Back-to-school season is also the time for sports. It’s an opportunity to review the sports best suited for tall people. Whether for children as part of their full development, or for adults wanting to avoid sports less suited for them.
To do this, Wetall has created a table allowing you to compare at a glance the main sports to know if they are or aren’t conducive to practicing when you’re tall. It should be noted, however, that this grid is only a guide and that passion should prevail in your choices. We simply propose to give good marks to sports in which a tall person will have fewer constraints or will even have advantages! Sports with two crosses mean there may be differences depending on the playing positions in that sport. The proposed table is limited to the most popular sports and should help you find your way.
Comparative table of sports to practice when you’re tall
| Sports | Not suited | Poorly suited | Neutral | Suited | Well suited | Comments |
| Track and Field |
X |
Very good for child development and adult physical fitness. | ||||
| High Jump |
X |
X |
Very suited for lightweight frames. Many champions are tall. |
|||
| Running |
X |
Especially if “light.” | ||||
| Long Jump |
X |
Favorable if fit. | ||||
| Shot Put/Discus/Javelin Throws |
X |
Interesting due to reach/length advantage. | ||||
| Team Sports | ||||||
| Baseball |
X |
There are some tall players in MLB, but it’s not necessarily a proven advantage. | ||||
| Basketball |
X |
The ultimate sport for tall people. | ||||
| Beach Volleyball |
X |
Very suited for tall people. | ||||
| Volleyball |
X |
Same | ||||
| Soccer |
X |
Some players and goalkeepers are very tall. Not particularly an advantage. | ||||
| American Football |
X |
Can be an advantage at certain positions. | ||||
| Handball |
X |
X |
Can also be a real advantage at certain positions. | |||
| Ice Hockey |
X |
Not particularly an advantage, maybe for goalie. | ||||
| Rugby |
X |
X |
Very beneficial at certain positions. | |||
| Water polo |
X |
A less popular team sport than many others but no less ultra-complete and interesting for tall people. | ||||
| Gymnastics |
X |
X |
Very interesting for building a strong and flexible body when young, but it becomes very complicated later due to total body weight. | |||
| Racket Sports | ||||||
| Badminton |
X |
Long segments allow you to cover a larger portion of the court. | ||||
| Squash |
X |
A speed game that’s not well-suited for heavier players. | ||||
| Tennis |
X |
Especially if you’re a good server! | ||||
| Table Tennis |
X |
More and more tall players are good at it; long limbs help. | ||||
| Cycling | ||||||
| Road Cycling |
X |
Neither an advantage nor a disadvantage (unless the bike isn’t adapted to height). | ||||
| Mountain biking |
X |
Same | ||||
| Track Cycling |
X |
Few tall people. The most prominent body types are rather small bulldogs (except Exceptions). | ||||
| Martial Arts | ||||||
| Aikido |
X |
The pacifist philosophy could appeal to many tall people but effectively applying the techniques will be complicated even after years of practice. | ||||
| Capoeira |
X |
Very low circular movements don’t seem to suit tall people. | ||||
| Jiu-Jitsu |
X |
Greater reach offers more possibilities | ||||
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
X |
Same | ||||
| Judo |
X |
Teddy Riner approves this choice. | ||||
| Karate |
X |
Reach offers tall people an undeniable advantage. | ||||
| Kendo |
X |
Same for reach. | ||||
| Taekwondo |
X |
Extremely interesting for tall people. Many champions are tall. | ||||
| Kung Fu Wushu |
X |
Practical reach. | ||||
| Combat Sports | ||||||
| Boxing |
X |
All current heavyweight champions are huge. Valuable reach | ||||
| Kickboxing |
X |
Very interesting reach. | ||||
| Fencing |
X |
Interesting reach. | ||||
| Wrestling |
X |
Reach + Build = Interest | ||||
| Ice Sports | ||||||
| Bobsleigh |
X |
You have to get into a small bob quickly… | ||||
| Figure Skating |
X |
Body type not conducive to performing acrobatic figures | ||||
| Speed Skating |
X |
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| Strength Sports | ||||||
| Bodybuilding |
X |
There are more and more tall people | ||||
| Weightlifting |
X |
Long segments are a disadvantage given the movements required. | ||||
| Powerlifting |
X |
Champions are increasingly tall. | ||||
| Outdoor Sports | ||||||
| Mountain Climbing |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Rock Climbing |
X |
Long segments can help, as long as you’re not too heavy. | ||||
| Hiking |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Target Sports | ||||||
| Golf |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Archery |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Bocce |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Water Sports | ||||||
| Rowing |
X |
Very complete sport well-suited to the long segments of tall people. | ||||
| Canoeing Kayaking |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Kitesurfing |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Swimming |
X |
Very interesting. Especially for tall people with a large torso. | ||||
| Windsurfing |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Surfing |
X |
Taller means more difficult to balance. | ||||
| Sliding Sports | ||||||
| Cross-Country Skiing |
X |
Long segments can be a plus | ||||
| Ski Jumping |
X |
To avoid. Typical physiques are the opposite of tall people. | ||||
| Snowboarding |
X |
Neutral | ||||
| Alpine Skiing |
X |
Neutral |
It turns out that certain sports are fully adapted to tall people:
- High Jump
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Volleyball
- Handball
- Rugby
- Water polo
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Judo
- Kung Fu Wushu
- Kickboxing
- Boxing
- Rowing
- Swimming
Let’s zoom in on these sports to explain how they’re adapted to people of tall stature.
