Looking at some pro swimmers I could not help noticing how big and muscular they are.Does bigger muscular weight contribute positively to speed or not?Phelps is awesome and definitely not the bulkiest guy in the pool.
I am 6'1'' and only weigh 160 lb. It's all muscles(award from my 5 years of weightlifting).I look heavier than what I weigh but still would like to gain more muscles( and strengh!) which I always had a problem with unless I ate 6 times a day.Swimming is even more calorie-consuming, so I think I am stuck where I am.But the question is:is that ok to be lighter in order to be faster?
Thanks.
Parents
Former Member
There is a huge difference between having "Muscles" and having swimming muscles. Being able to bench press 300 pounds will not make you faster. Overall muscle contitioning is important. Having taught Nautilus, I believe the se machines can best duplicate many swimming motions. The Superpullover is perfect for all strokes.
The biggest change in swimming over the last 10 years has been the return of "core body" strenth. All sports are returning to this. When I as a kid, we did 100 situps a day. Now people like Tiger Woods, Mark Meguiar, and many others do 800 sit ups a day.
The martial arts all emphasize core body strength and power coming from within. Same goes for swimming now.
Sports Scientists have measured our Olympic swimmers for two decades now, the common thread amoung the winners is they were not the strongest measured, they were more flexible. Range of motion allows putting strength over a longer distance, hence power is greater.
I have an article on Weight Training at www.breaststroke.info that may help you, as well as some on stretching.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
There is a huge difference between having "Muscles" and having swimming muscles. Being able to bench press 300 pounds will not make you faster. Overall muscle contitioning is important. Having taught Nautilus, I believe the se machines can best duplicate many swimming motions. The Superpullover is perfect for all strokes.
The biggest change in swimming over the last 10 years has been the return of "core body" strenth. All sports are returning to this. When I as a kid, we did 100 situps a day. Now people like Tiger Woods, Mark Meguiar, and many others do 800 sit ups a day.
The martial arts all emphasize core body strength and power coming from within. Same goes for swimming now.
Sports Scientists have measured our Olympic swimmers for two decades now, the common thread amoung the winners is they were not the strongest measured, they were more flexible. Range of motion allows putting strength over a longer distance, hence power is greater.
I have an article on Weight Training at www.breaststroke.info that may help you, as well as some on stretching.
Coach Wayne McCauley
ASCA Level 5
