https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/general/2465/arm-span-makes-the-swimmerJust measured my arm span six feet, six &amp; three quarters of an inch and 6&#39; 2&quot; in height. Phelps 6&#39; 7&quot; arm span. When they tested my lung size in 1953 they said I had the largest lung capacity they had ever tested until that time. It must have helped.en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/17048?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 13 Aug 2004 10:07:58 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:debad295-8af7-4bfb-b44a-82edf0ef373aFormer MemberMy 800 yards a day was a consequence of being sick from 1952 until 1960, if I swam hard for 500 meters I would go unconcious. For some reason after 1960, I no longer went out after 500 meters of hard swimming and I started swimming marathon races of 10 miles to 30 miles and was ranked in the top 5 for10 years after that. In training for the marathon swims I would swim in open water 1hr, 2hr, and 3 hr work outs some times twice a day. I would do 1 hr 5 min for three miles, 5 miles in just under 2 hrs. Everyone thought I should train more when preparing for the Olympics etc. it just was not possible. George<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/17018?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 13 Aug 2004 09:41:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:11808ed6-7b58-4c18-9b29-c0d38465a632Former MemberI think any swimmer would benefit from having longer limbs. But at the end of the day it&#39;s not what&#39;s on the outside, because I&#39;d have to say that what&#39;s &quot;under the hood&quot; is far more important. You could be seven feet tall, but no engine means no performance. PS..nice website. ... and 800yds. is considered a warm-up these days. Imagine what could have been with a little more training...:)<div style="clear:both;"></div>