Why do high jump when you’re tall?
High jump is a track and field discipline that consists of jumping over a bar. The world’s best often clear over 7’7 and the record is 8′. It’s held by Cuban Javier Sotomayor.
This sport is suited to tall people because the goal is to go as high as possible, so it’s an advantage to already be higher than others at the start. However, it’s better to be slender to not penalize yourself in the takeoff. The majority of high-level high jumpers are thus over 6’3. Some even exceed 6’7. This sport is therefore recommended for tall people 🙂
Why play basketball when you’re tall?
When someone of normal height meets a tall person, their first question is often “do you play basketball?”. This isn’t because most basketball players are tall that most tall people are basketball players. Basically, it’s not because thumbs are fingers that fingers are thumbs. Apart from that aside, basketball has many assets for tall people. It offers a wonderful school of life, an ideal place of integration when young, and we know that youth doesn’t always rhyme with joy when you’re of great height. See the film Tall Girl. Playing basketball when you’re tall can provide many advantages on the court, and this can have repercussions at all levels, socially, academically, professionally, etc. I can only recommend all young tall people to at least try. And for adults who want to discover this sport later, it’s never too late! In basketball, centimeters are an undeniable advantage and winning is always fun. Even though, of course, the important thing is to participate!
Why play volleyball when you’re tall?
Like basketball and for similar reasons, volleyball is an excellent sport for tall people. They will find an adequate place and feel accepted in an environment where they’ll be useful. Plus, injury risks are lower than basketball. As an example, the average height of French volleyball players is 6’6, and the same goes for basketball players.
Why play handball when you’re tall?
Handball is a sport experiencing true enthusiasm in our country. Few countries, except perhaps Germany or Iceland, have such momentum for this newer sport. It was in Handball that France won its first world championship title in a team sport, in 1995 with the crazy ones. The sport has evolved greatly since, become professionalized, and body types have changed. Today it’s recommended to be tall and strong to be a good Handball player, especially when you’re a pivot. Many players are over 6’11. A future article will feature the tallest players of this sport (in height, obviously).
Why play rugby when you’re tall?
Rugby, with its traditions and rigor, is a wonderful school of life. It’s preferable to start young but tall people are always useful, especially at certain positions. The second or third line are generally the tallest and many players over 6’7 are currently at the World Cup in Japan. The tallest players in history even exceed 6’11!
Why play water polo when you’re tall?
Water polo doesn’t enjoy the popularity of other team sports more “media-friendly”, but it remains a superb sport requiring incredible physical qualities in all respects. Being tall in water polo offers certain advantages. Long segments offer more amplitude in passes, shots, or even saves if you’re a goalkeeper. The sport’s evolution means many practitioners exceed 6’7.
Why do martial arts and combat/grappling sports when you’re tall?
Having greater reach is a capital advantage in martial arts and combat sports. This allows better distance control and getting hit less. It’s not without reason that many current champions are very tall. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of great champions:
- Nikolay Valuev, Boxing (7’0).
- The Klitschko brothers, Boxing (6’6/6’7).
- Deontay Wilder, Boxing (6’7).
- Tyson Fury, Boxing (6’9, undefeated).
- Anthony Joshua, Boxing (6’6).
- Lennox Lewis, Boxing (6’5).
- Semy Schilt, Karate/Kickboxing (7′).
- Stipe Miocic Mixed Martial Arts (6’4).
- Teddy Riner, Judo (6’8).
- Pascal Gentil, Taekwondo (6’5).
- Andrei Karenine Greco-Roman Wrestling (6’3).
Only the greatest champions were listed, there are many others and countless more professionals still taller, we’ll discover them in future articles.
Why do rowing when you’re tall?
Rowing is a magnificent sport practiced in full aquatic nature. Its main interest for tall people is mechanically summarized: tall people have long segments, so they benefit from more movement amplitude and thus distance per stroke on the water. Moreover, unlike most endurance sports, they aren’t impacted by their weight because they’re on water. Thus they have greater muscle mass developing more energy. Of course that’s an advantage on paper, but behind it you need endurance to follow 😉 Most Olympic rowers are over 6’3. Readers wishing to know more can consult this link on the subject.
Why swim when you’re tall?
The 90s saw monsters of nature emerge in the pools (like Ian Thorpe and his size 22 women’s shoe). This was followed by a revolution in body types and today, the majority of champions are tall (except “long distance”). Being tall is a great advantage for swimmers. First, like rowing, they aren’t impacted by their weight in water, which isn’t the case for a runner or cyclist. Then the swimmer benefits from a lever arm superior to average. And if he has a large torso, guaranteeing good buoyancy or flotation in the water, and you have the perfect sea sprinter. Thus, the average height of American swimmers with gold medals at Rio in 4x100m was 6’6. Still in 2016, the average height of all Olympic swimmers (sprint and distance) was 6’2.
To conclude
We’ve presented our view on the sports most suited to tall people. Once again, this is a presentation based on logical and mechanical reasoning, there’s no emotion in this presentation. It’s therefore essential for you to practice a sport you enjoy first. But, for those who don’t know what to choose, and who have no preconceived ideas about certain sports, you might as well prioritize sports offering the most advantages in practice. Also note that each sport has its share of exceptions, like Usain Bolt for sprinting (6’5) or Francois d’Haene for trail.