Olympic female swimmers' physiques

[jeanvictor]

just watching these incredible athletes and I'm intrigued by their physiques. I think my body perception must be altered by hanging round too many bodybuilding sources because I'm surprised by how much body fat they carry.

Obviously they are incredibly fit to do what they do, but to me a lot of them look almost 'flabby' for want of a better word. Is it a specific thing related to swimming? How can they do so much cardio and not be ripped to pieces? I don't understand.....

Just wondered if anyone else was watching and knew why....

Don't be afraid to give yourself everything you've ever wanted.

Lifts

255S
395D
205B

[jeanvictor]

just watching these incredible athletes and I'm intrigued by their physiques. I think my body perception must be altered by hanging round too many bodybuilding sources because I'm surprised by how much body fat they carry.

Obviously they are incredibly fit to do what they do, but to me a lot of them look almost 'flabby' for want of a better word. Is it a specific thing related to swimming? How can they do so much cardio and not be ripped to pieces? I don't understand.....

Just wondered if anyone else was watching and knew why....

When someone thinks of their dream body type, they often use popular sports physique types to describe it. It isn't uncommon to hear someone compare a mans build to that of a linebacker, or a womans build to that of a dancer. I am going to discuss in detail four types of athletic physiques.

The Swimmers Body: Look no further than record breaking Olympic Gold Medalist - Michael Phelps to find the picture perfect description of a swimmers body (for a man of course). His torso is lean and tone, with well defined (but not bulky) muscles. For men, the swimmer's body type has broad shoulders, a medium to long torso and a flat as a board abdomen. What sets apart the swimmers body from other athletic types is the noticeable lean-ness of their physique and broadness of their shoulders. There long bodies combined with great posture makes for a regal effect. Ironically enough, a swimmers body type for women is a bit different. They too have well defined muscles, but because it shows mostly in their shoulders, triceps and biceps - it can come across as a little too broad or bulky. But trust there is nothing bulky about the female swimmers body - like most women athletes, the training of a swimmer leads to muscle development that the average woman never experiences.

[jeanvictor]

just watching these incredible athletes and I'm intrigued by their physiques. I think my body perception must be altered by hanging round too many bodybuilding sources because I'm surprised by how much body fat they carry.

Obviously they are incredibly fit to do what they do, but to me a lot of them look almost 'flabby' for want of a better word. Is it a specific thing related to swimming? How can they do so much cardio and not be ripped to pieces? I don't understand.....

Just wondered if anyone else was watching and knew why....

The Gymnast's Body: It's usually easy to spot the trained gymnast - just look for the person that's usually short in height, with long muscular legs and a short torso. Though male gymnasts are taller than female gymnasts (of course), generally speaking - gymnasts tend to be shorter than the average. Their strength is in their legs and upper body, so bulky muscular thighs, calves, biceps and triceps are not uncommon. This becomes even more noticeable in female gymnasts.Taller gymnasts, particularly female gymnasts tend to have leaner muscle definition. Most female gymnasts also have boxy hips and shoulders.

The Dancer's Body: The dancer's body type can be identified by defined calves and thighs, a long or straight torso (often emphasized by great posture) and lean muscular arms. In men, the waist line tends to be thinner and in women, the back/lower back is noticeably toned. Now this is just a general description - there are so many types of dance that bring strength and definition to different muscles in the body. For example, someone trained in ballet will have a taller and leaner looking physique, whereas someone trained in tap will have more definition in their lower legs.

The Track Runner's Body: The sprinter track athlete's body type is hands down the most muscular of them all and this goes for both men and women. This changes for long distance runners. Track athletes who run in cross country events have a leaner and longer muscle. The sprinter's body type is what comes to the mind of most people when they think of a track athlete. Their muscles in their legs are extremely well defined, from the calves, to the quads and including the glutes. Theirs is a body type built for speed.

[XFitGal]

The contrast between the male and female divers is pretty dramatic! I agree with the statement about water sports in comparison to weight-bearing sports, though.

[sy2502]

The contrast between the male and female divers is pretty dramatic! I agree with the statement about water sports in comparison to weight-bearing sports, though.

