Busting 3 Myths About Fast Swimmers (and Revealing the Truths Behind Them)

If you watched the 2024 Olympics—and what an event that was—you were likely wowed by the athletic prowess of all the athletes, especially the swimmers. Maybe you went back to your Masters practice and marveled with all the swim geeks at your favorite performances. And eventually the talk turned to, “Why are these athletes so fast?”

At that point, some myths may have come up. The first one is usually that you had to have a certain body type to swim fast. Next might have been, “They make it look so easy because of natural talent.” Lastly, the old debate about what kicking does for swimming and how much workout time you should dedicate to kicking if you can swim fast without it.

Myth #1: You need a certain body type to swim fast

Height, muscle mass, arm length, torso length, and hand and foot size all vary. Body geometry does indeed have an influence on fast swimming but—and this is a big but—there are elite swimmers in many shapes and sizes.

Genetic factors are those you have no control over, so you must work with what you have. Body geometry isn’t just about propulsive surfaces but also the shape and amount of water you displace. Large, muscular bodies may be able to generate more propulsive force, but they also create more drag that must be overcome.

In addition to musculature and the ability to generate power, there are variations in technique that elite athletes use to strengthen their weaknesses—and they do have weaknesses. Some differences are invisible—there are athletes blessed with greater capacity to process oxygen, or who have more of a certain type of muscle fiber that provides for either fast-twitch speed or slow-twitch endurance.

It isn’t all about body type—maximizing what you were born with is key.

Myth #2: Fast swimmers are just naturally talented

It’s true that there’s an unequal distribution of talent. But this is natural and good for both the sport and humanity in general. Yes, some people take to certain skills more readily than others and swimming is no different. Swimmers often get frustrated because someone is getting faster at a quicker pace than they are. That’s what talent will do for you.

But swimmers with less talent who must continually adjust and grind things out and work hard are the ones who not only maximize their speed but also build resiliency in the face of adversity. That grit and the ability to push through gets developed over time and allows less talented athletes to surpass their more talented peers who don’t work as hard. Talent will only take you so far.

When talent and grit come together, watch out. Something amazing is going to happen. How much of each you bring to the table is what will determine your success.

Myth #3: Distance swimmers don’t need to kick

This topic stirs a lot of debate among distance swimmers. (There are some people who are not proficient at kicking or just expend too much energy for very little extra speed. But rather than give up on kicking, they can train with more kicking to improve.)

Katie Ledecky swam both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle at the 2024 Olympics. She has such a great stroke that she’ll typically drop down to a two-beat kick after getting off to a fast start. Myth verified? Not really; read on.

Bobby Finke kept a steady rhythm the whole way for the 1500-meter and then really turned up the kick on the last part of the race.

Both swimmers are world record holders, approach these events differently, and are well coached to maximize their strengths. Katie Ledecky is a good kicker, and she turns it on with enthusiasm when she needs to. Bobby Finke uses it as a powerful weapon and adds extra when needed. Although neither were kicking like they were swimming a sprint 50, both showed that using the kick effectively as part of a race plan is a great idea and conserving energy when needed is also part of that strategy.

So many myths are born out of careful observation of what we think is true. Those observations are often based on one subject in a pool in front of one coach. Coaching as a profession is very much like a guild. Yes, there are courses, but typically you learn the most from others in the field. Swimming works the same way. Often, we imitate others who are successful. But as you review the three myths about fast swimming and the truths behind them, you can see that nothing is cast in stone and that hard work can beat talent and strategy can beat strength.

Fast swimming is about consistency and intensity. It’s about being thoughtful about your technique. Lastly, it’s about finding out what works for you. Fast swimmers come in all sizes and shapes and from a variety of backgrounds. Work on strengthening your weaknesses and leveraging your strengths. And have fun!