What is Streamline?

Webster’s Dictionary definition of the word streamline is: a teardrop line of contour offering the least possible resistance to a current of air, water, etc. In swimming terms, streamline is a body position in the water that produces the least amount of drag, resistance, and turbulence while you swim. It takes countless practices to perfect the art of being streamlined in the water. Top Olympic athletes like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Natalie Coughlin have the tightest streamline positions the sport has ever seen. Being streamline can make or break your race, event, or stroke all together. During a competitive race, if you are not in a close to perfect streamline position, your stroke falls apart right when you need it the most. Streamline position can be the easiest or hardest thing to learn in the sport of swimming. You have to have flexibility, relaxed shoulders, and core strength to keep your body from breaking perfect streamline position. Below is a picture of Michael Phelps in perfect streamline position. As you can see, his head is tucked tightly in between is biceps, his core is flexed in a manner that would help him not break stroke, and his eyes are pointed down to the black line of the pool. Also, his flexibility is incomparable to many other swimmers, which took him years of stretching, exercises, and training to reach this point.

Example of Perfect Streamline: Michael Phelps

There have been many races when I broke perfect streamlined position and went into a sloppy stroke. There are very few instances when a swimmer can muscle their way through a race and come out of it satisfied with their time. When a swimmer breaks streamline position their race is more likely to end in defeat and/or a poor performance. Like I said before, the top swimmers in the world have perfected the art of streamline position through hard work, patience, and dedication. Sometimes it takes athletes months of training to get one step closer to achieving their goals. In the end, it’s the satisfaction of success that drives swimmers further.


Written by: Crosby Johnson