What Sport Is Best for Taller People? Discover Your Athletic Edge

Why Height Matters in Sports (Sometimes a Lot)

Let’s get one thing straight: being tall doesn’t guarantee success in sports — but it sure helps in some. Height gives you leverage, reach, and often visibility (on the court, field, or even in the eyes of scouts). But depending on the sport, it can be an advantage, a neutral trait… or even a disadvantage.

Tall people usually have:

• Longer limbs (better reach and stride)

• Higher center of mass (could be good or bad)

• More difficulty with balance in some cases

Now, let’s see which sports roll out the red carpet for the tall crowd.

Top Sports Where Being Tall Is a Huge Plus

Basketball – the classic no-brainer

I mean… duh. Basketball is basically made for tall people. The basket is 10 feet high — not exactly friendly to short legs and arms. Most NBA players are well over 6'6" (that’s 1.98 meters if you speak metric).

Being tall in basketball means:

• Easier dunks

• More blocked shots

• Longer reach for rebounds

Still, not every tall person becomes a baller. You need coordination, game sense, and stamina — otherwise, you're just a tall person getting subbed out every 3 minutes.

Volleyball – height + timing = beast mode

In volleyball, especially at higher levels, height gives you massive dominance at the net. Tall players can spike over blockers, block higher-angle attacks, and intimidate the other team without saying a word.

Also, most pro volleyball players (especially middle blockers and attackers) are well above 6'2" (1.88m). So yeah, height helps — a lot.

Rowing – long limbs mean longer strokes

This one’s less obvious, but rowers with longer arms and legs can generate more power per stroke. It’s all about mechanical efficiency. Combine that with rhythm and endurance, and you’ve got a recipe for winning medals.

Funny enough, rowers often look lean and tall, like they’re built for physics.

Sports Where Height Can Be an Unexpected Asset

Tennis – serve like a cannon

Tall tennis players can hit angles and serves that shorter players just can’t. Think of players like John Isner or Ivo Karlović — towering serves, hard to break.

The trade-off? Speed and agility. A taller player might struggle with rapid directional changes. But if you’ve got decent footwork, your height can be a weapon.

Swimming – wingspan rules the pool

Height isn’t mandatory, but many elite swimmers are tall with long torsos and wide wingspans. Why? More surface area, better propulsion, and smoother glides.

Still, swimming is also about technique — Michael Phelps didn’t win just because he’s tall (although it sure didn’t hurt).

Sports That Might Be Tougher for Taller Athletes

Gymnastics – compact builds have the edge

Tall athletes can do gymnastics, but it’s harder to rotate longer limbs quickly. Gravity’s not exactly your BFF here. Most top gymnasts are under 5'5" (1.65m). Not saying it's impossible, but tall folks are working against physics.

Distance running – height adds weight

In long-distance running, lighter frames tend to perform better. Taller runners often carry more muscle and bone mass, which requires more energy to move over long periods. There are exceptions, sure, but being tall isn’t exactly an advantage here.

Personal Take – What Worked for Me

I’m 6’4" (1.93m), and I tried basketball, swimming, and (weirdly) fencing. Guess which stuck? Fencing. Why? Reach. I didn’t even have the fastest reflexes, but I could tag people from what felt like another zip code.

Tried soccer too. Honestly? Too lanky. Fell a lot. Looked like a baby deer learning to walk.

Final Thoughts: Pick the Sport That Suits You

So, what sport is best for taller people? Technically: basketball, volleyball, rowing, maybe swimming or tennis. But don’t let height box you in. There are tall soccer goalies, tall martial artists, even tall skateboarders out there.

Height is a tool. If you know how to use it — whatever the sport — it’s your edge. If not, well… there’s always chess.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.