It seems body proportions are very important in swimming, specifically shoulder width and limb length. You'll see even short distance swimmers don't pack a great deal of muscle, which is interesting if, for example, you compare with the muscle mass of sprint runners. My best guess on this is that although water offers resistance, it's not a huge deal, and of course water makes you weightless, so you aren't even doing body weight exercise, so it comes down to how much water you can displace with each stroke, which depends on the length of arms and legs. At least, this is the best theory I can come up with. The lean body probably just comes down to the amount of physical exercise they do.
On a related note, when I was swimming competitively, I was swimming 2 and 1/2 hours a day 5 days a week and I wasn't particularly lean. My body type doesn't seem to respond well to high volumes of cardio in terms of body fat.

[CBRob]

The Water Polo team is looking pretty healthy too. I was expecting to see a lot more blubber to help these girls float, but they all look just right to me.

[hongkong02]

My extended interpretation of the original query is that in most sports, male and female physiques are similar, e.g. female sprinters may be smaller than male swimmers, but the muscle definition is similar across the body, equally male and female tennis players, cyclists etc have the same body shape, which is the result of training specifically aimed at improving their performance in that sport.

When it comes to swimming however, I see a great difference between, for example, Michael Phelps and Rebecca Addlington. At that elite level, surely all swimmers are doing pretty much the same preparation, targetting the same muscle groups and looking for the same outcome?

[Hannah73Louise]

The Water Polo team is looking pretty healthy too. I was expecting to see a lot more blubber to help these girls float, but they all look just right to me.

They all have fantastic thighs!
I was reading another article about the technical swimsuits the women wear, and how they are extremely tight, and I think that explains the visible upper body overspill of flesh that I was identifying as flabby. I think anyone squeezed into one of those suits would have rolls lol

[toodlepip]

Flabby? Maybe their proportions aren't that of figure girls, but I was actually mirin the lower bodies of some of those girls pretty hard the other night. Maybe I just don't know aesthetics?

watched some swimming this morning and I thought the same thing...broader shoulders, v-taper to waist...they looked great

and don't get me started on male swimmer's bodies...things of beauty they are...yum

[sy2502]

They all have fantastic thighs!
I was reading another article about the technical swimsuits the women wear, and how they are extremely tight, and I think that explains the visible upper body overspill of flesh that I was identifying as flabby. I think anyone squeezed into one of those suits would have rolls lol

That's actually the way it's done, your racing suit is going to be 1 to 2 sizes too small, to avoid it making pockets that fill with water and drag. It's not flattering, but it's not meant to be.

[hongkong02]

That's actually the way it's done, your racing suit is going to be 1 to 2 sizes too small, to avoid it making pockets that fill with water and drag. It's not flattering, but it's not meant to be.

I don't see Michael Phelps with a muffin top over his racing shorts! :-)

[sspkelsey]

Fat floats. Swimming was easier when I was fat lol

Haha same for me!

[sspkelsey]

They all have fantastic thighs!
I was reading another article about the technical swimsuits the women wear, and how they are extremely tight, and I think that explains the visible upper body overspill of flesh that I was identifying as flabby. I think anyone squeezed into one of those suits would have rolls lol

I used to swim, and we had to buy our competition swimsuits 2 sizes smaller than our normal swimsuits. It decreases drag, but also makes you "overspill" some. Double edged sword...

[amazon22]

I was a competitive swimmer myself Miranda, I know pretty well what it takes. Nowhere did I even mention success vs body shape. Lately you have taken the habit of giving me s*hit for every post I make Miranda. I don't know what I have done to you, but take it down a notch. Or find another target for your sour attitude, because I have had quite enough of it.

She found the need to go into a detailed 3 paragraph explanation when I posted a thread asking other bodyspace members who inspires them. I said I was inspired by some fitness models physiques because of the hard work they put in to get there. She then acts as if looking like a fitness model is an easy application...lol. I think every little word is taken a bit too seriously by some of these forum posters and they feel the need to find something wrong.

[sy2502]

She found the need to go into a detailed 3 paragraph explanation when I posted a thread asking other bodyspace members who inspires them. I said I was inspired by some fitness models physiques because of the hard work they put in to get there. She then acts as if looking like a fitness model is an easy application...lol. I think every little word is taken a bit too seriously by some of these forum posters and they feel the need to find something wrong.

Once the zillionth lady came to the forum saying "I hate big muscle, it's manly. I want to be toned" and, as I always do, I replied: "If you hate muscle why did you come to a forum called bodybuilding.com?" and Miranda replied to me more or less (I don't remember the exact words) that since I am not big enough for her standards, I have no business telling people that. I facepalmed myself so hard I almost gave myself a concussion.

