During the TV coverage of the olympic trials this weekend, Rowdy Gaines mentioned a few times that Phelps has "a long body and short legs" which gives him a perfect build for swimming. (In addition, of course, to his long wingspan.)
I can understand the long body. But why would short legs be an advantage?
My recollection of these sorts of discussions was that the longer your "boat" is, the faster you can go. It would seem, therefore, that both a long body AND long legs would be an advantage.
Comments?
Parents
Former Member
Perhaps what is meant by the advantage of shorter legs is that A PERSON OF A GIVEN HEIGHT is more suited for swimming if he (or she) has longer arms and shorter legs. (And a person of given proprtions will be better off taller than shorter.)
Most of the propulsion comes from the arms, so longer arms are better. Shorter legs flip over quicker on turns and probably provide nearly as much propulsion as long ones.
So it seems like a maximize the assets and minimize the liabilities problem.
Steve
Perhaps what is meant by the advantage of shorter legs is that A PERSON OF A GIVEN HEIGHT is more suited for swimming if he (or she) has longer arms and shorter legs. (And a person of given proprtions will be better off taller than shorter.)
Most of the propulsion comes from the arms, so longer arms are better. Shorter legs flip over quicker on turns and probably provide nearly as much propulsion as long ones.
So it seems like a maximize the assets and minimize the liabilities problem.
Steve
