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Diving

Since divers and swimmers both end up in water, they're mistakenly linked in the minds of most viewers. However, diving actually has more in common with gymnastics than it does with swimming. Fancy diving is believed to have begun in the 1600s as part of the gymnastics movement that was popular throughout Germany and Sweden.

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Technique
Fancy dives are classified into four basic types: (1) the "layout," (2) the "pike," (3) the "tuck," and (4) the "free style." In the layout or "straight" dive, the body must not be bent in any fashion. In the pike, the body is bent at the hips and the knees are kept rigid. In the tuck, the body is compactly bunched with thighs drawn to the chest. The fourth dive, the "free style," may include twists or other intricate movements in the air.

Competition
Both men and women compete separately in two events: the 3-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform.

Springboard diving is performed from a springboard three meters (9 feet, 10 inches) above the water. Since 1964 Olympic competitions have begun with a preliminary round of seven dives. The top 12 divers then advance to the finals, which consist of 11 dives -- five required and six voluntary. The judges' scores are multiplied by a coefficient that is determined by the degree of difficulty of the attempted dive.

Platform diving is staged from a rigid platform 10 meters (30 feet, 5 inches) above the water. The finalists perform four compulsory dives and six voluntary dives.

News, History, and Fast Facts

  • Learn about diving equipment, rules, history, and more from the USOC site.
  • "Want to know the roots of 'fancy diving'?" USA Diving explains how this formerly European sport got started in United States, and how it has changed over the years.
  • The International Olympic Committee site is the official site of the Olympic Diving and a super source for diving facts and figures.
  • For complete information about playing, coaching, and watching diving, visit EdGate's School Athletics Center: Diving page.
  • FINA is the International Amateur Federation for the sport of diving.

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General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.


Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
© 2001 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.

 

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