Is the SPLITS essential to a competitive swimmer?

I'm not an expert, but I would say that as long as you are reasonably flexible, being able to do the splits is not important for swimmers. If you think about the range of movement necessary for a good kick, it comes nowhere near a full split in any direction. There are a few other parts of the body where good flexibility can be very important for swimmers. One is the shoulders, so you can perform a good streamline. Another is the ankles, which is important for your kick. Personally, I was a gymnast until I was about 13. I was one of the least flexible on the team, but I could do the splits almost all the way (within 4? inches of the floor). I am now in college and much less flexible (over a foot from the floor for all splits). I do not think this decrease in flexibility affected my swimming. Basically, I would recommend that swimmers stretch, but focus on flexibility in the shoulders and ankles, not in the hips.

I'm not an expert, but I would say that as long as you are reasonably flexible, being able to do the splits is not important for swimmers. If you think about the range of movement necessary for a good kick, it comes nowhere near a full split in any direction. There are a few other parts of the body where good flexibility can be very important for swimmers. One is the shoulders, so you can perform a good streamline. Another is the ankles, which is important for your kick. Personally, I was a gymnast until I was about 13. I was one of the least flexible on the team, but I could do the splits almost all the way (within 4? inches of the floor). I am now in college and much less flexible (over a foot from the floor for all splits). I do not think this decrease in flexibility affected my swimming. Basically, I would recommend that swimmers stretch, but focus on flexibility in the shoulders and ankles, not in the hips.