Does being tall give you an advantage?

I've brought this up before in previous threads. In summary of my swimming knowledge... I'm a girl. I'm about 5'11. I was AVERAGE height on my college team (all girls, D1 school). We had quite a few girls 6-6'3. I was beaten by people taller than me. I was beaten by people shorter than me. I also beat people both taller and shorter than me. Now I'm swimming USMS, and I know there are plenty of people both taller and shorter (and older) than me that can whoop me in a race. All in all, height can help, but if you're fast you're fast. And if you're slow you're slow. Hate to be blunt about it. Just because I'm nearly 6ft tall doesn't mean I can beat someone shorter than me that puts in as much effort as me in the pool. Speed, height, technique and practice volume...it's all relative!

I've brought this up before in previous threads. In summary of my swimming knowledge... I'm a girl. I'm about 5'11. I was AVERAGE height on my college team (all girls, D1 school). We had quite a few girls 6-6'3. I was beaten by people taller than me. I was beaten by people shorter than me. I also beat people both taller and shorter than me. Now I'm swimming USMS, and I know there are plenty of people both taller and shorter (and older) than me that can whoop me in a race. All in all, height can help, but if you're fast you're fast. And if you're slow you're slow. Hate to be blunt about it. Just because I'm nearly 6ft tall doesn't mean I can beat someone shorter than me that puts in as much effort as me in the pool. Speed, height, technique and practice volume...it's all relative!