Diving is a popular sport among many Summer Olympic Games enthusiasts. The sport is one of four Summer Olympic Games events which fall under the aquatics category and are governed by FINA, or Fédération Internationale de Natation. The other three events include swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.
Origins of Competitive Diving, Springboard Diving, Platform Diving
Diving is not a new phenomenon, as the sport was first practiced by German and Swedish gymnasts in the 18th century. The gymnasts created the sport as an adaptation for tumbling practice.
Diving gained in popularity during around the beginning of the 20th century after a group of Swedish divers put on a show in Great Britain. Shortly after the show, in 1901, the Amateur Diving Association was formed. Just three years later, in 1904, diving was contested in the St. Louis Summer Olympic Games. George Sheldon of the United States won the first gold medal in the 10-meter platform diving event, while William Paul Dickey of the United States won the first gold medal in the plunge for distance event. The plunge for distance event was not contested in any other Olympic Games after it's debut 1904.
Since the following Olympic Games in 1908, athletes have competed in springboard diving and platform diving events in each Olympic Games. Women did not originally compete in the events. New events, in the form of synchronized diving, were added at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Olympic Diving in the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games
Today, eight events are contested in the Olympic Games. Current Olympic events include the 3-meter springboard diving event for men and women, 10-meter platform diving event for men and women, 3-meter synchronized springboard diving event for men and women and the 10-meter platform diving event for men and women.
Diving is scored based on points awarded by judges, who can each award 10 points, depending on the skill level of the dive. Degree of difficulty and the number of somersaults, pikes, twists and tucks all play into the judges final score. Synchronized divers receive an additional score based on how synchronized the pair was throughout the dive.
At the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, a total of 138 divers will compete in for eight gold medals in the events. The diving events will take place from Saturday, July 28, 2012 until Sunday, August 12, 2012 in the aquatics center.
Resources:
Diving Equipment and History. Olympic.org. Accessed April 20, 2010
Aquatics - Diving. London2012.com. Accessed April 20, 2010.
Kristen Nichols - Kristen is a freelance reporter and copywriter covering Olympic and Paralympic sport for Suite101.com. Kristen's love of sport developed ...
