Diving

The eight events

Men (four events): The 3m springboard (individual and synchronized), high dive 10m platform (individual and synchronized), Women (four events): The 3m springboard (individual and synchronized), high dive 10m platform (individual and synchronized).

The format

Springboard : One qualifying round (six dives for men, five for women), 18 advance to semi-finals (six dives for men and five for women, only the marks from semi-finals are used to determine finalists).

Final: Twelve competitors (six dives for men, five for women, only the marks from the final are used to determine final standings).

Platform: One qualifying round (six dives for men, five for women), 18 advance to semi-finals (six dives for men, five for women, only the marks from semi-final are used to determine finalists).

Final: Twelve finalists (six dives for men, five for women, only the marks from the final are used to determine final standings).

Synchronized events: Eight pairs of divers. No qualifying rounds (six dives for men, five 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 Saint Louis, although only the men's platform event features.

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 programme, which remained unchanged up 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-times Olympic champion. Double gold medalist in springboard and platform events at the 1952 Games in Helsinki. Repeated the feat four years later in Melbourne. The only woman, together with Chinese diver Fu Mingxia, to have won four Olympic gold medals in her speciality.

Klaus Dibiasi (Italy): Platform champion. Olympic platform champion in 1968, 1972 and 1976. The only diver to win three straight titles in the same discipline, including men and 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 (three in platform, two in springboard).