[amazon22]

Once the zillionth lady came to the forum saying "I hate big muscle, it's manly. I want to be toned" and, as I always do, I replied: "If you hate muscle why did you come to a forum called bodybuilding.com?" and Miranda replied to me more or less (I don't remember the exact words) that since I am not big enough for her standards, I have no business telling people that. I facepalmed myself so hard I almost gave myself a concussion.

Hahaha I would have agreed with you and that was funny about the almost giving yourself a concussion! I don't doubt her knowledge of many things but I guess it could be out across in a different way...not so GRRRR-like. Loool.

[danap3681]

I watched the womens rowing last night and was impressed with them. I have never watched a rowing event but it was interesting. Those ladies had some great looking upper bodies so I was curious to see their legs. They were very well proportioned. Can't even imagine the arm pump they get from rowing like they do!

[drarmament]

When it comes to physiques, the person will only achieve what they put in. Some of the the swimmers or who ever will look like crap till they have to train, even football players starts to look like crap after they finish playing for the season and then will cut to go to training camp. PPL need to understand that your goals are not their goals. If they what to be out of shape and then go to training camp to complete thats them. I bet they can and will out swim you, even out of shape.
The key answer is their goals are different from yours, you should really stop talking crap about them and concentrate on your self.

[sy2502]

When it comes to physiques, the person will only achieve what they put in. Some of the the swimmers or who ever will look like crap till they have to train, even football players starts to look like crap after they finish playing for the season and then will cut to go to training camp. PPL need to understand that your goals are not their goals. If they what to be out of shape and then go to training camp to complete thats them. I bet they can and will out swim you, even out of shape.
The key answer is their goals are different from yours, you should really stop talking crap about them and concentrate on your self.

I think what some people don't understand is that not being completely shredded is not the same as being out of shape. You can have some fat on and still be the fastest swimmer in the world. For athletes, having the energy to train and compete is more important than having striated glutes. If they dieted to get shredded, they wouldn't have the energy to break world records.

[drarmament]

I think what some people don't understand is that not being completely shredded is not the same as being out of shape. You can have some fat on and still be the fastest swimmer in the world. For athletes, having the energy to train and compete is more important than having striated glutes. If they dieted to get shredded, they wouldn't have the energy to break world records.

I agree. Bodybuilding is the only sport that is being judge upon looks. It just blows my mind how ppl think about others sports and then compare it to bodybuilding. A completely dry bodybuilder is praying he doesn't pass out on stage as he poses because he is at his weakest point.

[Ascendedlife]

Yeah I agree with other posters. Your body adjusts to what you train for. I've been doing grappling/Brazilian Jim jitsu for about 4 years and I've trained with guys that came in with x years of swimming, x years of running and some who were purely bodybuilders and they all get disappointed when their strength or stamina from other sports don't transfer as much as they wished. When I'm in the gym I can't lift as heavy as many of the big guys in there but if they were to grapple with me I can manipulate them and control them much easier than they can me. It's not because there are huge strength differences, it's just differences in training. Muscle memory plays a big part as well.

[drarmament]

Yeah I agree with other posters. Your body adjusts to what you train for. I've been doing grappling/Brazilian Jim jitsu for about 4 years and I've trained with guys that came in with x years of swimming, x years of running and some who were purely bodybuilders and they all get disappointed when their strength or stamina from other sports don't transfer as much as they wished. When I'm in the gym I can't lift as heavy as many of the big guys in there but if they were to grapple with me I can manipulate them and control them much easier than they can me. It's not because there are huge strength differences, it's just differences in training. Muscle memory plays a big part as well.

When I was doing combatives, muscle memory and strenght was a big plus. I could take down ppl who just run or bodybuilds. PPL who knock crossfit, all their training is base on function.

[Ascendedlife]

When I was doing combatives, muscle memory and strenght was a big plus. I could take down ppl who just run or bodybuilds. PPL who knock crossfit, all their training is base on function.

Yeah I think it's funny how much crossfit gets knocked on this site. The theory behind the balanced athlete and a maximum performer holds huge appeal to me. Of course they don't look like bodybuilders, their not trying to haha. And of course there are going to be frauds who don't teach it right. What sport doesn't have it's share of frauds?

