Hey there. I started doing a particular workout regimen at my local college's gym, which involved quite a bit of swimming. I started noticing that most of the guys on the swim team had the type of build I'm going for- especially in the shoulders, upper back, and chest.
I was thinking of working in some new strokes and was wondering what you guys think leads to this physique- freestyle? butterfly? I know they do a combination, but I imagine you seasoned swimmers out there must know which are the best for these muscle groups.
Thoughts?
Parents
Former Member
First of all if the OP is an adult, the basic body shape won't change much. Your skeleton is not going to change much if at all.
If you don't have broad shoulders and a small waist already you won't develop that now. I wish I knew a way to get taller than my 5'8 today.
Swimming generally develops shoulders and lats. I think developed lats are the signature feature of swimmer bodies.
I think most people find fly the most difficult to swim for distance. It is tiring because you have to fight gravity to lift your arms out of the water simultaneously. You have to use a lot of power to raise the shoulders high enough for the arms to clear the water.
Breastroke is demanding also - but many people don't swim breaststroke with the same effort they apply to freestyle. Breaststroke is often swum "easy" as a recovery stroke. If you swim it that way it won't do much to develop strength or fitness.
In my experience breaststroke is the only stroke that really works the biceps. The other strokes are triceps intense.
Fly and breaststroke also demand some lower back strength. Dolphin kicking requires good core strength.
First of all if the OP is an adult, the basic body shape won't change much. Your skeleton is not going to change much if at all.
If you don't have broad shoulders and a small waist already you won't develop that now. I wish I knew a way to get taller than my 5'8 today.
Swimming generally develops shoulders and lats. I think developed lats are the signature feature of swimmer bodies.
I think most people find fly the most difficult to swim for distance. It is tiring because you have to fight gravity to lift your arms out of the water simultaneously. You have to use a lot of power to raise the shoulders high enough for the arms to clear the water.
Breastroke is demanding also - but many people don't swim breaststroke with the same effort they apply to freestyle. Breaststroke is often swum "easy" as a recovery stroke. If you swim it that way it won't do much to develop strength or fitness.
In my experience breaststroke is the only stroke that really works the biceps. The other strokes are triceps intense.
Fly and breaststroke also demand some lower back strength. Dolphin kicking requires good core strength.
