Why are swimmers usually not as lean as runners and cyclists?

You answered your own question.

The buoyancy thing is definitely part of it.

As an adjunct, a few years ago I lost some weight and became super lean with very low body fat. I noticed that swimming for me was a little more difficult than I had remembered (despite being in excellent running shape) as I felt like I had to work more just to stay afloat or something.

Now I have put on a little more weight (some fat) and, despite being a slower runner, have a much easier time swimming fast in the pool.

Because only 1/3 of them swim distance. That would be like asking why is everyone 800m and up skinny? Cyclists are much bigger than runners (at least in the legs). You need strong muscles to do those sports where as you need very little to run even the 800m.

Runners are not lean.

weezy f baby wrote:

Because only 1/3 of them swim distance. That would be like asking why is everyone 800m and up skinny? Cyclists are much bigger than runners (at least in the legs). You need strong muscles to do those sports where as you need very little to run even the 800m.

EL G can out bench the majority of the population

I get that only a 1/3 of them swim distance, and maybe I should have pointed out that even sprinters on the track are extremely lean. Most of the top guys are even more lean than even distance runners (or just appear that way because of the greater muscle mass). But both sprinters and distance swimmers aren't all that lean.

Thanks for the answers.

o.O wrote:

weezy f baby wrote:

Because only 1/3 of them swim distance. That would be like asking why is everyone 800m and up skinny? Cyclists are much bigger than runners (at least in the legs). You need strong muscles to do those sports where as you need very little to run even the 800m.

EL G can out bench the majority of the population

Are you nuts? The man is tiny. Maybe if "majority of the population" includes infants, handicaps, women, and old people. LOL

El G cannot out bench the majority of able-bodied males. Most of us have extra fat and weight AND muscle from eating too much.

Your premise is wrong. What you are seeing on a swimmer is a well-developed strong upper body, needed for propulsion. Runners only need legs.

And, the body wants to remain afloat and thus retains a certain amount of fat.

They drink milkshakes reqularly. Such drinks are fattening and rich.

C$ wrote:

They drink milkshakes reqularly. Such drinks are fattening and rich.

End of Thread

It doesn't help that swimmers suits cut into them making them look much fatter than they are.

Alan

Did you ever notice before races how swimmers will shake their arms out and they all have granny arms? Their triceps are very flabby and they flop around.

In order to be a very good swimmer you need almost freakish range of motion in joints (shoulder). High tonus muscles (ripped) are not flexible enough.

There are some other bone shape issues also. PS male swimmers do NOT have very narrow hips relative to sprinters.

The strongest kid in my high school (XC team) could bench around 185, and he usually did 3x15 @ 115. Could also do a REAL one armed pull up. Also only weighed about 130ish or so.

After that there was like 2-4 kids around 145-165, on a team of about 20-30 runners.

So it's not to impressive, except for the fact that must of these kids could bench 30-50 pounds over their weight.

HOWEVER, there was a great deal of kids who also couldn't lift close to their weight. It just depends on if the kid works out or not even a little bit. Runners may look puny, but some are actually quite stronger for their physique.