Competition

Diving is a sport in which competitors jump into water from a springboard (1m and 3m) or platform (5m, 7.5m and 10m). During a dive, athletes execute a series of acrobatic movements (somersaults, twists) divers must perform a set number of dives.

The order of diving shall be determined by a random draw prior to all preliminary competitions. In the final competition, the divers shall compete in the reverse order of their ranking determined by the total scores at the end of the semi-final competition. During the competition of the 1m springboard, at the World Championships there shall be a preliminary and final competition. The final shall comprise the top twelve ranked divers from the preliminary competition. Women competitors introduce 5, and men 6 dives.

The competitors of the 3m springboard and the 10m platform should take part at a preliminary, a semi -final, and a final competition. The semi-final shall comprise the top eighteen ranked divers from the preliminary competition and the final shall comprise the top twelve ranked divers from the semi-final. The preliminary, semi-final, and final competition are separate events, each starting from zero points. The number of dives are the same like the 1m springboard competition, women introduce 5, men 6 dives.

The team-diving is different, because there are only finals, where the competitors introduce 3 dives per person. According to the rules, each diver must perform at least one dive from the 3m springboard and one dive from the 10m platform. It is a very young competition form, because it has been a candidate sport at the European Championship in 2010, in Budapest, and made its official debut in 2012 in Antwerp.

The synchronised diving competition, from 3m springboard and from 10m platform involves two competitors diving simultaneously from the springboard or platform. The competition is judged on how the two divers individually perform their dives and how well the two divers as a team synchronise their performance. Every competition for women and for mixed synchro 3m springboard and platform shall comprise five rounds of dives from five different groups. Every competition for men on 3m springboard and platform shall comprise six rounds of dives from five different groups.

At the mixed synchronised competition on the 3m springboard and the 10m platform shall comprise two divers (one male and one female) of the same federation. They introduce 5 dives per person. This form of the diving competition is very young as well. It made its debut at the World Championship in Kazan, in 2015.

History of diving

Long before diving was a competitive sport, people enjoyed jumping and leaping into water of bridges, rocks and cliffs. During the 1800s, “plunging” became popular. Competitions were held to see which diver could glide underwater the farthest after plunging head-first from various heights.

More than a hundred years later, diving has been developed to a unique sport that requires skill, grace, courage, and strength. It is a combination of gymnastics and ballet performed over water.

FINA HISTORY

However, it wasn’t until 1904 that diving made its Olympic debut. Men’s platform diving and plunging were the only two events held. The event was really a combination of both springboard and platform diving. The Americans and Germans were the only two countries competing.

In 1912, women’s platform diving was added to the Olympic program. That year, women were only allowed to perform plain dives without twists or somersaults. In 1920, the women’s springboard event was included at the Olympic Games. However, it was not until 1928 that women would perform so called, “fancy dives” at an Olympic venue.

In 1928, Olympic organizers combined men’s plain diving and men’s fancy diving into one event, and finally allowed women to use twists and somersaults in their dives. Although dive complexity would progress dramatically and scoring would undergo many changes during the next 75 years, the events contested at the Olympic Games stayed the same until the addition of synchronised diving in the year 2000.

Equipment: platform, springboard

Gear: Swimwear

Competition venue: Danube Arena