# Can centaurs swim?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 18, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256 "2021-04-18T18:16:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256/21 "2021-04-21T16:37:26Z")

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How flexible are centaurs at the waist? Could one lean forward such that the human torso is a nearly straight extension of the horse part? This would provide two benefits: it would lower the center of gravity so more of their body weight would be supported by the water, and it would allow them to stroke with both arms and legs.

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**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256/22 "2021-04-22T01:20:45Z")

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I think a centaur can use the flat palms of his hands to hydroplane over the surface, which would give them an edge over unicorns. I guess mermaids might do the same.

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**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256/23 "2021-04-22T02:03:05Z")

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I have found artistic evidence!

[https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/centaur-swimming](https://www.clarkart.edu/artpiece/detail/centaur-swimming)

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**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-centaurs-swim/940256/24 "2021-04-22T10:10:33Z")

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Unfortunately, swimming was not covered in this interview, but it does contain many other facts which may be of interest to you.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yO_gG2kDbNw/maxresdefault.jpg "Centaur Job Interview - Saturday Night Live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO_gG2kDbNw)

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