The other thing that I think is hilarious is I train with my Uni's ROTC and help teach them combatives. What people don't realize is that the current generation of soldiers are being trained with crossfit. As in they follow workouts of the day for physical training. So people can knock it all they want but when your soldiers are using it for training I hardly think its a joke.

[drarmament]

Yeah I think it's funny how much crossfit gets knocked on this site. The theory behind the balanced athlete and a maximum performer holds huge appeal to me. Of course they don't look like bodybuilders, their not trying to haha. And of course there are going to be frauds who don't teach it right. What sport doesn't have it's share of frauds?

The other thing that I think is hilarious is I train with my Uni's ROTC and help teach them combatives. What people don't realize is that the current generation of soldiers are being trained with crossfit. As in they follow workouts of the day for physical training. So people can knock it all they want but when your soldiers are using it for training I hardly think its a joke.

Yep, I agree, I love doing stuff to push my body to its limits

[sy2502]

Yeah I think it's funny how much crossfit gets knocked on this site.

Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with it. The problem I have is when it's commercialized with big buff guys and people who don't know much about it think they got that big and shredded JUST doing that (see P90X or Insanity). Especially here in the female forum we get a lot of women who do these workouts and ask if they are going to become big and manly.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

I think what some people don't understand is that not being completely shredded is not the same as being out of shape. You can have some fat on and still be the fastest swimmer in the world. For athletes, having the energy to train and compete is more important than having striated glutes. If they dieted to get shredded, they wouldn't have the energy to break world records.

Yes! Another reason for me not to loose that last 10 lbs

Oh, wait. I don't really ever swim.

[drarmament]

I think some ppl mix conditioning with be shredded. Atheletes have to look at the trade off. When your shredded your conditioning is going to be off, you don't have the energy to keep moving. Look at fighters. When they shred to meet weight and have to fight, they are gassed even before the fight starts.

[Jemima92]

just watching these incredible athletes and I'm intrigued by their physiques. I think my body perception must be altered by hanging round too many bodybuilding sources because I'm surprised by how much body fat they carry.

Obviously they are incredibly fit to do what they do, but to me a lot of them look almost 'flabby' for want of a better word. Is it a specific thing related to swimming? How can they do so much cardio and not be ripped to pieces? I don't understand.....

Just wondered if anyone else was watching and knew why....

I've read that when the body is frequently in water (especially cold water) for long periods of time, it can develop a thin layer of extra body fat, which other non-swimmers do not have or need, to help keep the core at a more warmer temperature.

[jb4476]

Yeah I think it's funny how much crossfit gets knocked on this site.

The reasons CF gets knocked so much are

1) It’s stupid. The idea that constantly doing these weird and random WODs is the best way to achieve an athletic balance is really stupid. It’s insufficiently goal-oriented to produce tangible long term progress. Think about real athletes in sports that mix a high demand on multiple systems, where these athletes follow structured programs designed to maximize tangible results in their sport. These athletes would absolutely crush Crossfitters in terms of their ability to produce high performance across multiple “domains” (to use a CF word). Elite heavyweight male rowers have not only endless aerobic capacity (more so than any other athletes), but enormous raw strength and coordination, just as elite sprinters are not only enormously fast and agile and coordinated, but tremendously strong and powerful, and elite Olympic weightlifters are (inhumanly) strong, and powerful, and flexible, and agile and coordinated. These people are far more “un****able with” (to use another CF term) than CF athletes.
2) It’s got a weird cultish structure. It’s straight up creepy.
3) The way they treat the Olympic lifts. Judging by the endless compilations of absurd and dangerous CF fail clips, the majority of CF participants do not have the necessary patience and discipline to learn how to properly execute a snatch or a clean and jerk under maximal loads. Most of them can't even power clean correctly even though that lift is easy to learn. Furthermore, the exercises are not designed to be done in ****ing stupid 30-rep complexes.
4) The presence in their ranks of people like this: http://www.crossfit.com/cf-affiliate...shwithaj_b.jpg

[Ang123]

I thought some of the female swimmers just looked bulky, not fat. Some of them had thick necks. I just hope the girls aren't following Phelp's diet as its incredible the amount of garbage that man eats if what has been reported is true and if the coaches have the girls eating like that it will put fat on a woman. Once he retires he is going to blow up like a balloon if he keeps eating those foods and lowers his exercise regimen.