![]() When Phelps pulled his swim goggles off and relaxed on dryland, his resting heart rate was a steady 38bpm, meaning that his heart was more efficient at pumping blood to his muscles than his competitors. Miguel Indurain has one of the most legendary heart rates of all time, with a reported 28 bpm, with most endurance athletes clocking in around 40bpm. Michael Phelps’ resting heart rate: The average human being has a resting heart rate of approximately 70 beats per minute. Hyperextension and flexion in his ankles and knees in particular allow him a greater whip with his dolphin kick, securing more propulsion. This is particularly beneficial with Phelps’ over-powering underwater dolphin kick. Along with hands that are bigger than average, basically giving him hand paddles in the water, Phelps’ limbs are made to propel him through the water efficiently.Įnhanced range of motion: Phelps has a double-jointed knees, ankles, and upper body, which means that he can extend his range of motion. Longer arms means he has a longer distance per stroke, which is profoundly helpful for crossing the pool faster than other swimmers.įlippers and Paddles: While Phelps foot size doesn’t match Ian Thorpe’s ridiculous 17 inch soles, they do come in at a bigger-than-average size 14, giving him a pair of decent sized swimming fins for feet. Phelps wingspan of 6’7” surpasses his height of 6’4” by a full three inches. Phelps’ Wingspan: The wingspan of most people is supposed to be the same width as the overall height of their body. Here is how Phelps physiology helped him crush the competition: With double-jointed knees and elbows Phelps exhibited a higher range of motion than the competition, while his lean frame provided little resistance for his monster dolphin kicks. Much is made about how Phelps was destined to swim. The Physiology of the Greatest Swimmer of All Time Here is everything you ever wanted to know about Michael Phelps. With an above average wing-span, double-jointed at the ankles and knees, the prototypical swimmer’s body, and a lactate clearing capacity that surpassed a great percentage of the population, one can say that he was born for the sport of competitive swimming.Īdd a tough and demanding coach in Bob Bowman, a positive support system and you have the recipe for the greatest swimmer on the planet. On a physiological basis, there is no question that Phelps was built for the water. He benefited from having a coach who recognized his talent early on, and Phelps was also instilled with an exceptionally strong work ethic from a young age, having watched his older sister Whitney Phelps excel on the national swimming stage. There is no doubt that Michael Phelps was a gifted athlete in many ways. Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time, and the most decorated Olympian in history.
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