How do you improve swimming times for a shorter swimmer?
Former Member
After a few meets this year, I feel pretty demotivated for swimming. I am a 5"7 swimmer who has huge disadvantages against taller swimmers, I did heavy off-season training and consider myself a decent to moderately fast swimmer. I go around a 57.63 100 Butterfly SCY, 53.21 100 Free and feel like i'm running into a brick wall in the past few meets. I have natural disadvantages such as small hands and size 8.5 feet but a rather large armspan around 6 foot. I wonder what I can do to improve as a shorter swimmer, and since states is around the corner and tapering is about to start. My goal is a 52-53 100 Butterfly as that will probably bring me to all-state or a 53.27 national cut would be nice. If you can add some suggestions it would be nice.
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.
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.
