Does anyone know how strong the top swimmers are? Guys like M. Phelps or B. Hansen, how much can they lift with their legs, bench, lat pull, curl, tri ex, etc. I am making weight training a big part of my workouts, but I understand, at a certain point, adding more muscle or strength is not going to be of much benefit.
Former Member
I have to say, after reading all the answers, I am not finding things that match up with reality. It seems that you all, as a whole, don't think weight lifting is that important. There are guys that are strong and swim fast, and their are guys that are not strong and they also swim fast. Seems like it really doesn't matter.
That mentality flies in the face of a few things. First, men are stronger than women. Men swim faster based on that fact.
Second, Dara Tores has severely tweaked her training. Old school days she was doing little in the weight room and 40K per week. Now she is at 20K per week and lifting her butt off. She is now faster, even with age related changes that should make her slower.
I think strength is very important. The men versus women argument is one I've made many times before.
In fact, I'm so convinced of the importance of strength training that I'm telling you that it absolutely doesn't matter what any other swimmer can do in the weight room. What you need to do is get in there, get stronger, and keep getting stronger until it stops making you swim faster.
Greg, bottom line, my opinion, take it or leave it.
In your original post, you asked for lifting numbers with the idea that you wanted to get some idea of a "ceiling" that you can feel good about once you approach it; otherwise you feared would get too bulky. At least, that was how I interpreted your question.
I ABSOLUTELY think an intense strength-training program (in its broadest sense, usually taken to mean weight lifting) is a big help in swimming faster. However, I disagree with you on two key points:
-- I disagree with the notion of a ceiling. You can get stronger without adding bulk (at least, to the extent that it makes you slower).
-- I disagree with the idea of comparing numbers with other swimmers. You should look at your own numbers, try to improve them, and shake things around when you plateau.
When I look at posts by Ande or Paul W or Paul S or Jazz or anyone else about their strength training routines, I completely ignore their weights and instead look at the exercises they do, how many sets, how many reps. If it looks interesting to me then (after getting the form down, of course) I would adjust my weights to match # of reps/sets and try to increase the weight with time, in order to build strength/power in the water. I periodize by switching around exercises, or trying new ones, and changing reps and rest between sets (sometimes focus on muscular endurance, sometimes focus on power).
Good luck.
I appretiate all of your input. I am just the type that likes to discuss the points from all angles to make sure we are coming up with the correct conclusions.
Just a point of clarification, I was not worried about bulking up when I was talking about a weight lifting ceiling, I was more worried about wasting my time adding strength when it would not lead to moving my arms at a faster velocity when swimming. I know that up to a point, adding absolute strength can lead to my arms and legs moving at faster veleocitys while swimming, but at some point, the strength gains are negligable and my best bet would be sport specific stuff while maintaining strength.
When looking at the numbers of some of the top sprinting swimmers, I figured that I could get an ball park number on the potential ceiling.
From seeing all the posts here, it seems that many swimmers can sprint very fast times without much absolute strength (reley more on aerobic capacity, high anaerobic threshold) while others can also swim just as fast with more absolulte strength (reley more on great alactic capacity as well as ability to make huge amounts of lactic acid quickly). Perhaps their is more than one way to skin a cat. I would like to see someone do research that would find the optimal balance of strength and "swimming ability"
When we look at these guys with little strength, I wonder what would happen if we added a little stregth to their bodies. Something would have to give. Perhaps they would not be able to swim as many yards and they would lose someting in "swimming ability". I don't know if it would cause them to slow down, speed up, or if it would be a wash. I am assuming, that for a 50 free, it may speed up the swimmer, perhaps for a 100, it would be a wash, and anything higher it would slow them down.
It seems that you all, as a whole, don't think weight lifting is that important.
I don't believe anyone is saying that. I do weights 2-3 times a week and it is an important part of my training.
I just do not spend any time worrying even the tinest little bit how my numbers compare to anyone else's, just how they compare to my previous numbers.
The only numbers that matter are the ones that appear on the scoreboard after the race.
very true
kirsty is not a big strong girl
swimming speed is a function of
body shape + technique + conditioning
remember build a better boat
I don't have to look very far to find some 15-year-old girls with sticks for arms who can swam faster than 99.99% of all USMS males.
You also asked for a maximum lift weight. I would guess that most swimmers train for power (moderate weight over an extended time) rather than a single repetition. (Even the shortest race takes over 20 seconds.)
Former Member
Strength training doesn't exactly take a lot of time. You might be surprised by how much stronger you can get on a routine of two 40-minute workouts per week.
I don't have to look very far to find some 15-year-old girls with sticks for arms who can swam faster than 99.99% of all USMS males.
I agree in a distance event, even a 200 that it is easy to find a young girl who can out swim USMS males. I currently swim with a girl who has All American times in the 400 free and destroys me in practice when we do aerobic stuff, but I can outswim her in the 50 free and any breaststroke event.
I agree in a distance event, even a 200 that it is easy to find a young girl who can out swim USMS males. I currently swim with a girl who has All American times in the 400 free and destroys me in practice when we do aerobic stuff, but I can outswim her in the 50 free and any breaststroke event.
Sorry, when you said "strength of top swimmers," I didn't realize you only meant sprinters.
The 400 free is not an aerobic event in the true sense of the word, you are well above lactate threshold for the entire race. That is true of the vast majority of pool events.
Sorry, when you said "strength of top swimmers," I didn't realize you only meant sprinters.
The 400 free is not an aerobic event in the true sense of the word, you are well above lactate threshold for the entire race. That is true of the vast majority of pool events.
Nothing is 100% aerobic, but a 400 is better than 50% aerobic
