Diving (sport)

C

Flight

The in-flight maneuvers define which dive the athlete is performing. During the passage through the air, a diver can hold his or her body in one of several positions. These positions are straight, pike, tuck, and free. In all four positions, flexibility and strength play a role in whether the dive is on target or a miss. A diver must be flexible enough to move in and out of these positions while completing twists and somersaults, and strong enough to hold the position while spinning rapidly.

In the straight position, a diver may not bend the body at the hips or the knees. In the pike position, a diver bends at the hips while keeping the legs straight at the knees. In both the straight and pike positions the diver’s arm position is optional. In the straight position the arms may be held above the head or at the sides. The closed pike position has the diver touching the ankles or grabbing the legs with the hands. During an open pike, the hands remain at the diver’s sides. In the tuck position the diver folds the body into a compact ball, bent at the knees and hips with the knees together, and with the hands on the lower legs. In the free position, a diver may use any or all of the other positions. In all positions the diver should hold the feet together and keep the toes pointed.

Divers can make a variety of dives from these four positions. The jackknife is a front dive in the pike position, in which the diver bends at the hips on the ascent to the highest point of the dive, then straightens before entering the water headfirst. Forward somersaulting dives, in which the diver executes one or more somersaults before entering the water headfirst or feetfirst, usually start in the pike or tuck position. A tight tuck or pike position enables the diver to spin faster.

The reverse dive, or half gainer, begins with a front takeoff, but as the diver jumps forward to clear the board he or she reverses the direction of rotation and spins back toward the board, performing a half-somersault. The diver then enters the water headfirst facing the board. The reverse somersault, also called a full gainer, is a back somersault in which the diver begins from a front takeoff, rotates back toward the board, and enters the water feetfirst. Another dive is the inward dive, or cutaway, in which the diver stands backward on the board during take-off and spins toward the board, entering the water headfirst.

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The forward, backward, reverse, and inward dive groups form the basis for competitive diving, and advanced divers perform combinations or variations on these somersaulting dives. The dives increase in complexity and difficulty as the level of competition rises. Some Olympic divers can perform up to four and one-half somersaults or twists in a dive. For all divers, performing multiple somersaults and twists may cause the athlete to become disoriented, losing sense of where he or she is in the air. To avoid this problem, many divers focus their eyes on certain spots in the pool area during each rotation; this helps them reference their position.

D

Entries

Divers have less than two seconds in the air to complete the dive. During this time they must complete their rotations and line the body up to enter the water in a nearly vertical position. During a headfirst entry divers clasp their hands overhead and interlock their thumbs. The divers also lock the elbows, elevate the shoulders to the ears, form a slightly curved body shape, and tighten the body muscles.

From this body position, a diver can make a rip entry, and avoid a large splash. As the diver enters the water, there is a small initial splash followed by an upjet of water that creates a larger, more noticeable splash after the diver’s body displaces water under the surface. To minimize this upjet, top-level divers make a quick swimming motion by releasing their hands and collapsing their arms as they submerge. Instead of a large splash, the surface of the water appears to boil as the air bubbles rise from the diver’s entry.

For feetfirst entries, which are rare in top-level competitions, divers place their legs and feet together while pointing their toes down towards the water. The neck and head are held as if looking straight ahead.

III

Diving Facilities and Equipment

Diving facilities provide enough room for athletes to complete dives without colliding with the ceiling, poolsides, pool walls, or pool bottom. The Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA, International Federation of Amateur Swimming), which serves as the governing body for Olympic diving, recommends minimum dimensions for diving facilities.

A

Platforms

Platform competitions use three heights: 5 m (16.4 ft), 7.5 m (24.6 ft), and 10 m (32.8 ft). The platforms vary in width and length depending on their height. The 10-m platform is 2 m (6.6 ft) wide and 6 m (19.7 ft) long. A nonslip material covers the surface and the front edge of the platform, and handrails surround the back and sides. Many pools have stacked platforms, with one platform built directly above another. The platform above projects a minimum of 76 cm (30 in) beyond the platform below, so that the diver does not hit the lower one on the way down. Collegiate divers may use all three platform heights during competition. In platform competitions at the Olympic Games, world championships, and World Cup, 10 m is the standard height.

B

Springboards

Competitive springboards are 1 m (3.3 ft) and 3 m (9.8 ft) above the surface of the water. They are made of an aluminum alloy and measure 4.9 m (16 ft) long and .5 m (1.6 ft) wide. Springboards hang over the pool at least 1.5 m (5 ft) beyond the edge. The last portion of the board is made of a lightweight material that minimizes the potential for serious injury if a diver accidentally hits it with the hands, arms, feet, or head. High school divers use 1-m springboards. Both 1-m and 3-m boards are used in collegiate competitions, as well as the world championships and World Cup. Olympic springboard diving is limited to the 3-m competition.

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