Aquatics - Diving

In the 18th Century, European gymnasts started performing above water to reduce risk of injury. Diving was born. It is a sport that requires strength, power, agility, balance, flexibility and, certainly, a dose of fearlessness.

In both the individual and synchronized diving competitions, each dive is awarded a degree of difficulty based on the type of manoeuvre performed. The diver's position, the number of somersaults and twists, and the take-off height are all considered. The degree of difficulty ranges from 1.4 for easier dives to 3.8 for the most difficult dives. A dive consists of the following stages: 1) starting position and approach, 2) jump, 3) flight and execution, and 4) entry into the water. At the Olympic and Pan American Games, the judges' panel consists of seven judges who award the dives, with a score between zero and ten, based on the execution of the dive.

Competitors dive into a pool from either the 3-metre springboard or the 10-metre platform. There are more than 100 recognized dives with assigned degrees of difficulty for both springboard and platform diving. Divers can take off facing backward, forward or in handstand position. During a dive, the diver may be in a straight, pike, tuck or free position. The latter is only used in difficult dives that include twists. The free position consists of a combination of the other three positions.

The competition is split into preliminary, semifinal and final rounds. All require the divers to perform certain types of dives with certain degrees of difficulty. In the final rounds of diving, there is no degree of difficulty meaning athletes can attempt more challenging dives in hope of outdistancing the competitors when judges return their scores.

Athletes

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