Does being tall give you an advantage?

What do you need to be a top competitive masters swimmer? The following: 1) A good swimming background as a youth. I know I sound like Ion, but he is correct - how many top ten swimmers in the younger age groups (less than 60 yrs if male, 50 if female) did not swim as youths? 2) Lots of Quality yardage. Lots of yards, and good yards, with a good coach (which may be the swimmer.) 3) Some combination of physical characteristics that put the swimmer outside of average. These can include height, strength, flexibility, big arteries, big feet, strong heart, ability to remove lactic acid, . . . 4) Graceful aging. In the older age groups this may mean just making it. But it also means avoiding serious accidents and diseases, including lifestyle diseases. The best swimmers need all four, so of course the top swimmers are typically taller and stronger. I am taller than the average american male, but my wife's first comment when she saw me next to Tall Paul and Bill Specht in a 100 fly heat was that "You didn't look like you belonged." (I didn't win, either.) I think this list is necessary and sufficient. I do not know what people mean by 'heart' (metaphorical) or 'moral', these do not win races. It's easy to give it all in a race and still lose, and easy for the loser to be morally superior or more deserving ethically than the winner, or for the loser to work harder in workouts. I know it is PC to say that anyone can do it if they work at it, but it is not true.

What do you need to be a top competitive masters swimmer? The following: 1) A good swimming background as a youth. I know I sound like Ion, but he is correct - how many top ten swimmers in the younger age groups (less than 60 yrs if male, 50 if female) did not swim as youths? 2) Lots of Quality yardage. Lots of yards, and good yards, with a good coach (which may be the swimmer.) 3) Some combination of physical characteristics that put the swimmer outside of average. These can include height, strength, flexibility, big arteries, big feet, strong heart, ability to remove lactic acid, . . . 4) Graceful aging. In the older age groups this may mean just making it. But it also means avoiding serious accidents and diseases, including lifestyle diseases. The best swimmers need all four, so of course the top swimmers are typically taller and stronger. I am taller than the average american male, but my wife's first comment when she saw me next to Tall Paul and Bill Specht in a 100 fly heat was that "You didn't look like you belonged." (I didn't win, either.) I think this list is necessary and sufficient. I do not know what people mean by 'heart' (metaphorical) or 'moral', these do not win races. It's easy to give it all in a race and still lose, and easy for the loser to be morally superior or more deserving ethically than the winner, or for the loser to work harder in workouts. I know it is PC to say that anyone can do it if they work at it, but it is not true.