Ape Index - Other Sports

Other Sports

It has been noted that swimmers tend to have longer arms in relation to their body size, perhaps because longer arms provide a stronger means of propulsion and a shorter trunk (or torso) reduces drag in the water. A notable example is Michael Phelps whose arm span is 3 inches greater than his height, affording him an index of 1.04.

Small ape indices can also be beneficial. For instance, in weightlifting, shorter arms mean that the weights do not have to be raised so high compared to someone with longer arms and a bigger index. As a result the smaller indexed lifter does less work, and finds the task easier. It should be noted that longer arms are beneficial for the deadlift since you don't have to bend down as far to reach the bar thus having a shorter distance to pull the bar up. For the bench press however it is beneficial to have shorter arms.