryosuke_Irie Hill Taylor is short, watch what he does. www.youtube.com/watch Scot Robison is only 5'9" he was an alternate to make the 2012 US Olympic team in the 200 FR this article Robison stays true to his southern roots he says Seeing Robison behind the blocks with the other members of that relay, or the finals of a 100m freestyle race, may be a bit surprising because at only 5’9” he is noticeably shorter than most of the other top sprinters in the world. But instead of viewing his height as a disadvantage, he focuses on what he can control. “It’s kind of an underdog mentality, in my events typically swimmers are three, four, five or more inches taller than me – it’s something that I can turn around and use to my advantage.” It has not been an easy rise to the upper echelon of the sport, and Robison realizes the only way to continue towards the ultimate goal of making the Olympic Team is hard work. In Charlotte this weekend, Robison will not be looking at who he needs to beat, but instead at making sure he is in peak mental and physical shape leading up to the Trials. “My times will be important, and executing my race strategies and making sure that I am thinking about the right things in my races,” said Robison. My friends son, Michael Nunan is a little guy, but he went 1:36.0 in the 200 fr & 4:18 in the 500. You can Swim Faster Faster Improve your SDK (streamline Dolphin Kick) Swim Fast in practice Improve your ability Improve your strength Focus on what you can control Get to work & shock Goliath. Intimidate giants with your times.

My son is the same height as you (and, like you, has small hands and feet) and swims the 100 fly in 52 low, the 100 free around 48. His height has never been an issue. Do what Ande suggests and you will get the times you want.