Jets on Olympic Platform Diving

Factual Questions
1

I was watching the Olympic platform diving this evening and was wondering what the small jets of water coming from underneath the platform were for. There appears to be about 3 or 4 of them and they look like they hit the water between where the diver enters the water and the edge of the pool.

Are they a visual aid for the judges? Do they mark where the edge of the platform is so that the judges can see how far from the platform the diver entered the water?

2

I think they’re there to create ripples on the water so the divers can judge their height. If it gets too smooth you can’t really see the surface of the water, you look right through it to the bottom of the pool.

3

There was a recent thread here (I’ll look it up in a bit) which mentioned that it’s easier to dive into rough water than smooth, as well: Less painful.

4

Chronos, on a tour of the Olympic facility I took in Montreal years ago they mentioned that they pump tiny air bubbles in the water under the diving platform to substantially ease the impact of a high dive. But I specifically remember that the guide said it was for practice purposes only; the competition was held sans bubbles.

But mind you, I heard this many years ago. Maybe the rules have changed.

5

The following information comes from Ahmad Rashaad’s “in-depth” (ouch!) report on Olympic Platform Diving…

Ahmad was interviewing Laura Wilkinson (the American who won the 10m Gold last night) two days ago. She explained that the water jets allow the divers to see the surface of the water, as explained by Robot Arm, above.

6

Hey I took this tour too! I remember this as well. They said something about being able to do a belly flop from the top platform. They also showed us the 50 foot deep pool. I wonder what kinda splash I could get out of a 50 foot can opener!

7

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Edward The Head *
**
[QUOTEHey I took this tour too! I remember this as well. They said something about being able to do a belly flop from the top platform. They also showed us the 50 foot deep pool. I wonder what kinda splash I could get out of a 50 foot can opener! **[/QUOTE]

EdHead,

If you saw the Amahd Rashad piece I referenced earlier, you would have seen an NBC producer do a belly-flop off of the 10m platform. A belly-flop from over 30 feet high! He had a black-eye for a week.

Now that’s good television!