What’s the wingspan of Michael Phelps?

On June 30, 1985, Michael Phelps, a former American swimmer and one of the most decorated Olympians of all time, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Several world records, thirty-three world championship medals, and twenty-eight Olympic medals are only a few of his amazing accomplishments.

Phelps started swimming at the age of seven, after being inspired by his sisters. At ten years old, he broke the 100-meter butterfly national record for his age group. The popular American athlete participated in his first Olympics in Sydney in 2000. Then, at the age of 15, he competed in the 2001 World Aquatics Championships and became the youngest male swimmer in history to break a world record in the 200-meter butterfly.

Phelps has accomplished the incredible achievement of holding the record for most world records (39), set by a male swimmer. From 2001 until 2009, he accomplished this feat. The skilled swimmer took home eight gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, four from the 2012 London Olympics, and six from the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Even though she battled depression and anxiety in 2015, Phelps accomplished the incredible achievement of winning five gold and one silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. In his final competition at the 2016 Olympics, the tough athlete won the men's 4x100-meter medley relay, breaking a new Olympic record in the process.

The exceptional former swimmer is now a dedicated mental health advocate, participates in numerous charitable endeavors, and loves being a parent to his three children.

Phelps Is Tall With a Huge Wingspan.

First, he is tall, but not overly so. Phelps' height, or more correctly, his length, allows him enough glide in the water to give him a little extra forward momentum, but even at 6'4", he would probably be about average as a professional basketball player.

Next, even for a man of his height, his 6' 7" arm span—or wingspan, as some refer to it—is remarkably vast. He has remarkable pulling power in the water thanks to the way his arms function, nearly like rowing oars. The butterfly stroke, which primarily uses the upper arms and back to propel a swimmer through the water, is one of Phelps' strongest suits because of his wingspan.

Then there's his extraordinarily long upper body, about what one would anticipate from a 6' 8" man. His reach is aided by his long, thin, triangle-shaped body, which is particularly useful for strokes like butterfly and freestyle. Compared to a normal swimmer, his torso is more hydrodynamic, which allows it to go through the water with less drag.

Michael Phelps's other physical attributes.

Phelps' Short Legs Are Perfect Too.

Hydrodynamic properties also apply to Phelps' lower body. But while his larger arms offer him an advantage, his somewhat shorter legs give him an extra kick (figuratively speaking) compared to other guys of his stature. Phelps has legs that are about equivalent to those of a man who is six feet tall. These legs aid in his kicks and provide him with more strength during his turns at the wall, where contests often determine the outcome in seconds.

Not to mention Phelps' gigantic hands and size 14 feet, which resemble flippers; he could push and pull more water with both than with other swimmers, increasing his overall speed.

Phelps produces less lactic acid.

However, Phelps has other advantages in competitive swimming besides his distinctive build. Because the body creates lactic acid, which causes muscle exhaustion, most athletes require recovery time after exerting themselves. Phelps recovers far more quickly from injuries because his body produces less lactic acid than the typical person's. Recovering swiftly and returning to competition is a huge advantage for any athlete competing in the Olympics.

It's easy to understand what makes Phelps the ideal swimmer when considering every component. It's astounding to think that someone with his physical makeup could pursue swimming, but, shockingly, Phelps was as successful as he was.