Diving

Diving is not considered to be a separate sport by the organizing body of world aquatics, Fédération internationale de natation (FINA). FINA contests four disciplines of aquatic competition – swimming, diving, artistic swimming (synchronized swimming), and water polo. FINA was formed on 19 July 1908 in London and currently has 207 affiliated nations.

Diving contests are known to have been held in the 19th century, although the sport is relatively modern. It was held at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, and its appearance on the Olympic Program has been continuous since 1904. Diving has been contested in two basic events at the Olympics – 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform, with both men and women contesting both events. Four new diving events were added to the Olympic Program for 2000, the first change to the diving program since 1924. These were two-person synchronized diving competitions for men and women on both platform and springboard.

The United States dominated the sport of diving until the 1990s, perhaps more than any sport has been dominated in the Olympics. In the late 1980s the Chinese entered diving competition and posed the first serious threat to this dominance. While the United States’ Greg Louganis, considered the greatest diver ever, was still competing, the Chinese men posted few victories but the Chinese men and women have been formidable since 1990.