| Being exceptionally tall has many advantages, but | | | | excel at the more explosive and shorter events, such |
| what about when it comes to sporting endeavour, in | | | | 50 metre breast stroke, where the long smooth stroke |
| particular when it comes to water sports. So just what | | | | is overpowered by the more powerful short sharp |
| are the plus and minus points of height when it comes | | | | strokes that generate forward momentum quickly. |
| to Swimming, rowing, water polo, canoe sports etc. | | | | Rowing is very much the domain of the taller athlete. |
| How can a competitor use extra height to gain a | | | | Take a look any elite rowing crew and they will be tall. |
| competitive advantage over an opponent who has a | | | | Even the lighter weight crews tend to be long and lean |
| different physical make up. | | | | as opposed to short and muscular. Rowing is very |
| Let's look at the key attributes of the taller sports | | | | much a team sport where all action and movement |
| person. First and foremost is the ability to reach further. | | | | must be simultaneous to maximise effort. This is much |
| Being taller implies longer arms and legs, in turn | | | | easier to acheive if your crew of four or eight are of a |
| meaning longer reach ability and longer stride ability. | | | | similar height. Then to achieve a long stroke, |
| This is a tremendous advantage in many sports, but in | | | | maximising the oar time in the water, longer levers are |
| particular water sports. One of the key factors to | | | | required. |
| swimming is to generate long arcs with the arms and | | | | Canoeing and kayaking can favour the shorter or |
| legs. This is only possible with long levers. The front | | | | longer paddler depending in the particular event. Some |
| crawl swim stroke requires that you have a long | | | | disciplines, such as slalom, white water event favour |
| stroke i.e. your arms are powering through the water | | | | the shorter more balanced and powerful athlete who |
| longer for every stroke than a shorter competitors. | | | | can generate power in a short number of strokes. |
| The longer your arms are in the water the more time | | | | Other events are more favourable to the taller athlete |
| you have to propel yourself in forward motion. Taller | | | | as they require long smooth stokes to generate |
| swimmers (and just take a look at who lines up for the | | | | forward momentum and maintain it for long period of |
| next Olympic 200 metres Freestyle final) tend to have | | | | time. |
| the textbook long, smooth stroke, whereas the shorter | | | | Like many things in life, being tall has many advantages. |
| swimmers have a shorter, snappier stroke. Shorter | | | | Being tall in water sports is no different. |
| swimmers, if powerful enough do however tend to | | | | |