Diving
A History of Diving and a Description of Diving Techniques
Diving is one of the most exciting and complex sports known today. Some call it an art, but the truth is that diving goes back through history as one of the most fantastic gymnastic movements. Its origin is found in 17th century Germany and Sweden, when gymnasts moved equipment to beaches in the summer for the sole purpose of practicing this sport.[footnoteRef:1] According to history, diving, then, is more related to gymnastics than to swimming, but since both diving and swimming involve water, they have become naturally and inextricably linked. [1: O'Brien, R. (2011). History of Diving. USA Diving. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from . ]
Platform diving, which the official U.S. diving website qualifies at 33 feet high, according to the website,...
Louis, "when it was included as an event on the men's swimming program."[footnoteRef:2] A few years later, springboard diving was added to the Olympic Games, and eventually, women's diving was accepted as well. By 1912, high diving was part of the Olympics and in 1920, the first women's springboard contest was also held. Then, eight years later, according to this same website, women's high diving came into being internationally. [2: O'Brien, R. (2011). History of Diving. USA Diving. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from . ]
Due to their history in this sport, Germany and Sweden dominated the competition from the start; however, in the 1920's the United States, according to the U.S.A. Diving website, "reached worldwide prominence in diving by winning three of the gold medals…
