What is the ideal body shape/type for a great swimmer?

How about boyancy? Wouldn't lean muscle mass make it harder for you to float? The person who taught me how to swim did two float tests on me. One where I was vertical in the pool with both arms my my side head above the water. No other momentum. I sink to the bottom of the pool right away. She said most people would only go under till the water is just over the top of their head. In the second test, she asked me to curl up into a ball and do nothing else. I float about 8-10 inches below the water, while she said most people would float with part of their body above water. She said that I am just not real boyant and it's going to be somethng I always have to work harder to compensate for. She is probably correct, as when I swim free or back, the ONLY way for me to keep my legs from sinking is to keep kicking. The moment I stop kicking, they drop drastically, even though my head is completely flat on the water. I have been wondering if I should put on more fat to make myself more boyant? Good idea? :) Can less boyant people become successful in swimming?

Swiminton- if you desire some more fat for buoyancy, then we can start a 'fat drive' for you- I'll start the ball rolling & donate 10 pounds...before you know it you'll be bobbing like a cork! C'mon everybody, start giving lard 'til it hurts!

Ok Peter, I'll give him 15. No offence but I'm sure that there is more tonnage out there.

I was thinking about 5 would be enough but thanks for the generosity! :D How else can you gain boyancy? Do you drink a gallon of water right before swimming?

Optimal body ...... I wouldn't mind having feet the size of Ian Thorpes'....... around a size 17. John Smith

Interesting question. Successful swimmers come in all shapes and sizes. I recall the picture of a very skinny and lean (he had been quite ill) Aaron Peirsol standing next to a giant and very muscular Markus Rogan. Amanda Beard is very lean compared to Haley Cope who tends to be quite muscular. What makes one more successful than the others is a lot of factors and it's the million dollar question.

Originally posted by swiminton How else can you gain boyancy? Do you drink a gallon of water right before swimming? About an hour or two before you swim, eat a big plateful of baked beans and sauerkraut. Maybe throw in a bit of chocolate for dessert. Then "hold it in" when you start getting gassy. Should help increase buoyancy!

I am not too sure what the ideal body shape is (if that even exists), but the ideal body type is a healthy one. Not overweight, not anorexic, not overly muscular, not frail, etc.

Originally posted by Guvnah About an hour or two before you swim, eat a big plateful of baked beans and sauerkraut. Maybe throw in a bit of chocolate for dessert. Then "hold it in" when you start getting gassy. Should help increase buoyancy! what if you fail to hold it in?? I am sure others at the pool would appreciate it. Water from the pool (if I happened to swallow some) always makes me gassy afterwards. Perhaps for the same reason. ;)

Most good male collegate swimmers will sink. If you are going relatively fast your body will automatically rise somewhat in the water. Thats partially why a wetsuit will not appreciably speed up a good swimmer.