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Why are swimmers shoulders so broad?

Author

Mia Moss

Published Jan 09, 2026

The width of a swimmer's shoulders is typically attributed to its ability for muscles in that region like pectoralis major or latissimus dorsi (shoulder) muscles which are used in swimming, to have an increased range of motion. The wider shoulder helps keep your head more stable as you rotate.

Why do swimmers develop broad shoulders?

Swimmers are notorious for having broad shoulders and a rounded posture. The muscles in the shoulder and upper back are hypertrophied from repetitive motion. This additional muscle mass contributes to excessive curvature in the spine and a weak core exposes the lower back to more strain.

Does swimming give you broader shoulders?

Some women naturally have broad shoulders and others are naturally narrow -- those with narrow shoulders create less resistance to forward motion in the water and may be faster swimmers as a result, but swimming will not give them broader shoulders any more than being sedentary will narrow the shoulders of the other ...

How do I get rid of broad swimmers shoulders?

The most feasible way to get rid of broad shoulders for many people is to lose weight, followed by building up muscle around the hips to create better proportions.

Why are swimmers lats so big?

Countless repetitions create hypertrophy in the shoulders of a swimmer. Either a one-arm stroke like freestyle or backstroke, or a two-arm stroke like butterfly creates this silhouette. The latissimus dorsi. The lats (as they are usually referred to) are the large muscles of the middle back.

How to Not Make Shoulders Broad From Swimming

Why are swimmers not ripped?

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.

Why are swimmers so good looking?

People do not realise that a swimmer has the best physique because it is natural and healthy and the whole body is worked by the sport. The muscles look healthy and strong and not too much and not too little. This is why swimmers have the best physique of all sportsmen.

Why are female swimmers bulky?

Female swimmers often weight train during competition season to increase lean muscle mass, which is needed to propel through the water.

Are broad shoulders genetic?

Shoulder width can be changed to a certain degree. You can't change your bone structure, which is determined mostly by genetics. This includes the width of the collarbones, an important part of shoulder width. However, you can build up and develop muscular shoulders.

Can I make my shoulders less broad?

You can't spot reduce your shoulders, but you can work out other muscles so that they aren't as pronounced. While you might think broad shoulders can be altered with diet and exercise like other parts of your body (abdomen, arms, legs, etc.), the size of your shoulders is primarily based on genetics.

What is the ideal swimmers body?

Although swimmers with a wide variety of body types have found success in the sport, most at the international level tend to look similar, sporting tall and muscular bodies – typically with long torsos, long arms and short legs.

Do swimmers have big chests?

Swimming works your pectoral muscles, but because the resistance is minimal, swimming is unlikely to yield very large, very hard pecs. If you want to dramatically shape your pecs, you'll need to incorporate other workouts instead.

Do swimmers have bigger lungs?

Recent studies have shown that swimmers present larger lungs, which could not be attributed to changes in height, fat free mass, maximal respiratory mouth pressures, alveolar distensibility, age at start of training, years of training, training time per week, distance per session, sternal length, or chest depth at ...

Do swimmers have the best bodies?

They tend to have a low amount of body fat, resulting in flat bellies, defined backs and narrow waists. A typical swimmer's build has more muscular bulk than that of runners, who tend to be leaner and lighter. Many people aspire to have the lean yet strong body type of swimmers.

Does swimming give you a flat stomach?

Swimming cardio is one of the most effective ways to lose weight including your belly fat. This requires you to keep swimming for 15-20 minutes at the time while maintaining your heart rate levels in the particular zone that we call – fat burning zone.

Do tall swimmers have an advantage?

The best swimmers are tall because their height helps them swim the fastest. Having a length advantage – longer arms, legs, and torso, gives them more surface area to propel themselves forward with.

At what age do shoulders broaden?

By eighteen years old, our clavicles have reached their final length. They continue to ossify until we're 26, but our shoulders won't grow any broader (study). This means that if we're eighteen or older, the only way to build broader shoulders is to gain muscle in our upper bodies.

Does testosterone cause broad shoulders?

Testosterone is also responsible for wide shoulders, strong jawlines, and other structural traits associated with masculinity. It is normal for different young men to develop at different rates, but significantly delayed puberty may be caused by hypogonadism.

Are 18 inch shoulders broad?

A 2009 survey conducted in Sweden showed the average shoulder width calculated for 105 men over 18 was 15.5 inches. Out of 262 women measured, the average shoulder breadth was 14 inches.

Why do swimmers have flabby bodies?

Swimmers tend to have a little bit higher body fat percentage than distance runners or cyclists. I think it has to do with buoyancy and staying warmer in the water.

Does swimming reduce breast size?

Swimming. The front and back strokes used while swimming helps burn excess fat around the breasts by subjecting the chest muscles to tremendous pressure.

How does swimming change a woman's body?

Does swimming change your body shape? Yes, swimming definitely changes your body shape. The more you swim the more will your body become unrecognizable, even to yourself. Swimming creates a slightly elongated, broad-shouldered, thin, and fit body shape, which many of us covet.

Are swimmers good in bed?

The psychological study, conducted by Mindlab, surveyed 2,000 adults across the UK, putting swimmers not only as the best in bed, but also the happiest and most charitable.

Why do swimmers slow down with age?

Unfortunately, you need to train fast, to swim (stay) fast. Altered Body (aka poor range of motion for performing biomechanics): Aging commonly results in increased fat mass and long sitting times. Increased fat mass can alter body position in the water and add more drag.

Why do swimmers slap their thighs?

When an Olympic swimmer slaps their backs, biceps, or thighs, it's kind of like sending a wake-up call to the muscles and joints. You'll notice that the areas or "zones" swimmers usually target are large areas of muscle mass. The vibration from the impact helps increase blood flow throughout the body.