What Are the 8 Diving Events in the Olympics?

Olympic diving is one of the most graceful and technically demanding sports on the planet.
But when you tune in to the Olympic Games, you’ll see a mix of different events — springboard, platform, individual, and synchronized — and it’s easy to lose track of how they all fit together.

Here’s a breakdown of the 8 official diving events contested at the Summer Olympics, along with what makes each one unique.

The Olympic Diving Format at a Glance

Since 2000 (Sydney Olympics), the diving program has featured eight events — four for men and four for women — divided by height (3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform) and style (individual and synchronized).

Event Category Gender Type Height
3m Springboard Men Individual 3 meters
10m Platform Men Individual 10 meters
3m Springboard Women Individual 3 meters
10m Platform Women Individual 10 meters
3m Synchronized Springboard Men Synchronized 3 meters
10m Synchronized Platform Men Synchronized 10 meters
3m Synchronized Springboard Women Synchronized 3 meters
10m Synchronized Platform Women Synchronized 10 meters

That’s how we get to 8 total Olympic diving events.

Men’s 3-Meter Springboard

The 3-meter springboard is one of the most iconic events in diving history.
Divers perform a series of six dives, using the flexible board to gain lift before executing flips, twists, and entries into the water.

  • Height: 3 meters (9.8 feet)

  • Board Type: Duraflex springboard

  • Key Skills: Timing, board control, and precise takeoff technique

  • Famous Olympians (current): Jack Laugher (GBR), Wang Zongyuan (China), Osmar Olvera (Mexico), Xie Siyi (China)

  • Famous Olympians (past): He Chong (CHN), Dmitri Sautin (RUS),  Ilya Zakharov (RUS),

Springboard events reward rhythm and explosive coordination. Every inch of the board’s recoil must be used efficiently — too early or too late, and the dive falls apart.

Women’s 3-Meter Springboard

The women’s 3-meter springboard features the same setup as the men’s event — five rounds, each with a chosen dive of specific difficulty (DD).

Since the early 2000s, Chinese divers have dominated this event, including legendary names like Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao, known for textbook technique and flawless entries.

  • Number of Dives: 5

  • Focus: Control and precision — smaller margins for error due to body size and board recoil differences.

  • Fun Fact: The women’s springboard was first introduced to the Olympics in 1920, making it one of the oldest continuous diving events.

  • Maddison Keeney (Australia), Chen Yiwen (China)

  • Famous Olympians (past): Guo Jingjing (CHN), Tania Cagnotto (Italy), Wu Minxia (China)

Men’s 10-Meter Platform

The 10-meter platform is diving’s purest test of courage and control.
There’s no spring — just a solid platform and raw athletic power. Divers launch from 33 feet above the water, reaching speeds over 30 mph before entry.

  • Height: 10 meters (33 feet)

  • Surface: Fixed platform (no spring)

  • Key Skills: Air awareness, height management, and entry alignment

  • Famous Olympians: Greg Louganis (USA), Tom Daley (GBR), Chen Aisen (CHN), David Boudia (USA)

Divers must combine explosiveness with composure — one misstep can cost several points or lead to painful contact with the water.

Women’s 10-Meter Platform

This event mirrors the men’s version but often emphasizes form and control over sheer amplitude.
Women perform five dives, balancing grace and precision against the immense difficulty of jumping from 33 feet.

  • Notable Champions: Guo Jingjing, Chen Ruolin, Quan Hongchan (All from China)

  • Technique Focus: Perfect vertical alignment and tight entries

  • Historical Note: Women’s platform diving debuted at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, making it the oldest women’s diving event.

Men’s Synchronized 3-Meter Springboard

Introduced in Sydney 2000, synchronized diving added a new dimension to the sport.
Two divers perform identical dives simultaneously, side by side, and are judged both individually and for synchronization.

  • Scoring Breakdown:

    • 6 judges evaluate each diver’s execution (4 get removed)

    • 5 judges evaluate synchronization (2 get removed)

    • Highest and lowest scores in each category are dropped

  • Key Element: Identical timing of takeoff, rotation, and entry

Watching two divers move as mirror images midair is one of the most visually striking moments in all of the Olympics.

Women’s Synchronized 3-Meter Springboard

The same synchronized format applies for women, combining artistic symmetry with technical mastery.
It requires tremendous teamwork — often built from years of training together — since divers must anticipate each other’s every movement.

  • Famous Teams: Wu Minxia & He Zi (CHN), Jennifer Abel & Mélanie Gagné (CAN)

  • Scoring Emphasis: Form, entry, and perfect unison

  • Fun Fact: Chinese pairs have won every Olympic gold in this event since its introduction in 2000.

Men’s Synchronized 10-Meter Platform

This is the sport’s most dramatic event — high altitude, high stakes, and perfect timing required.
Two divers leap from the 10-meter platform performing the same complex dive at exactly the same time.

  • Height: 10 meters

  • Dives: 6 per team

  • Judging: Combines individual form + synchronicity

  • Recent Champions: Tom Daley & Matty Lee (GBR, Tokyo 2020), Cao Yuan & Chen Aisen (CHN, Rio 2016)

The best teams look as if they’re one diver reflected in a mirror — even the splash hits the water in sync.

Women’s Synchronized 10-Meter Platform

The final diving event on the Olympic schedule also tends to be one of the most watched.
It’s a balance of grace, danger, and absolute teamwork — performed from the highest level of the pool.

  • Notable Champions: Chen Ruolin & Wang Hao (CHN), Quan Hongchan & Chen Yuxi (CHN)

  • Depth Required: 5 m diving well minimum for safety

  • Unique Challenge: Wind conditions — outdoor Games can mess with divers takeoffs

Quick Summary of All 8 Olympic Diving Events

# Event Name Gender Type Height
1 3 m Springboard Men Individual 3 m
2 3 m Springboard Women Individual 3 m
3 10 m Platform Men Individual 10 m
4 10 m Platform Women Individual 10 m
5 3 m Synchronized Springboard Men Synchro 3 m
6 3 m Synchronized Springboard Women Synchro 3 m
7 10 m Synchronized Platform Men Synchro 10 m
8 10 m Synchronized Platform Women Synchro 10 m

Historical Context: How We Got to Eight

  • Diving debuted at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics with men’s platform and springboard.

  • Women joined in 1912, and their 10 m platform became the first women’s diving event in Olympic history.

  • For nearly a century, the Games featured four individual events (two heights × two genders).

  • In 2000, synchronized diving was officially introduced — doubling the count to eight.

  • Today, all eight are permanent fixtures in the Olympic schedule.

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