Olympic Diving: Judging the Perfect Dive

Olympic divers are a special kind of athlete, pouring years of hard work into their craft. As Aussie divers Melissa Wu and Ellie Cole gear up for the 10-metre platform finals, it’s fascinating to see how the diving scores are determined beyond just the splash.

Diving isn’t just about how big the splash is; the judges look for several critical elements. First up is the starting position where the diver needs to have perfect posture. Their head should be aligned with their body, elbows straight, and feet together.

Next is the take-off. The dive requires a bold, confident leap, ensuring that the diver’s head stays a safe distance from the diving board. Following that is the flight phase. For the reverse two-and-a-half somersault tuck, the diver pulls their knees into their chest, and that tuck needs to be tight.

Then comes the entry, which should be vertical. Finally, the splash matters too. The goal is for a ‘rip entry’, which means minimal splash upon hitting the water.

To help explain this, Gillian Brooker, the CEO of Diving NSW and a seasoned diving judge, is on board. With over 30 years of experience, she has a keen eye for what makes or breaks a dive. Nikita Hains, who competed in Tokyo, is showing off her skills in a trial dive.

As you watch, remember to pay attention to the starting position, the take-off, the tuck during the flight, and the entry into the water. Gillian notes that while Nikita had a good start, she could improve her tuck and entry technique to earn higher scores.

On the other side of the pool, we have Melissa Wu, a diving veteran gearing up for her fifth Olympics. Known for having ‘the X-factor’, Melissa is also performing the same reverse two-and-a-half somersault tuck, but with the added challenge of no slow-motion replay.

As Gillian observes, Melissa ticks all the boxes, from a flawless tuck position to a perfect entry that barely causes a splash. Such precision truly shows the caliber of a top diver.

Shifting gears, let’s take a look at Sam Fricker, who stands out with a completely different dive type: a back armstand double somersault one-and-a-half twist. Sam confidently steps onto the platform but needs to keep his balance while in an armstand.

As spectators, it might look easy, but these athletes go through monumental pressure and practice before nailing their dives in competitions like the Olympics.