Is the SPLITS essential to a competitive swimmer?

I have been trying to do a split ever since I saw jc van damme jump up and support himself across the walls of an elevator, (with legs only), that had the floor fall out of it. It left his hands free to snap the necks of a few bad guys. I consider this a useful skill to try to obtain, though, I don't see a benefit to my swimming. Now, the forward bend hampstring stretch....big swimming benefit.

I have been trying to do a split ever since I saw jc van damme jump up and support himself across the walls of an elevator, (with legs only), that had the floor fall out of it. It left his hands free to snap the necks of a few bad guys. I consider this a useful skill to try to obtain, though, I don't see a benefit to my swimming. Now, the forward bend hampstring stretch....big swimming benefit.