THE 8 EVENTS
Men (4 events): The 3m springboard (individual and synchronized), high dive 10m platform (individual and synchronized)
Women (4 events): The 3m springboard (individual and synchronized), high dive 10m platform (individual and synchronized)
THE FORMAT
Springboard : 1 qualifying round (6 dives for men, 5 for women), 18 advance to semifinals (6 dives for men and 5 for women, only the marks from semifinals are used to determine finalists). Final: 12 competitors (6 dives for men, 5 for women, only the marks from the final are used to determine final standings).
Platform : 1 qualifying round (6 dives for men, 5 for women), 18 advance to semifinals (6 dives for men, 5 for women, only the marks from semifinal are used to determine finalists). Final: 12 finalists (6 dives for men, 5 for women, only the marks from the final are used to determine final standings).
Synchronized events: 8 pairs of divers. No qualifying rounds (6 dives for men, 5 for women).
MILESTONES
17th century
Summertime in Germany and Sweden signals an annual move to the beach for the country's many gymnasts to practice their acrobatic moves over the water.
1904
Diving makes its Olympic debut in St. Louis with the men's platform event.
1908
Appearance of the men's 3m springboard event at the London Games.
1912
Women divers make their Olympic debut in the platform event in Stockholm.
1920
The women's springboard event completes the Olympic diving program, which remained unchanged until the 2000 Games in Sydney.
2000
Appearance of synchronized events in the springboard and platform, for both men and women.
STARS
Patricia McCormick (United States)
Four-time Olympic champion. Double gold medalist in springboard and platform events at the 1952 Games in Helsinki. Repeated the feat four years later in Melbourne. Along with Chinese diver Fu Mingxia, only women to have won four Olympic gold medals.
Klaus Dibiasi (Italy)
Platform champion. Olympic platform champion in 1968, 1972 and 1976. The only diver to win 3 straight titles in the same discipline, men or women. Also won two Olympic silver medals (1964 platform and 1968 springboard). Twice world champion (1973 and 1975).
Greg Louganis (United States)
The successor. Like Patricia McCormick, he won the springboard and platform titles at consecutive Games in 1984 and 1988. With his silver medal in platform in 1976, he equalled the great Dibiasi, who also won five Olympic medals. Five-time world champion (3 in platform, 2 in springboard).