Besides actually swimming, whats the next best workout to acquire the physique (eg. broad shoulders and back, slim hips)?

Do women actually consider this kind of body the ideal one for men?

I used to have this body until I stopped swimming. Being blunt the best way to get a swimmers body is to do the training a swimmer does. You will never get the same result trying to replicate it. It like trying to replicate a gt40 racecar. Its just never as real.

Hmm.. Does swimming make you darker (due to the cholrine)?

Also, how does cardio make the muscles bigger, seeing as how swimming is more of an endurance sport? Sure, it's the total package for a muscle workout, but how does it help in making bigger muscles?

Lats. Pulling and whatnot. You won't get much broader without supplementary weight or resistance training. To my knowledge, Cl doesn't stain, it's Br, Bromine. The darkness comes from sun exposure. Ie, tanning.

Just think of male gymnasts. They are utterly ripped. Mind you if you spend your whole life playing with your own bodyweight I guess thats the plus side to it...

It's just that most swimmers I know have gotten a bit darker since they started swimming, and they swim mostly indoors. I'll take the broad back and shoulders anyday, but I think I'll pass on the chicken legs.

Anyway thanks for the reps guys!