Diving

Diving is an exciting sport done in a swimming pool. Divers jump off a high board or platform. While in the air, they do flips and spins. Then they try to enter the water with a small splash. Judges watch and give them scores.

Boards and Platforms

There are two main kinds of diving. Springboard diving uses a bouncy board that is about 10 feet above the water. Platform diving uses a hard platform up to 33 feet high. The higher the platform, the more tricks a diver can do. Both kinds are Olympic sports.

Scoring a Dive

Seven judges watch each dive carefully. They give scores from 0 to 10. They look at how well the diver jumps, spins, and enters the water. A good dive has very little splash. This is called a rip entry because it sounds like ripping paper.

Fun Facts

• Olympic divers can spin four and a half times in the air.
• The sport started in the 1800s in Sweden and Germany.
• Divers hit the water at speeds of about 35 miles per hour.

Did You Know?

When divers come up from the pool, they often take a warm shower right away to keep their muscles from getting cold and tight.