Diving is one of the most popular Olympic sports with spectators. Competitors possess many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and dancers, including strength, flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air awareness. Some professional divers were originally gymnasts or dancers as both the sports have similar characteristics to diving.
Synchronized diving
Synchronized diving was adopted as an Olympic
sport in 2000. Two divers form a team and perform dives simultaneously. The
dives are identical. It used to be possible to dive opposites, also known as a
pinwheel, but this is no longer part of competitive synchronized diving. For
example, one diver would perform a forward dive and the other an inward dive in
the same position, or one would do a reverse and the other a back movement. In
these events, the diving would be judged both on the quality of execution and
the synchronicity – in timing of take-off and entry, height and forward travel.
Scoring the dive
There are rules governing the scoring of a dive. Usually a score considers three elements of the dive: the approach, the flight, and the entry. The primary factors affecting the scoring are:- if a hand-stand is required, the length of time and quality of the hold
- the height of the diver at the apex of the dive, with extra height resulting in a higher score
- the distance of the diver from the diving apparatus throughout the dive (a diver must not be dangerously close, should not be too far away, but should ideally be within 2 feet (0.61 m) of the platform)
- the properly defined body position of the diver according to the dive being performed, including pointed toes and feet touching at all times
- the proper amounts of rotation and revolution upon completion of the dive and entry into the water
- angle of entry – a diver should enter the water straight, without any angle.
- amount of splash – many judges award divers for the amount of splash created by the diver on entry, with less splash resulting in a higher score.
The
synchronisation scores are based on:
- time of take-off
- height attained
- synchronisation of rotations and twists
- time of entry to the water
- forward travel from the board
Dive positions
During
the flight of the dive, one of four positions is assumed:
- straight – with no bend at the knees or hips (the hardest of the four)
- pike – with knees straight but a tight bend at the hips (the median in difficulty of the four.) The open pike is a variant where the arms are reached to the side, and the legs are brought straight out with a bend in the hips.
- tuck – body folded up in a tight ball, hands holding the shins and toes pointed (the easiest of the four.)
- free – indicates a twisting dive, and a combination of other positions. In the transition between two positions the diver may for example bend their legs or curve at the waist, and points will not be deducted for doing so.
These
positions are referred to by the letters A, B, C and D respectively.
Additionally,
some dives can be started in a flying position. The body is kept straight with
the arms extended to the side, and the regular dive position is assumed at
about half the dive.
Difficulty
is rated according to the Degree of Difficulty of the dives. Some divers may
find
pike easier in a flip than tuck, and most find straight the easiest in a
front/back dive, although it is still rated the most difficult because of the
risk of overrotation.
Countries with the most medals in this sport are the United States and China.
Victória N. Barelli- 9ºE
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