Diving
Author：tercal From： Updated：2007-11-28
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Almost a century ago, "fancy diving" entered the Olympic Games as a new event. It was simply diving, as we know it today, and indeed, the 1996 programme did not change a blink from the 1924 programme. Now here comes some truly fancy diving: synchronised diving, or diving in pairs, which was introduced in the Sydney 2000 Games, doubling the programme in more than one way. The traditional men's and women's 10-metre platform and three-metre springboard diving events were repeated for the synchronised portion, with judges assessing both individual dives and synchronisation.
Diving developed in Europe in the 17th century, when gymnasts practised their acrobatics over water. Combining artistry and athleticism with undeniable courage - platform divers hit the water at about 55km/h - diving ranks among the Olympic Games' most exhilarating events. In 1988, Greg Louganis of the United States, arguably the greatest Olympic diver in history, cracked his head on the springboard while attempting a reverse 2.5 pike. After receiving stitches, Louganis won gold in both men's events.
Competitiom
Competitors perform a series of dives and are awarded points up to 10, depending upon their elegance and skill. The points are then adjusted for the degree of difficulty, based on the number and types of manoeuvres attempted, such as somersaults, pikes, tucks and twists. A reverse 1.5 somersault with 3.5 twists, for example, is among the most difficult.
A panel of seven judges traditionally scores a dive, judging such elements as approach, take-off, execution and entry into the water. Nine judges assess synchronised diving. Four judge the execution of individual dives, and five assess synchronisation - how the pairs mirror height, distance from the springboard or platform, speed of rotation and entry into the water.
Discipline's origin
Diving is not considered to be a separate sport by its organising body, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). FINA governs four forms, or disciplines, of aquatic competition - swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo. Usually the diving results are listed with those from the swimming events.
Diving was popularised by the Swedes and the Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. It grew up out of the gymnastics principles developed in those nations. The first known book on diving was published in Germany in 1843. Competitive diving began in Britain in the 1880s. In the late 19th century a group of Swedish divers visited Great Britain and gave numerous exhibitions, which stimulated the formation of the first diving organisation, the Amateur Diving Association, in 1901.
Olympic history
Diving was contested at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, and its appearance on the Olympic programme in both springboard and platform events has been continuous since 1908. The diving programme has been relatively constant since 1928, with men and women competing in both the 10 metre platform and the 3 metre springboard events. Prior to that time, a men's event for plain high diving was on the programme in 1912, 1920 and 1924. Early Olympic competitions also differed in the heights of the platform and springboard.
Two new events were added to the Olympic programme in 2000 for both men and women, these being synchronised platform diving and synchronised springboard diving. These events consist of two divers leaving the platform or springboard simultaneously and diving together. Usually the athletes perform the same dive, although occasionally dives which complement each other are chosen.
Playing field
All diving installations, including the springboards and platforms, shall be in accordance with the FINA Facilities Rules and approved by the delegate of FINA and a member of the Technical Diving Committee no later than 90 days prior to the start of the competitions.
When diving is sharing the same venue with any other discipline, all diving installations shall be available for use by entered diving competitors on competition days provided no competition is in progress. During swimming finals and water polo medal matches, diving is forbidden.
Rules
The competition
The order of diving shall be determined by a random draw prior to all preliminary competitions. The draw shall be held at the Technical Meeting prior to the preliminary competition. When available, an electronic draw shall be used.
In the semi-finals, the divers shall compete in reverse order of their ranking determined by the total scores at the end of the preliminary competition. In the case of a tie, the dive order shall be determined by a draw between the affected divers.
In the final competition, except where the tournament system is used, the
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